Seeking employment? Learn how job agencies work

If you’re searching for a new job, job agencies are a good place to start since they specialize in matching you to an employer. Read on to find out how to get started with a job agency.

Companies hire job agencies to help with their staffing needs, including full-time, temporary, seasonal and part-time positions. How job agencies generally work is that they place candidates in specific jobs in industries like retail, manufacturing, industrial, financial, legal, technology or healthcare and then also help candidates find jobs in their local neighbourhoods, rural farming communities, and downtown city centres, out of province and out of country.

If you're an executive looking for a management opportunity, or a worker in search of a new position in a manufacturing plant, here are a few features that employment agencies offer that can help you find your next job.

Job agencies have access to hundreds of available jobs that are often not available to the general public. They can search for positions tailored to your skills, years of experience and even preferred location. A bonus of registering with a job agency is you'll get an early notification when a new position that matches your background becomes available.

Job agencies want you to succeed, so many offer free training in a number of areas to help you build your job search profile. Computer training, writing courses, language development and other skill-building programs are available to candidates who register with a job agency. These training courses help candidates become more marketable to employers hiring new talent.

Job agencies are a great source for advice on how to build your resume and conduct effective interviews. Staffing agency counsellors will work with you to ensure your resume is formatted in a way that makes it more attractive to potential employers. They will also support you in managing the interview process by conducting a few practice sessions before you go in front of the hiring manager.

Job agencies will work with you by introducing you to companies and hiring managers who can help you today or down the road. Your professional network will grow in terms of the number of people you know who can help with your job search efforts. You can also network with fellow job seekers who can support you and share their experience looking for a job. Networking is a key requirement in today’s job market.

Just like finding a job, you have to do your homework when looking for a job agency. Search for agencies with experience filling jobs in your area of interest. Also look for agencies that offer training and employment counselling services. And remember, although there is no limit to how many agencies you can signup with, a good recommendation is to look at three to five job agencies that are suitable to help you find your next job.