Working with BWW
If you’ve never worked with an agency before you might want to know what you should be looking out for. If you have, then you should still know what to look out for!
It’s your move
Whatever your reason for moving jobs – be it improved scope for advancement, to gain more responsibility or to better your salary – make sure you give yourself the best chance to secure that new role. Many factors throughout the recruitment process can improve your chances and neglecting any one of these can mean the difference between success and failure.
It’s important to identify the recruitment consultants who know the market, understand what you’re hoping to achieve and who are best placed to guide you through the process successfully:
- Do you feel you’re able to communicate effectively with your consultant?
- Do they give you professional and helpful advice?
- Do they have an in-depth knowledge of the market?
- Are they on your side/listening to what you want to achieve?
These are the questions you should be asking yourself when choosing who you want to represent you. With a market as niche and specialised as the Company Secretary’s, this choice is vital.
Being Transparent
Make sure you’re open and honest with your consultant. From the outset, you should be clear about what you’re looking for and what you hope to achieve or what you want to avoid in your next role.
Also be upfront about any potentially tricky issues. Did you leave your previous position under a cloud or were you signed off sick for an extended period? Handling these types of issues won’t be new to your consultant and they will know how best to manage them. You won’t be doing yourself any favours if your consultant is unprepared.
Along these same lines, if you’ve had an offer elsewhere that you’re considering or if you’ve recently had a pay increase, let your consultant know asap as it may affect the applications they’re following up for you.
Give your consultant a full and detailed account of your base salary and benefits package and your views around future expectations.
Keep in mind that companies will be asking your consultant about your current salary and your expectations – and if all they have is a woolly answer, it will only invite more questions.
If the salary your consultant quotes doesn’t match up with the number your new employer finds on your P45 once you’ve started, this could be grounds for your dismissal – so please be accurate!
Where is your CV?
Is your recruitment consultant only sending off your CV with your expressed consent? All reputable consultants should work this way – but don’t assume everyone is working to this rule.
You should keep a detailed record of where your CV is being sent and by which agency.
If a company receives more than one copy of your CV from different sources, at best you will look disorganised, at worst a bit desperate.
If you don’t know where your CV is going you are no longer holding the reins of your job search.
Listening and Questioning
Once you’ve chosen a recruitment consultant you feel comfortable with, be sure that you’re open to their advice.
An experienced consultant will have a complete overview of the market, having had experience of hundreds of placements. They’ll know whether a role is the right next step for you and be familiar with the teams who are recruiting and how well you’re likely to fit in with the company culture.
Once you receive an offer your consultant will know whether you’re in a strong position to negotiate for an increase or if you should accept the offer that’s on the table.
Don’t be afraid to ask your consultant for advice throughout the process. If the advice you’re given doesn’t sound quite right to you, ask questions, and don’t hesitate to get a second opinion.
You should never feel bullied into any sort of decision by your consultant.
Why BWW?
We rely on three things:
- Market Knowledge
- Focus
- Transparency
Having advised the market for over 30 years, we know that taking the next step in your career is a hugely important decision so you can only expect a human approach to your search from us.
We want to find the best fit for you.
We will always be open and honest with you. As well as trumpeting your best qualities, we will not shy away from telling you awkward truths if it will set you on the right path If we didn’t then we wouldn’t be doing right by you.
We’ll only ever submit your CV for a role when you tell us. We want the role to be right for you and you should have the opportunity to discuss a role with us and decide whether you think it’s one you’d like to pursue.
The important thing for us is that it’s YOUR job search. We are here to show you the menu, not to dictate what you choose.
We think we need to do more than noting that you prefer not to do a role which is 80% minuting and that your family live in Leeds so a job there could work. So we do. Ask anyone – our reputation has been forged through word of mouth, and we are fiercely proud of it and our independence.