There's often confusion surrounding how recruitment agencies work. Leigh has asked me to put together some quick information on recruitment agencies. Obviously, I'm talking from a "Johnson Group" perspective here, but I hope that overall it gives you a general idea of what to expect from your recruitment agency!

If you're interested in contracting work, I'd also recommend that you read through our Government Contractors FAQ for more information.

Our recruitment agency.

The Johnson Group offers a professionally managed service to our candidates. As your recruitment agency, our aim is to find you the job that suits you—both in terms of skills and compatibility.

How does a recruitment agency work?

Simply, a recruitment agency acts as a “broker” between an organisation (client) and you (our candidate). We advertise jobs, source talent, and interview candidates for our clients in order to find the most suitable person for the job. The client pays a management fee for our services—you do not have to pay us anything.

NZQA has a page that shows the actual recruitment process, step by step.

How do we work with clients?

We work with our clients in a variety of ways:

• We are exclusively engaged by the client to find suitable applicants for their vacancies, using advertising and via our talent community and networks.
• We have an ongoing relationship with clients to source suitable candidates for current or future vacancies. (This means we’re able to act as your agent for a range of opportunities.)
• We pro-actively approach clients that are of interest to you, as appropriate.

Why use a recruitment agency?

There are many benefits to using a recruitment agency like The Johnson Group to find work. For a start, we know where the jobs are—we know who is hiring, what new positions are forecast to come up, and what skills are in demand. We can notify you of jobs that we think you’d be suitable for, talk to clients we think could use your skills, and advise you on how to take the next step in your career.

Working with a recruitment agency is also about credibility. We have a strong reputation for finding high calibre candidates, and providing good matches between vacancies and candidates skills and competencies. Our clients are interested to hear our recommendations, as they know that we have both yours and their best interests at heart.

Our established relationships with organisations also mean we can give you objective advice on the culture of the team and the work programme. This will help you decide how this role will fit in with your motivations and career aspirations.

We’re able to help with remuneration negotiations and other benefits, and assist with information for immigration applications.

What should I know before I apply for a job?

We will never submit your CV to an organisation without your prior approval. It is very important that we do not send your CV to organisations who are already in receipt of your CV. This is seen by prospective employers as being highly unprofessional. As a corporate member of the RCSA (Recruitment and Consulting Services Association) we comply with the RCSA Code for Professional Practice.

We ask that you keep us fully informed of the organisations to which you have sent applications. It is much better to have a targeted, coordinated and managed strategy rather than sending your CV to everyone. This is why we suggest that you work with us exclusively, as this will ensure you get the best opportunity to secure a position here in Wellington.

If you have any other questions about the recruitment industry and what we do, please don’t hesitate to write to us and ask. You can contact us at info@thejohnsongroup.co.nz