Since I haven't had too much luck thus far with finding myself a job, when a recruitment firm called and offered me a meeting to discuss ways to find employment, I figured, what's the harm? So a couple of weeks back I put on my best impression of an employable human being and went to a meeting. Since I figure this could be something a lot of people question after remaining unemployed for a time, I thought I'd share how it went for me, to demystify the process a little.
Turns out it's all pretty chill.
I won't lie to you, it was a slight blow to my pride to face the fact that maybe I wouldn't be able to find myself a job. It felt like I was letting myself down if I sought professional help on this front. But like I thought when I made the in-the-moment decision to say yes to the meeting - what's the harm? They're professionals for a reason, and it's not like I have to stop looking for a job the instant I say yes - it just means somebody else is out there looking for opportunities for me at the same time. As with everything in life, it's all a little less of a Big Deal™ than it sounds like in your head.
It's still a professional meeting, of course, but it's not quite interview levels of formality. If we're going step by step, my meeting started off with signing it at reception and signing a document which laid out the terms of the agreement - basically me agreeing that this company would help find me work but no one is under any obligation either way. After this, I met my consultant in a private but comfortable room. She asked the same kinds of questions potential employers would, aiming to get a feel for who I am, to understand my strengths, an my areas of interest. My advice is to keep in mind that it's their job to find you a job; tell them as much as you can about the kind of work you want to do, your skill-set and what you have to offer - remember, they're trying to sell you to employers.
Personally, I found the questions a little more direct than previous interviews I've been to. My consultant has a piece of paper she was noting things down on and there was clearly some formula to what she was doing because the questions were specific. This being said, they were still the same questions employers would ask, but a little less open than an employer might make them. Here, my advice is to be more prepared to talk about yourself than I was. Every part of my CV was dissected separately (this is a good thing, I just hadn't expected it), as well as my being asked about somebody I admire, and the challenges that have made me who I am. Kinda tough questions when you have to come up with answers on the spot. I'm not saying have all these answers on tap, but be aware that some wild card questions could come up - and do not be afraid to take a minute to think about your answer. Taking the time to clarify your thoughts before responding is a good thing, I promise you.
Ultimately, it's reassuring, at least to me, that this process was so thorough. The clearer the image they have of me, the more likely they'll find me a job I'm interested in. Fingers crossed, at least.
If you've got an appointment booked with a recruiting firm and you're feeling kind of nervous, I totally get it, but there's no need to fear. Wear something smart and think carefully about what it is you want from the meeting: do you know the industry you want to work in? How do you feel about temping? Be prepared to talk about yourself and past experience, but it's okay if you don't have conclusive answers for them. The priority is honesty.
I've had one follow up email to check if I'm interested in temp work, but since I've been abroad in between the meeting and now, there's been little need for contact. I'll let you know how things progress for me though - hopefully I can provide more information in the future about more of the process. For now,
Good Luck
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