Looking at Your Job Options? Let’s Bust 3 Myths About Recruitment Agencies!
When it’s time to look for a new job, where do you start your search?
If you’ve never used a recruitment agency to help you find a new job, we know it can seem confusing. We’ve been in the recruitment industry for a long time (nearly 40 years!) and we still come across the same misconceptions, so in this blog we’ll set the record straight and share a few handy tips along the way!
Here are three common myths about using a recruitment agency to find a job – and the real facts.
Myth 1: Recruitment agencies take a cut of your pay
The reality: What you earn goes directly to you
This seems to be one of the biggest misunderstandings about how recruitment agencies function, so let’s make it as clear as possible – we do not take a cut of your pay.
So, how does it really work? Businesses pay recruitment agencies for providing the service of finding people to fill their job vacancies. This fee is completely separate from your wage or hourly rate you earn.
Instead, this service fee is paid by the company and can cover a wide range of costs. At AWF, it covers things like the time required to take candidates through the recruitment process, induction, health and safety training, supplying PPE (personal protective equipment), processing payroll, and actively supporting you while you’re employed by us.
The pay rate or salary listed on your assignment confirmation or individual employment agreement is the amount that you receive when you get paid. The only deductions from this are the standard government requirements, like tax, personal KiwiSaver contributions, etc. which are the same in any job. You can find out more about this on the NZ Government employment website here.
Top Tip: If you’re unsure of your pay rate, ask the recruiter you’re working with to confirm it in writing. AWF will always do this for you. And if you do happen to come across a recruitment company who say they need to take a cut of your pay, do your due diligence and check that the company is legit!
Myth 2: All you have to do is register and then the recruitment agency will find you a job
The reality: This isn’t always the case, so it’s important to be proactive in your job search.
This can change depending on the agency you’re working with, and due to a range of other factors, like the job you’re looking for, the type of roles the agency recruits, or the industries they recruit in.
Most recruitment agencies will have some kind of general registration form where you add relevant personal and career details, which then goes into their database. It means recruitment consultants have easy access when it comes to matching job requirements with available candidates.
Here’s an example. An agency receives a request from a client to fill a job, looks through their database of registered candidates, sees that your skills and experience fit the role, asks you if you’re interested, and puts your CV forward to the client.
This scenario is most likely if a role doesn’t need to be filled urgently, requires niche skills/experience, or is generally in high demand without enough candidates available in the market to fill it, agencies are more likely to take this approach when searching for candidates.
However, some agencies may not be able to – at least not all the time. This is because clients often require recruitment agencies to fill roles ASAP, especially if the roles are temporary, so it’s not always feasible to contact all the relevant registered candidates.
We know that job seekers often register with recruitment agencies while also keeping an eye out for jobs themselves (and that’s a great approach) but if they do happen to find a job without the help of the agency, they’re unlikely to contact the agency to let them know. This is completely understandable, but it means that recruiters often need to prioritise candidates who are actively engaged.
So, what does this mean for you? While registering with a recruitment agency is a great first step, it’s still a good idea to be proactive and keep looking for opportunities yourself as well. Keep applying for jobs, even ones advertised by the recruitment company you’re registered with – the bonus is that it should be much quicker and easier to apply because your details should already be loaded into the system.
Top Tip: Ask friends and family, keep an eye on job boards (like TradeMe Jobs, SEEK, ZEIL, etc.) and set up job alert emails where they’re available so that you get relevant jobs sent straight to your inbox.
Myth 3: Recruitment agencies only have temp work, not long-term jobs.
The reality: It depends on the agency – but both can be an option.
It really does depend on the agency you work with. Some recruitment companies like AWF specialise in temporary work, but temporary work can be ongoing or lead to long-term opportunities. Other agencies specialise in permanent roles, and some cover all types, including contract work. This is often influenced by the industries the company recruits for and the clients they work with.
For example, some industries are seasonal, or have spikes in customer demand, or have big projects on which mean they need additional staff to support them, but just for a specific time. Think orchards who need extra pickers to help harvest their produce over summer, or the Black Friday sales period where businesses need more devanners to move stock from shipping containers to the warehouse, or big roading projects which require extra people to manage traffic. These are the types of industries that we recruit for here at AWF, so our clients often need temporary staff – and fast!
But temporary work can also be ongoing. Since there are so many industries and businesses that need short-term staff, it’s possible to move from one assignment to another, back-to-back. There are loads of benefits to this style of work; you gain a wide range of new skills and experience, you can try out different jobs to see which ones you like, you have more flexibility to fit work around your lifestyle or commitments, and more (check out our blog 10 Reasons to Try Temping).
A temporary role can also be a great way to get your foot in the door for long-term or permanent opportunities. Many businesses bring in temporary staff when they know they’ll need support but they’re unsure about future workloads, project timelines, or budgets, so it’s not uncommon for short-term assignments to be extended. If they see that a role is adding real value to the business, they may even choose to hire the position permanently, giving the temporary employee the chance to stay long term.
In fact, the most common reason that job seekers no longer need our services here at AWF is because they move into a permanent role, either with the company we placed them in or thanks to the skills and experience they gained through temporary assignments with us.
Top Tip: If you’re interested in long-term work, talk to your recruiter about which roles have the potential to be extended or made permanent, and think about temporary work as an opportunity rather than a stop-gap. Every assignment is a chance to grow your experience and demonstrate your value – which makes you even more employable, whether with that business or another. Your attitude, work ethic, and reliability can make all the difference.
Myths Busted
Hopefully this blog has helped bust a few myths, and now you know a bit more about how recruitment agencies function and what to expect when working with one. If you’re currently looking for a job, your next step could be to take a look at our open roles and apply online or register with us!