Tips For Interviewing with a Placement Agency

You've spent hours searching for three agencies that meet all your criteria.

1. Right location?
2. Salary range fits with your requirements?
3. Easy to contact?

Contact each one either online or by phone to sumbit your resume and set up an interview. You don't need to set up an interview for a particular position. It can be simply to register with the agency and see what is available and be placed on an active list.

Some may say, well it's just an agency they don't hire me. Well guess what, they are your first interview. The recruiter decides if you fit what the company is looking for based on the company's profile and job description. If you fit, the recruiter promotes you to the hiring manager and hopefully you get that second interview.

BE PREPARED

Yes, it has been said a million times however it is worth repeating a million more for those who miss the message.

Dress Properly

Clothes should be free of stains, holes, tears, or snags. Clean, crisp, and neat appearance makes for a great first impression.

Bring your resume

Just to be safe bring a few copies. The agency may only need one however it is always better to be prepared. Also, make sure your recruiter has an electronic copy has an electronic copy of your resume, preferably in Word format. Most hiring managers prefer to view resumes electronically.

Bring your drivers license and social security card or passport

These are normally only required by the agency if you will be working as a temp employee through them or on a temp to perm position. (Temp to perm means you technically work for the agency for a probationary period set by the hiring company.) Again, best to be prepared.

Prepare questions for the recruiter

If you've never worked with an agency this is the best time to learn about their practices and the procedures for temp, temp to perm or direct hire positions. If you are lucky enough to be interviewing for a particular position prepare questions pertaining to the position itself. This is your opportunity to make sure the position is really for you.

Remember you won't know anything about the hiring company unless you get that second interview with the company. Then you need to do your homework, check out the companys website, read their history or about us section and learn all you can.

Thank you

Yes, send a thank you note. Just a quick email thank you will work well. Thank the recruiter for her time, restate your interest in working with her and the agency and restate your interest in the position you were interviewing for, if you were there for a particular posting.

The best thing I have learned from my experience working with agencies is when you find a recruiter that is willing to spend a few extra minutes going over your resume with you, listen carefully. It is a simple concept - the recruiter receives the postings for open positions and speaks with the hiring managers going over their requirements for the position.

Simply put - the recruiter knows what the hiring manager wants in a applicant, trust their advice.

Dealing with Placement Agencies

Job hunting is scary, tedious, enlightening, disappointing and exhausting. Anyone that has ever search for a job has felt these emotions and no doubt many more.

The search typically includes the weekly and daily newspapers, various internet job sites, a network of friends and collegues and quite possibly parents of your childs teammates.

Over the years of job searches in various cities I have learned the most effective way to get your resume out there is to register with two or three placement agencies. More than three agencies and it becomes difficult to keep them straight.

Choosing the right agency for you is not as easy as it might first appear. Temporary or placement agencies are a dime a dozen, the trick is to check our each agency you are interested in. Are their job listings in the area where you want to work? Are the posted salaries in your range? Are they easy to contact, website, fax, or phone?

During your search you find a position perfect for you. Duties and qualifications, check! Salary range - check. Location and hours - check and check! Now comes the easy part right?

Send your resume to the email address listed in the posting, wait for them to be wowed and call you with a job offer.

WRONG!

The problem with placement agencies recruiters is they can become so overwhelmed with responses to a particular job posting they won't or can't contact everyone that responded to the posting.

The key with agencies is to treat them just like any other company you've sent your resume to.

1. A couple of hours after you send your resume, call to verify someone received it. This lets them know you're not just sending your resume all over town to any position you come across. Leave a message if necessary and make a note to call again the next day.
   
2. Now that you know who should have your resume for the posting you responded to, call them. Again, leave a message if you cannot get them on the phone. "Hi, I'm (insert name, first and last) I (faxed, emailed) my resume yesterday in response to (be specific here, know what position you are talking about). I would like to discuss this position and an interview time that is convienent for you. Please call me at (leave whatever phone number is easiest to reach you)." Hopefully the recruiter will call back and set up an interview.
   
3. After the interview be sure to send a handwritten thank you note. Yes, it is an agency however the recruiter at the agency is the one to sell you to the prospective employer. Keep the recruiter on your good side. The note will ensure that she/he remembers who you are.
   
4. Even after you get the position with the company it doesn't hurt to thank the recruiter from the agency again. It can be with a handwritten note, an email or even a phone call. It will be greatly appreciated by the recruiter and they will definitly be ready to help you in the future should you need it. If you don't need it, you've just added one more to your network that you can refer a friend to.

Placement Agencies may be a dime a dozen but if you look hard enough you'll find the diamond you're looking for.

More tomorrow on placement agencies...possibly.

Laney