Look into signing up with a recruitment agent and dozens of companies come up. You don't know which to choose, or how many to sign up with.
The short answer: use two or three at the same time.
(This is written from experience of job hunting in Japan, but the logic applies in most places.)
Why one isn't enough
Each agency has different openings. Some openings are only available through one agency (unadvertised positions). With just one, the range of jobs you can even see is limited.
The other reason is that you have no one to compare against. Are the openings they show you good? Is the consultant's advice right? Is the salary offered in line with the market? With only one agency, your only yardstick is that one consultant.
Agents are paid by the company when someone they introduced joins ("Why are recruitment agents free?"). Most consultants are sincere, but the structure does make it tempting to push "easy to fill" openings. Having more than one point of view makes that bias easier to notice.
Too many doesn't work either
So is more always better? No.
- Meetings and messages with consultants pile up, and while you're employed you run out of time
- You get introduced to the same kinds of openings by several agencies
- You lose track of which job you applied to through which agency
The last one in particular causes trouble. Never apply to the same company through two different agencies. The company receives the same person's application twice, which looks bad, and it also causes problems between the agencies.
How to combine them
| Combination | Suits |
|---|---|
| 1 generalist + 1 specialist | People who've more or less decided on a field. You see both breadth and depth |
| 2 generalists | People who haven't decided on a direction yet. See a wide range of openings and compare consultants |
| 1–2 agents + a headhunting service | People who want to go at their own pace. Set up a channel where offers come to you while you wait |
Four rules when using several
- It's fine to be honest that you're using others: agencies generally seem to expect it. Telling them makes scheduling easier than hiding it
- Keep your applications in one spreadsheet: company, which agency, what stage, next step. That alone prevents double applications
- If your consultant isn't a good fit, ask for a change: if they're slow to respond or don't listen to what you want, don't hesitate to request someone else
- When you stop using one, say so clearly: "I've accepted a job through another agency" or "I'm pausing my search for now" is enough
"Thank you for your introductions. I've accepted a position through another agency, so I'm ending my search. I really appreciate your help."
Today's exercise
- Check your priorities (the two things you won't compromise on)
- Pick one generalist agency, and one specialist or headhunting service close to your field
- Set up the spreadsheet for tracking applications before you start
More agents isn't automatically better.
Enough to compare, few enough to manage. The right number lies in between.
References
Related articles on this site (Work category)