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RECRUITMENT
AGENCIES
For many
kiwis, the quickest and easiest way
to find work in London is to sign up with a Recruitment Agency. Agencies operate
in almost every area of work, from general secretarial agencies, to those
specialising in accountancy, law, IT, nursing, nannying etc. Which one you sign
up for depends on what kind of work you are looking for, and what
experience/qualifications you can offer.
Most agencies can offer you both temporary and permanent work. With temporary
jobs, you earn an hourly rate, of which the agency takes a cut before paying you
weekly. With permanent placements, your new employer pays the agency a one-off
fee for finding you. Once this has been paid, you are then paid by your employer
(usually monthly). Permanent work offers security, temporary work flexibility
– which are you looking for?
Many kiwis on a 2 year visa find themselves doing contract work,
which is usually found through an agent. Contract work prevails in the fields of
accounting, law, IT and banking, and often commands a very good rate of pay. You
will be employed for a fixed period of time, or until a certain project ends.
Contract work goes to those who have brought desirable skills over with them.
You may have come to the UK intending to gain work experience – but you will
be far more successful if you already have some. Don’t come to the UK
intending to do computer courses, and then find IT work – it is usually far
cheaper to do these at home, and far less time-consuming. Come over with as many
skills as you can – and the sky’s the limit.
Recruitment agencies are the link between you and your job. While it is possible
to find a job without the help of an agency, (either through a friend, a contact
within an organisation or by responding to the classifieds in the newspapers),
agencies do have access to most of the jobs available in the market. This
section explains how to get yourself onto an agency’s books, whether you are
looking for temporary or permanent work
ARRANGING THE INTERVIEW
This is what you need to do to arrange an interview:
Phone, or visit an agency in your chosen area of work. Some may be able to give
you an interview on the spot (so make sure you have your CV and references with
you, and that you look reasonably presentable – particularly if it is a
high-end agency). If not, they will book you one for the same week.
How intense the interview is will very much depend on what type of agency you
have chosen. If it specialises in a field such as IT, accountancy, law or
nursing, they will obviously need to know quite a lot about your experience, and
what you can offer an employer. The more general secretarial agencies will have
a wide range of jobs available, including some very basic, unskilled stuff. They
will be more interested in your attitude and personality. Obviously, the more
experienced the are, the higher the rates you can earn, but they will not care
that you have a degree in Mediaeval French and Archaeology.
These days though, there is one qualification that will impress any agency
(except maybe those specialising in bar and catering work). Computer literacy is
a modern office essential, and the more software packages you are familiar with,
the more work you will get, and the higher the rates you can command. Basic
programmes such as MSOffice Word and Excel are a must, and if you can get to
grips with Powerpoint, you really will be in demand. Mac computers are not as
popular in the UK as PCs, but it would be an advantage to familiarise yourself
with their slightly different working. Know how to use the Internet and email
packages (if you don’t already!). It is a good idea to get these skills at
home, before you even come to the UK. Not only will you then be ready to start
work immediately, but computer courses in the UK are quite expensive.
Old-fashioned skills such as shorthand and audio-typing are rare these days, but
still required by many employers, so you’ll be popular if you have these.
AFTER
THE INTERVIEW
Once you've
had the agency interview:
You'll need to keep pressuring the agency to remind them that you are still
available for work. An early morning phone call every second or third day is
entirely in order. Never direct your frustration towards the consultant if you
do not get an interview straight away. It’s hardly in their interests not to
tell you about available work, after all, that is how they make their money. If
possible, do not leave your phone when waiting for the agency to call—a mobile
phone can be very useful. Some assignments come through on very short notice so
make sure you are organised and ready to go.
If you are looking for permanent work, be prepared to wait days, even a few
weeks before the opportunity of a job interview comes up. Finding employment may
take some time. If you are desperate to find a job, phone your agency and inform
them. You might have to accept a lower rate. Alternatively, you can temp
(usually with the same agency), while you are waiting.
If you are looking for temporary work, you will not need to go for any more
interviews. Your agency will tell you when the assignment begins, and you will
simply work from then on a week-to-week, or even day-to-day basis. Temporary
assignments can last months or just hours. You will always be paid via the
agency, rather than directly by the company you are working for.
If you are not having much luck getting temp work, most agencies will encourage
you to “wait in”. This involves getting to the agency at around 8.30 am and
sitting around drinking endless cups of coffee, until they get an emergency
booking in, and send you off. This usually works about half of the time, and is
always worth a go. If you’re still not getting work, then sign up with a few
more agencies.
And now for the nasty bit. The recruitment market can
be quite cut-throat and aggressive. We advise that when you arrive, you take the
first job that comes your way. If the agency offers you a three month contract,
and you can't commit for that long, take the job anyway. You can earn money
while you're looking for a better job to come along. As soon as one arrives and
is guaranteed, you can leave your current position. You might feel a bit guilty,
but your agency will have plenty of people waiting to fill your shoes so don't
worry. Be shrewd - the agencies are!
For More Information e-mail :info@kiwikingdom.com
