Many job seekers and persons exploiting other work opportunities in Australia wonder whether they should contact possible employers directly or use an employment agency. Some are afraid to contact an agency because they don’t know how they operate and what it will cost them.
This article provides job seekers enough information to make an informed decision whether they want to use an expert agency rather than apply directly to possible employers.
How do employment agencies operate?
They facilitate the job-seeking process as follows:
- First they liaise with employers who need new employees.
- They then determine the objectives, hiring needs, as well as remuneration and fringe benefits of the businesses.
- Simultaneously, they source job seekers whose skills, training, qualifications, and experience meet the requirements of the job providing organisation.
The role of employment job agencies is to facilitate a successful match between employers and job seekers. To do this successfully, they must take the organisation’s objectives and hiring needs into consideration and source appropriate candidates based on multiple factors, including skills, experience, qualifications and education.
How long does it take to hear the result when applying via an agency?
The time frame depends on the type of job the jobseeker is interested in. The time it takes to hear whether a suitable match has been made, can also be influenced by the arrangement between the specific employer and the agency. In many instances, especially for senior posts, the employer wants to interview the candidate in person or with a video chat before offering a job.
The rule of thumb is that matches for casual jobs in retail or hospitality take only a few days to arrange, but for professional and full-time jobs it can take up to four weeks for a jobseeker to receive a job offer.
Can a jobseeker decline a job offer?
The person using an agency to assist with job seeking, is under no obligation to accept the first job offered. However, established employment agencies have developed questionnaires that make it easy for their professional staff to match candidates with employers and specific jobs. The result is that in most instances the first job proposition is accepted.
Keep in mind that, usually, agencies located in a specific city have more local job opportunities than an agency in another location. Employment agencies Sydney will have more matching possibilities with Sydney employers than employment agencies Perth. If a person is looking for a job in Perth or on the West Coast, for instance, contact an agency in Perth. If a person looking for employment anywhere in Australia, it is best to follow the rule of using one of the “employment agencies near me”.
What will it cost the job seeker to use an agency?
It is illegal in Australia for agencies to charge candidates for their services. Employers pay recruitment agencies to find and place suitable candidates. Usually, the employer pays the agency a retainer in advance for the search process for the right candidate. Agencies charge between 15% to 20% of the candidate’s first-year salary as their fee.
