Recruitment Methods

Phone application in response to an advertised position

Generally used by smaller companies. If you are asked to phone (as opposed to submitting a written application) you must do so immediately. You will probably be screened by the receptionist who may take job and personal details. They will tell you that the employer will ring you back. This is a hit and miss method of recruitment and used by many smaller companies and very frustrating for jobseekers. (See screening interviews)

Written application in response to an advertised position - directly to the company.

Written applications to recruitment / employment agencies

Treat this the same as a letter to an employer, however, refer to the employer as “Your client” as they are a second party in this process. 

Registering with Recruitment / Employment Agencies

• This job search strategy requires less work and allows you to access to job opportunities you might not have found on your own.

• Recruitment or employment agencies specialise only in recruitment.

• They generally deal with high demand jobs and often specialise in job areas such as IT, accountancy and administration, and are an effective recruitment tool.

In Australia it is illegal for applicants to pay the agency to find a job.

The employer pays the fee and there is a trial period. Agencies do not get full payment until the end of the trial period, so they are very selective and good job references are the most important job criteria.

Use the Google search box to look for employment agencies, or job boards, for example.

Or specify what type of agency you are looking for,  i.e. mining employment agencies,  finance employment agencies. Job boards+Australia,  (or your country) is also a good search. 

Custom Search

Registering with a Job Search Firm

Labour Hire Companies

Labour hire companies have companies generally meet short to medium term labour hiring needs in the blue collar job categories.  Workers are contracted out and labour hire companies pay all insurance etc.

• Temporary agencies are very selective in their recruitment. Jobseekers will have to do a range of work related tests. 

• Jobseekers may need to establish themselves and build credibility with an agency to be selected for some of the better positions.

•  A wise jobseeker would take any assignment and use these placements to build a good employment profile.

• Many people have been placed in good permanent jobs after proving themselves. 

• Often the company will make the approach to the agency to employ the temporary staff member full time.  It is all about "fitting in" with the company's organisational culture. Usually this arrangement is considered a 'perfect match' for both the employer and employee.

• Many unemployed people are afraid of the security of accepting temporary assignments. If they have good skills they should not be deterred by going down this path.

Group recruitment requiring telephone interviews

This recruitment method is used by employment agencies on behalf of a client and some Government Departments to short list candidates from a large pool (i.e. public service tests, or the opening of a new company and in Government the introduction of a new policy initiative or increase in budget for new substantive positions). Potential employees will be given a time when someone will ring them and they will have to answer a series of questions.  The company will generally send an information package showing them what to expect.  Some facts:-

• Telephone Interviewing for group recruitment can often screen out  good candidates. Applicants must prepare carefully for these interviews.

• The interviewer will have a script so that everyone is asked the same questions.

• The interviewer will use a ratings matrix and will give the applicant a value, or a mark. This will determine if they have passed the screening process to go on to an interview.

• The interviewer needs to be very experienced to be able to evaluate answers at the same time as asking questions.

This is a pretty hard job so the applicant needs to make it easy for the interviewer, or they may be unfairly rated. Answers need to be constructed almost the same as in selection criteria writing using processes used to make a decision. Pro-Active Human Resource Management can offer a tutorial in this area.Contact us

Group recruitment - information sessions

If a company is doing group recruitment they may ask you to attend an information session if you pass the telephone interview. They may do recruitment testing or simply get you to play silly games meant as a recruitment assessment technique. I can only say "good luck". An arsenal of psychology tests are available for use, the main one is to find out if candidates are team players. If a jobseeker is attending these interview days I recommend reading up on assessment tests such as team building. Many recruitment agencies are staffed by people with psychology degrees, and use these tests as they look impressive and costly and they need to justify their qualifications.