interview

Interview with Recruitment Consultant

The following is an interview between Recruitment Leader's M.D. Michelle Sutherland and an experienced professional Recruitment Consultant .

M: How do you find new business? eg cold calling? and do you do it yourself?

L: There are a number of ways we find new business:

• Cold calling
• Visiting and building relationships with clients so that they call us if they need anyone
• Keeping an eye on press ads
• Reading the business news to keep eye on any mergers/acquisitions etc
• Asking candidates where they have been for interviews
• Sometimes we place people who are future recruiters so they come to us

Yes we do it ourselves. We all have personal targets to meet. However If I get some new business and its not for a job at my level I pass it onto the correct consultant and vice versa.

M: How much time do you spend trying to find new business if any?

L: Varies every day. Like I said you have targets to meet but if you dont have many jobs on you might do more and vice versa. Maybe a third of our time? But it really does depend on the current situation you are in.

M: Do you get paid a basic salary and commission on top of that or just a basic salary?

L: Basic, bonus(for meeting targets) and commission based on the placements we make

M: When you are recruiting for a company what agreements do you have? eg do they pay you before you recruit or do they pay you when someone you have put forward has been selected?

L: Have a standard terms of business. Some companies enter into long term agreements to use one agency and therefore may get discounted rates but is normally standard. For Temporary staff they pay an hourly rate to the agency and the agency pay the temporary worker a chunk of that rate. For Permanent Staff the company only pays if they select someone put forward by the agency(payable on the day the person actually starts) If they dont select anyone, nothing is paid to the agency, no matter how many interviews etc they do.

M: Is it common for more than one agency shortlisting and recruiting for the same vacancy?

L: EXTREMELY

M: How many hours do you work?

L: Standard hours tend to be 8.30 till 6 (eat lunch at desk) but most people tend to be in before then and leave after

M: Do you have to work any extra hours to get a job done?

L: Not a necessity but then sometimes putting in that extra hour can help you make that placement which means more commission. Totally your own choice though.

M: What are the main things employers are looking for from your recruitment agency? eg price?

L: Some look for price but most look for quality service, selection of the best cvs(not just a load of people looking for a job) and the reassurance that by using an agency they are saving a lot of time and effort.

M: What processes do you use when recruiting for a particular vacancy? eg interview techniques, how you assess the CVs you get in?

L: Varies per agency, mostly only select cvs of candidates who are placeable (ie have the relevant work experience) then formally interview the candidates to asses their suitability for a particular vacancy (and any others that may be relevant). The selected cv then gets forwarded onto the client and interviews set up by the agency.

M: Do you keep peoples Cv on a database to contact if you think they will be suitable for a vacancy you have?

L: Yes

Leave a Reply.