3 Reasons Why You Need To Work With A Staffing Agency

The truth is you don’t need someone else’s answers. The number one thing you need right now is a consultant to ask you the right questions and help you figure out the answers. That is the first benefit of working with a professional recruiter. He or she knows you’re not software to be plugged into any old job and expected to function. You need to be understood.

To get the most from a recruiter, think before you go, and be prepared.

Probing questions

The recruiter’s probing questions help you dig into your experiences, interests, and work practices and style. They make you get past labels to pull out the kind of job and organization in which you will thrive and your experiences that can help you get it.

• I see you were an administrative coordinator. Exactly what did you do?
• Take me through your day.
• What was your part in the team project – your exact tasks?
• What technology did you use? What software? How did you use it?
• What was your manager’s style? How did that work for you?

Passion questions

Rather an simply ask what you want to do, a good recruiter should ask questions designed to help you get at what you really want.

• Which duties did you enjoy the most?
• What was your greatest accomplishment?
• Was there a part of your day that flew by? What were you doing?
• You said you like to work with people – explain what that means to you.
• What are some duties you don’t like but would do in order to work in…?

Qualifying questions

Then there are those tough questions we all hate. You know they’re coming, so prepare yourself with honest and positive answers that show you take responsibility for your actions and your growth.

• Why did you decide to leave the job, the internship, the college?
• Tell me about a conflict with a coworker and how you resolved it.
• What feedback did your supervisor give you?
• What are your strengths or weaknesses?
• When you made mistakes, how did you deal with them?

A professional knows that both reputation and livelihood on the line, and wants to match you with a company and a job in which you will succeed. So he or she works to hear and understand you; works to get a clear picture of your strengths and needs as well as your skills. That means one which you are not only you’re qualified to do, but is in line with your interests, in which you will fit, and is a step toward your goals.

Expect the truth about your resume, experience, skills, interview, and where you fit in the job market. The recruiter has the experience to evaluate your skills, strengths, and weaknesses for the jobs and salary you want, and the knowledge of the market to know the level of job you are most likely to get. She will review your resume and suggest changes to clarify your qualifications or additions based on things you said in the interview. Finally, she will evaluate your interview and coach you on what you need to do to get hired. As you go through the interview process, the recruiter will give you feedback on your interviews.

How do you get to the right staffing agency and recruiter for you?

You need a recruiter who is in the right marketplace and shows an active interest in you. If you are in the interview and you aren’t asked questions beyond what can you do, thank them and try another agency. You deserve to get more than a skill test and to be told about jobs that don’t fit.

Do your research.

• What kinds of jobs does the firm handle – administrative, IT, accounting/finance, creative?
• Which staffing agency has the most opportunities for college grads at the entry to two-three year level.
• Does it fill jobs in bulk or match candidates with positions?
• Is it a firm that works on contracts to place large numbers of people in government and bureaucratic jobs?
• Does it specialize in associations and upscale corporate businesses with more of the jobs with growth potential?
• Does it do in-person interviews so you can get feedback on your interview?

If you are interested in an entry-level or a next-step job in Washington D.C. drop us a note and your resume.