When we talk about ‘keeping in touch’ are we agreed on what that means?  We know that time moves at a different pace for those who are looking for work, and we gear our time management around that as best we can.  Our aim is to call or email you before you start wondering what has happened to us!

We also appreciate that you might be holding back when you really want to phone and ask what is happening.  The answer is, don’t be inhibited – call anyway. We should be able to guide you on the moving status of your job search and let you know if there is anything available when you call.

If you have met more than one consultant here don’t feel you have to stick to one or the other.  We don’t have ‘candidate ownership’ here so everyone is equally keen on looking after you.  If the consultants you have met are not available ask if someone else can help – we all keep notes in the same database which we can access while you are on the phone.  We might not be able to tell you exactly what is happening in relation to a particular role if it is too current, but only because the specific consultant hasn’t entered in the latest news before nipping out for lunch or another client visit!

When we first meet our employer-clients we let them know that we are going to be firm about getting real feedback about when they meet our candidates.  We want to be able to tell you exactly why you did or did not get a chance at a certain role.  After all, we are good at our jobs so if we take the brief and think you are right for it why shouldn’t our client?  It means there is something else about the role we need to know.  If we think your profile is a long shot we will tell you at the beginning of the process.

So we have undertaken to be straight with you, and we ask for the same respect in return.  It is quite reasonable for you to have several recruiters looking for work for you in this market.  Just don’t be tempted to play one off against the other!  It is bad enough when there are unscrupulous recruiters putting your CV out without your permission without letting more than one person represent you to the same client either knowingly or through inefficiency.  Keep a little spreadsheet or at least a note to remind yourself who is doing what for you.

It is a tough market out there at the moment and it is very frustrating for our regular contractors to find that there are new competitors available for the same work, many undercutting the normal rates.  We are encouraging everyone to stay realistic but resist letting employers undermine their basic market value.  We will do our best to support you.

Again, if you have any questions just pick up the phone to your consultants.  They are in recruitment because they like you!