How to choose the right recruiter for your next career move

With so many recruiters to choose from, it is vital that you consider your options carefully before making your decision, writes Steven Berke. This article highlights the key factors one should consider when choosing an agency to partner with.

Agencies are there to provide professional advice. They should be able to demonstrate detailed and extensive market knowledge. A recruiter who appreciates your unique requirements and who is conversant with those of corresponding employers will be ideally placed to find you the right job and guide you through the process of securing it.

When choosing a recruiter, the following points should all be considered:

1. Company profile – Research the business before registering your details. The agency should be a specialist in your field, with an extensive and well-established network of client companies.  
2. Take references - As in any business, some agencies have better reputations and achieve greater results than others.  If you know people who have used particular agencies, ask them for feedback.  
3. Recent transaction history – Ask for an overview of the assignments that the business has successfully delivered on. These should be recent (within the last 6 months) and relevant to the level you are at. This above all else will give a clear indication of the quality you can expect.
4. Consultant - Assess the recruitment consultant you are talking to. First and foremost, they should have in depth market knowledge, as well as an extensive network across their sector. Your consultant will play a key part in directing your career. With this in mind, ensure they can demonstrate a thorough understanding of your professional history, technical experience and above all else your motivations.  
5. Chemistry - Remember too the importance of personal chemistry. Your chosen recruiter should be someone with whom you enjoy working, someone you can trust and someone who intrinsically understands what you want. Ensure you meet with them and keep a regular dialogue thereafter.
6. Tailored service - A recruiter who operates a personalised, bespoke service will analyse your skills, qualifications and experience, consider your desired position and salary expectations and give you a realistic idea of your chances of securing the position you want. By matching your skills and expressed preferences with the client’s hiring requirements, they will ensure that you only go to precisely targeted interviews.
7. Interactive website - In today’s fast-moving technological environment, it is easy to spot the recruiter who is really intent on providing a premium quality, customer-driven service. Make sure to choose a company with a dynamic website containing structured advice for jobseekers as well as details of current vacancies they are working to fill.

Having considered all of the above points, you should be in a position to select the most appropriate recruiter for your needs. If you decide to multi-register it is a good idea to keep a record of where your CV is being sent, who has sent it and when it was sent. You could make a list of the recruitment companies you use, where they have sent your CV and when it was. It’s a good idea to keep an excel spreadsheet for recording job applications.

How Pure helps candidates
Pure Taxation is widely regarded as the market leading taxation recruitment company in the UK. We have built our reputation during a number of economic cycles and have an enviable track record of success. We have undertaken assignments for the vast majority of the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 as well as many overseas international groups. We work on an ongoing basis for the large and medium sized professional firms and continue to develop our reputation with foreign multinationals looking to establish a presence in the UK.

Pure has strategically recruited consultants who are professionals from their relevant sector who add value through market knowledge and technical understanding. This is just one of the factors that set us apart from our competitors. All our consultants undergo regular training on best practice and market developments to ensure they remain at the forefront of our industry.

There are many reasons clients and candidates choose repeatedly to use Pure Taxation, from our proven track record of successful recruitment across all levels and disciplines to our market leading website, which is the first port of call for taxation professionals in the UK.

Next step
Should you wish to discuss the merits of working on an exclusive basis with Pure, please call Steven Berke on 020 7429 4460 or email stevenberke@purerecruitment.com.