1)When meeting your consultant for the first time, or meeting the clients to whom they refer you, first impressions count.
Always ensure you dress appropriately for the interview.
Rather dress for the position you want to attain one day, then dress for the position you are applying for.
2)Although the forms you are asked to fill in seem lengthy and perhaps a repeat of information contained in your CV, these should be filled in with as much detail as possible.
Refusing to fill in forms given to you by your consultant is worrying, as it makes us presume that you would do the same to a client should you be asked to fill in forms there.
3)Don't introduce yourself to your consultant in a formal manner, ieMr or Mrs >>>> unless you are prepared to refer to them in the same manner.
4)Please never underestimate the value of a heartfelt thank you note or call to your consultant.
Nothing is as rewarding as hearing back from a candidate you put forward on a position to thank you, or hearing back from a candidate placed a few months down the line to hear of their progress at the company.
5)If you are entrusted with your consultant's home or cell number, please remember that this is to be used in cases of emergency only.
At any given time, your consultant might have 60 candidates all anxiously awaiting feedback on a number of positions, and it is a terrible invasion of their time to keep getting calls from candidates, no matter how sweet and friendly they might find you, especially when they might receive ten calls from sweet candidates on any given weekend, just to hear if there is any news on any positions.
6)Remember your consultant is only human, for them to best be able to assist you, whenever you phone in, please give your full name, the position you applied for, and when this was.
You might be dealing with three or four agencies at any given time, whereas our data base of candidates often runs into the thousands.
7)If you have a problem with an agency, please speak to the manager.
Often they would be happy to hear about any problems and grateful that they have been given the opportunity to fix something that otherwise would affect their reputation as an agency.
8)Never consider any work experience trivial, whether it was work experience gained on a temp assignment or is something you no longer work with.
Full in your duties in as much detail as possible on the CV.
9)Be contactable!!! If we battle to get hold of you when we need you, it limits the possibility of our finding you something suitable.
10)Ensure that your contact numbers for references are up to date.
If we cannot reference check you, we cannot put your CV forward on a position.
11)On the same note, please ensure that the numbers and names you put on your CV are all of people who you would not mind being contacted for a reference.
Do not put contact details of current employers on your CV.
Although as agents we do not as a rule contact current employers, if they are listed as references on your CV, it is quite possible that such a mistake might be made.
12)Please let us know when your contact details change.
Send an updated CV immediately, explaining why in a covering letter.
13)Make sure you have not exaggerated your experience in your CV.
Should it be found out that you have, we would no longer be prepared to represent you as an agency.
14)While we try our best to assist you, remember that an agency cannot make a position specifically to suit you, and so will only be able to assist you if we have a position which suits you.
Please feel welcome to phone in and chat to us every now and again and remind us you are still available, but remember that there is very little we can do if there is nothing suitable available.
15)Be honest and realistic about your salary requirements.
16)If you are going to be going for an interview, do a little research on the company before the interview.
A well prepared candidate is an impressive candidate.
Prepare a few questions on the company, but ensure that you don't intimidate the person interviewing you by posing technical questions that only a specialist would know.
This does not leave a positive impression on the interviewer.
17)Never underestimate the importance of making a good impression on the receptionist at the company at which you are to be interviewed.
Often the receptionist will be asked her opinion on you once you have left, and this has a bearing on the outcome of your application.
18)Always ensure you are on time for an interview, but never arrive earlier then ten minutes before the set interview time, even if you have to drive around the block a few times.
If you are to be even five minutes late, phone the company and let the manager know.
Not being on time for an interview, and not phoning is a sign to the consultant or company, that you consider your own time more important then theirs.
19)Carry a pen and notepad on you when going for an interview.
If the client then asks you to go for a follow up interview, or a consultant gives you information regarding the company, you can note this down.
20)Don't interrupt the person interviewing you when they are talking.
21)If you are unsure about whether you are going to take the position, let the consultant know immediately.
Nothing is more embarresing, or appears less professional then just not arriving on the first day you were due for work 22)For some reason, it is always easier to find a job when you are in a job.
Remember to list on your CV if you have been working from home, rather then leaving a gaping gap in your CV.
23)If you have a criminal record or know there will be problems on your ITC check, please inform your consultant at your interview at the agency.
Although this often does not interfere with your application, it's a very nasty surprise if a client does a criminal check on a candidate and finds out information we were not aware of.
24)If for religious reasons, you cannot work certain week days etc it is essential that you make this known up front, before accepting a position.
25)If you have an illness that would affect your work, please be open and honest about this.
It is in your best interests too that you work in an environment that is safe for you.
26)Often there will be a secretary or receptionist who would deal with the incoming calls.
Although they might not know all the information on the positions, they are trained and able to assist you with most of your queries, please be prepared to co-operate with them 27)An agency is unlikely to agree to see you unless there is a specific position for which they would like to forward your CV, or if they often have vacancies with which they feel they could assist you.
Please understand that we cannot see everyone who phones in, but some agencies, including ours, are happy to take in your Cvs, and let you know when something suitable is available.
28)Please read advertisements carefully.
Make sure then when you phone into the agency to apply, that you know the position for which you are applying.
We cannot run through all the positions available with you in the hope that we might happen across the position that you might have seen.
29)When you phone into the agency, ensure that you carry a pen and paper.
We cannot wait while you go and fetch a pen and paper.
Assume that when you phone in about a position, you are going to have to write down details on how to send in your application.
30)When you go for an interview, ensure that you don't just answer yes and no answers, but at the same time, listen carefully to the question, and reply with relevant answers.
Written by Helen OConnor East Coast Recruitment http://www.
eastcoastrecruitment.
co.
za