Recruitment Consultants
Using a recruitment agency to help find the right person for a role is common practice for many pharmaceutical companies.
Many organisations simply don't have the resources to sift through all the applications that can be generated by an ad in a journal or via the internet. So, they use an agency to bring numbers down to a manageable level.
Agencies submit candidates who have had a screening interview with a recruitment consultant and been briefed about a role beforehand. A recruitment agency receives a fee only if a candidate is appointed to a role - it shouldn't cost you anything and it's in their best interest to make sure you are placed in a suitable position.
Where a vacancy requires a senior or highly specialised candidate, employers may appoint an agency that specialises in finding people for that particular profession or level of experience. If an employer is a high-profile organisation that wants to avoid publicity generated by an advertisement, a recruitment agency provides a useful buffer.
It is important to choose an agency wisely. Look for one with the right contacts and first hand professional experience/specialised knowledge of the industry. Ask others who they've found helpful and successful.
Try to build a good working relationship with your recruitment consultant to optimise your chances of a successful outcome. A good recruitment consultant should:
1. Offer career advice:
- through a mix of telephone conversations and/or face-to-face meetings
- explore your career, knowledge, skills and how you want to develop
- discuss your likes, dislikes, strengths and weaknesses
- review your CV with you and advise how it can be honed for success
2. Advise on companies:
- using their knowledge of key players and current/future roles
- with product portfolios that interest you
- with an organisational structure for the type of role you seek
- located in a convenient place for you to commute to
- of a size and a culture you might enjoy working in
- that offer training and further development opportunities
- that offer attractive salary scales and benefits packages
3. Communicate with you by:
- sending you a detailed job description for any role that you have discussed
- seeking your permission for your CV to be passed to a particular company
- forwarding your details for any role(s)
- prepareing you for interview
If you are successful, an agency will then negotiate the best achievable job package on your behalf. Ultimately, you make the final decision if a particular role and offer is suitable.