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Graduate recruitment agency

The best graduate recruitment agencies in the UK use graduate-women.com to advertise some of the best graduate jobs in the UK.

1st Place Graduate Recruitment 1st Place Graduate Recruitment
Adecco Group Adecco Group
Matchtech Matchtech
RedPepper Recruitment RedPepper Recruitment

Using Graduate Recruitment Agencies

How the industry works:

Recruitment agencies will contact companies who are looking to employ graduates to see if they can assist in filling the vacancy. Some companies have a policy of not using recruitment agencies, but if there is no objection by the company the recruitment agency will begin searching for appropriate graduates to fill the role.

Its useful to understand the relationships between you (the graduate), the recruitment agent, and the company looking to employ a graduate. Most recruitment agencies charge a percentage of the starting salary for the person they placed into a role as their "finders fee". For example, if you were placed by a recruitment agency and your starting salary is £17,000, the fee paid to the recruitment agency is £2,250 if a 15% finders fee is agreed.

Once the wheels are in motion, the role of the recruitment consultant is similar to that a dating agency. They have to find a suitable partner for their client, make an introduction, and hope that each party likes the other!

In order to find a suitable candidate, the recruitment agent will have an in-house database of contacts who are potentially available. If you match their criteria this is why you may potentially get a call out of the blue. Recruitment agencies will also use other sources like graduate-women.com to advertise jobs and search our online CV database. This is why creating a CV is so important, you need to get your CV out to as big an audience as possible to stand the best chance.

Companies use Recruitment Agencies because:

  • It is more convenient. Although expensive, the 10% - 20% finders fee covers advertising costs, and creating the adverts copy content.
  • Often its the case particularly with graduate recruitment that there is a significant cost in managing the response to adverts and scanning applications. This is taken on by the Recruitment Agency.
  • There is an element on mentoring provided by the recruitment agency which prepares the candidate for interview and assists them in giving them their best chance.
  • Often the Recruitment Agent can provide some graduate CV advice before your CV is put in front of the potential employer, to give you the best chance.

How do you fit in?

In order to be considered with a recruitment agency you have to sign up with them or simply apply to one of the jobs they have listed on graduate-women.com. Over and above this there are some techniques you can use to make sure that you are at the forefront of their consideration. The recruitment agent is in a powerful position and will be influential in providing a short list of candidates for their client. to ensure you stand the best chance of appearing on this list consider the following:

  • Treat all interactions with the recruitment agency as an interview, be polite, clear in thought, punctual and enthusiastic.
  • Sell yourself, demonstrate your experience and convince them that you are suitable for the role. Display your understanding of the vacancy and knowledge of the market and company.
  • Remain contactable during office hours. Make sure the recruitment consultant have your up to date mobile, land-line and email address.
  • Contact the agent weekly to make sure they are aware you are available for work.

Don't expect a personal response to each application you make to a recruitment agency. Quite simply there is not enough time to respond to all the applications. If your CV appears appropriate for the role you might get a call from the recruitment agent. If its not - you wont. Its harsh, but that the reality.

In reality your recruitment agent is not exclusively working on your behalf. There may possibly be hundreds of graduates using the same agent. Don't sit and wait for the recruitment agent to come to you. Make it easy as possible for them to contact / consider you when a suitable role appears.

Working the system:

Here are some tips to ensure the graduate recruitment agents you sign up with work for YOU.

  • Try and build a relationship with the graduate recruitment consultant you deal with regularly. They are more likely to remember you and its an opportunity for you to demonstrate your soft skills.
  • Contact your recruitment agent once a week by phone. It keeps you at the forefront of their consideration.
  • Don't be selective - sign up with all the graduate recruitment agencies. You never know what opportunities a recruitment agent will generate. You can always unsubscribe later, but if you don't sign up in the first place you'll never know.
  • Create a CV on websites that graduate recruiters use regularly. Recruitment agents are always looking for good candidates, make sure you are in with a shout. Your CV needs to be displayed via as many good quality avenues as possible. If you have concerns about the privacy of your information, ensure that the website is registered under the data protection act. This is a government run scheme that ensures responsible and secure storage of personal information. graduate-jobs.com Ltd is registered under the Data Protection scheme - Registration number: Z6515152.
  • Update your CV regularly with new experience and information. Additionally, make sure the recruitment agent is aware of the new details. You can always edit your CV on graduate-women.com
  • Work out a system that works for you. Finding a graduate job needn't be a full-time job. Make sure you have all the bases covered in a strategy that you are happy with. In the meantime try and get on with your life, pursuing activities that interest you. Once you have finally found your first graduate career related job, it might put you on a career path for the next 40 years! Enjoy your new life outside of education.

Some of our latest jobs from recruitment agencies

  • L&C - Trainee Mortgage and Protection Adviser (Newcastle)

    Shortlist Location: North East
    Salary: £15K to £35K OTE plus benefits
    A career at the UK’s leading mortgage broker as a Mortgage and Protection adviser is well suited to a graduate, hence our decision to open a new office in Newcastle last year which we have outgrown we are moving to bigger

  • Graduate Events Sales

    Shortlist Location: London
    Salary: £20000 to £21000 per annum negotiable plus benefits plus OTE plus Bonus plus share scheme
    Graduate Events Sales Executive Sector: Events and Conferencing Location: LondonSalary: £21,000 basic £35,000 OTE + BenefitsThe largest provider of oil products to the UK marketMulti million pound turnoverPart of a global organisationExcellent progression opportunitiesThe CompanyYou will be working for the leading

  • Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Graduate Programme 2013

    Shortlist Location: South West, Wales
    Salary: £21,672 per year plus benefits
    The Welsh Water Graduate Programme is a two year programme which combines business experience, mentoring, entrepreneurship, training and development. Welsh Water is committed to recruiting and investing in the development of new talent. As a member of the Welsh Water Graduate

  • Graduate Recruitment Consultant - German or French Speaking!

    Shortlist Location: London
    Salary: 20,000 to 50,000 plus OTE
    Trainee Recruitment Consultant - German Speaking! Staffgroup Ltd. is an award winning International Recruitment Consultancy specializing in the recruitment of senior level professionals in the niche sectors of Finance, IT, Energy and Analytics. Since inception the business has gone from strength

  • Graduate B2B Technology Sales Executive

    Shortlist Location: London
    Salary: £20000 per annum plus benefits plus OTE plus Bonus
    GRADUATE SALES EXECUTIVELocation: Central London (Zone 1)Sector: Technology in marketing, media, telecomms and digital Salary: Basic £20,000 + Commission (1st Year OTE £32,000) + benefitsThe CompanyOur client are a national company who focus on providing technology solutions that are used for

  • Graduate Trainee Recruitment Consultant X 3

    Shortlist Location: London
    Salary: £22500 to £32000 per annum plus benefits plus OTE
    Graduate Trainee Recruitment Consultant x 3Sector: Software Development and ArchitectureLocation: London - CitySalary: £22,500 basic salary + 1st year OTE £32,000 High growth firmMarket Leader Preferred supplier to a majority of Tier 1 and Tier 2 Banks as well as leading

  • Pharma Recruitment - Graduate Trainee Consultants; London

    Shortlist Location: London
    Salary: £20000 to £40000 per annum plus benefits plus OTE plus Bonus
    Graduate Pharma Recruitment Consultant - Graduate Trainee ConsultantJob Title: Graduate Trainee Recruitment ConsultantSectors: Recruitment - Medical / PharmaceuticalLocation: LondonSalary Package: £20000 basic salary We are looking to recruit an additional 3 graduates to join the business in the coming months. The

  • PKF Graduate Accountant Trainee – 2013/2014

    Shortlist Location: Nationwide
    Salary: Competitive plus benefits
    PKF is one of the UK's leading firms of accountants and business advisers, which specialises in advising the management of developing private and public businesses. We pride ourselves on creating and sustaining supportive relationships where objective and timely advice enables our

  • Financial Recruitment - Graduate Programme, London

    Shortlist Location: Central
    Salary: £22500 to £35000 per annum plus benefits plus OTE plus Bonus
    Graduate Headhunting/Executive Search ProgrammeSalary:£22500 - £35000, LondonJob title: Associate Recruitment ConsultantLocation: London CityWe have numerous vacancies to join a market leading specialist who recruits into the Investment Banking sector. You will receive CFA level 1 training as part of your development

  • Graduate Management Trainees - Enterprise

    Shortlist Location: Nationwide
    Salary: competitive plus benefits plus Bonus
    If your dream is to one day number amongst the best in business, you need to talk to the people who are already there. After all, we’ve developed a business with a global turnover of more than $14 billion, plus 3,400

Shortlist

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