People want the opportunity to be seen, but registering with too many recruitment consultancies can actually be counterproductive for your next step.

It makes sense. If you register with several consultancies to represent you, it means more people fighting your corner. It could also mean that you are increasing the competition between others for your services.

However, it doesn’t quite work out that way. Russell Drinkwater, Director, highlights what can happen is losing value in what you bring to the table, “If you take the approach to register with as many consultancies as possible, what tends to happen is that your CV is sent to every major company within your region. What is seen at one employer is seen at another and it keeps going. What this does is you start to spread thinly across multiple places. Registering with many just doesn’t help your efforts. It does happen.”

“The alternative is the quality over quantity approach. By this, find a recruiter where you can explain what you want, what you dislike, what your aspirations are and just be open. There are people (such as the team at Bond Recruit) who will know construction directors and have that conversation on your behalf. CVs that are blindly sent, is completely different from a chat and then picking up with relationships that are already in place.” 

Jack Bond, Director, does recognise a balance and depends on what you are looking for. “Whilst recruiters want people to stick with them, we don’t hold a monopoly. For instance, if you are a freelance candidate, then registering with many recruiters can mean you get hired for a short-term role, potentially quicker. All you might want is to pick up work and be flexible with it.”

“For permanent candidates, it’s the relationships you build that become your reassurance. I know that our team would say to a candidate, ‘stick with me.’ The reputation a recruiter has formed with employers becomes a huge asset to them. My advice is to find a consultant you can trust. It just puts your mind at ease that you don’t have to be acknowledged by everyone. Someone who is well versed in what you want and your next move is beneficial.”

Jason Drinkwater, Director, shares from a recruiter’s perspective, “If a consultant is going to be working on behalf of a candidate, naturally they want loyalty. The time invested means that someone is prepared to put in the effort for someone else. If a consultant knows they are part of the same conversation with two or more recruiters, then they start to become part of a rat race. This doesn’t bode well for both sides where everyone forms part of a queue (and even more admin for a candidate). When you give people time and attention, the rapport built means mutual respect on both sides.”

If you are thinking about registering with multiple consultants, it is all about the depth of conversation you have. A good recruitment consultant is going to ask you questions about your career, what holds you back and where your future lies. 

It might be an ambition to work for a specific company, but having your CV sent to an employer multiple times by multiple agencies, will never work in your favour. 

Similar to any relationship, we all need to invest a bit of ourselves with someone else. When you find a company that listens, you can open up and have a mutual respect, it can be a huge asset, not just now, but throughout your career.

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