How To Choose The Right Recruitment Agency As A Graduate

Leaving the comfort bubble of university and entering the world of work for the first time can be daunting – but especially so at the moment, with the jobs landscape fluctuating and many challenges facing graduates, everything from fewer entry-level vacancies available to a lack of practical experience, artificial intelligence reshaping workplaces and extended application processes.

It can take six months or more to land your first job once you’ve completed your degree and it can be very demoralising to devote all your time and energy to filling out job applications, going to interviews and working on your CV, only to be blocked at every turn. 

Competition is most certainly rife in the graduate jobs market, so you’ve got to do all you can to maximise your chances of success and make yourself stand out from the crowd.

But how?

Interestingly, one of the best ways to land your dream job post-graduation is to sign up with a recruitment agency, as you’ll enjoy unparalleled access to exclusive vacancies, expert jobseekers’ advice and personalised career support for as long as you want it.

Recruitment agencies bridge the gap between you and potential employers. Different companies will hire these agencies to help them find the best candidates for available roles and you can register in order to be considered for the position.

When companies sign up, they’ll provide the agency with detailed descriptions of the different jobs they have available and what kind of candidate they’re looking for. 

Agency recruiters will then look through the jobseekers they have on their books to see who fits the bill best, as well as potentially posting the job online to bring in new talent.

What to look for in a recruitment agency

Once you’ve decided that signing up with a Rec2Rec agency is right for you, you’ll immediately find that there are countless different options available to you. How do you know which agency will serve you best and help you get the job of your dreams?

First of all, do due diligence into the companies you’re interested in so you can be assured that they’ll be able to support you as you need.

Finding one that specialises in graduates is advisable, since the transition from university to employment can be difficult to navigate. 

Get in touch with them and speak to an actual person if you can, so you can find out more about them and feel more confident that they’ll be interested in you, your goals, your motivations and what you want to achieve in your career.

Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as possible. Make sure that agencies demonstrate extensive knowledge and experience of working with companies and jobseekers in the field you’re interested in, as well as insights in market trends, employer information, salary benchmarks and so on. 

The more information they have, the better they’ll be able to help you find the right job, so don’t hold back when investigating their credentials.

But also don’t just take their word for it… seek out proof from external sources, as well, such as by reading online reviews and talking to other graduates to find out what other people’s experiences have been like.

Ultimately, longevity speaks for itself and the longer an agency has been working in the recruitment sector, the better their contacts are likely to be, so bear this in mind when choosing your recruiter, as well.

Why choose Edmund & Evans

We’ve been working closely with graduates and employers for the last five years and, in that time, we’ve built up a solid reputation as one of the leading recruitment partners in the UK. 

We speak to over 500 graduates each week, with 54 people placed in excellent job roles last year… and some 90 per cent of these are still in the positions they secured.

No CV is ever sent out to prospective employers without your permission, so you don’t need to worry that you’ll be put forward for jobs that you’re not interested in.

We take the time to really get to know our clients, with coaching and training available to help you grow in confidence and take your first step onto the career ladder.

If you’d like to find out more, give the team a call today. Alternatively, upload your CV or connect with us via LinkedIn. We’re excited to help you progress, both personally and professionally… so don’t hesitate to get in touch.