| Q : If I send my CV to a sales recruitment agency, will | | | | good people to be asked to recruit again and again |
| they then send it on to companies without my | | | | when vacancies occur. |
| knowledge? | | | | Q : How many sales recruitment agencies should I |
| A : They certainly shouldn't do. Sales recruitment | | | | contact? |
| agencies have a duty of care once they have your | | | | A : You may think there's no harm in contacting all of |
| details. By law they need specific permission from you | | | | the available agencies. However, if you do this, be |
| in order to send any of your personal details | | | | weary, don't tell your recruitment consultants. If they |
| anywhere. Once you have entrusted them with your | | | | know you are with every agency, they will also know |
| CV they have a duty of care to keep these details | | | | their chances of making a fee out of you are |
| completely confidential. On your first approach, you | | | | significantly reduced, and as a result will put less effort |
| may find the odd consultant try to be clever by asking | | | | into helping you. Personally, I would recommend finding |
| your permission to send your CV in at short notice | | | | 2 to 3 good agencies to help you. |
| without a call to you, in order not to 'miss the boat'. this | | | | Q : What if the agency sends my CV to my present |
| is an attempt to achieve license to send your CV out | | | | employer? |
| anywhere, any time. Make sure you are clear, in | | | | A: Oh boy are they in trouble. Data protection laws |
| writing, that you don't want your CV sent anywhere | | | | dictate that sales recruitment agencies shouldn't do |
| without written permission first. | | | | anything with personal details without the specific |
| Q: What's the point of a company using sales | | | | permission of the individuals concerned, if they do, they |
| recruitment agencies? | | | | are breaking the law. If they break the law and ruin |
| A: There are a basket of benefits to companies | | | | your career, I would imagine a court would take a very |
| recruiting. Firstly, if a company where to advertise a | | | | dim view. However, as insurance I would recommend |
| sales job in the national press, they may find they | | | | a specific written request to an agency not to send |
| receive 100s of applications, and indeed from all over | | | | your CV out anywhere without written permission |
| the world. Dealing with this response requires | | | | from yourself. This will ensure against the odd fast |
| resources, time and money that many simply don't | | | | talking consultant who gets you to say yes to sending |
| have. The idea of sales recruitment agencies is to filter | | | | your CV out quickly if he sees a 'really good' that he |
| candidates down to a manageable short list, saving | | | | doesn't want you to miss! |
| time and money. In addition, sales recruiting agencies | | | | Q : Should I use an agency to find me a job? |
| are constantly advertising meaning they may already | | | | A : In most cases, yes. Most pharmaceutical |
| have a bunch of good candidates in their database to | | | | companies use recruitment agencies as a standard |
| choose from meaning more choice in less time. Finally, | | | | process. A good recruitment consultant will help you |
| sales recruitment agencies offer expertise in sales | | | | through the process, help you improve your CV and |
| recruitment to people who may have little or no | | | | advise you in interview technique etc. In addition they |
| experience in this area, this in itself can be invaluable | | | | will have good channels into companies in order to get |
| once a trusting relationship is built between agency and | | | | you in front of the right people. |
| client. | | | | If you're looking for pharmaceutical jobs, recruitment |
| Q : How does the recruitment agency make money | | | | agencies really are an integral part of the process you |
| out of me? | | | | can't ignore. Find the right agency and they will not only |
| A : It's quite simply, if they don't find you a job, they | | | | be able to find you a job now, but you may find they |
| make nothing out of you. If they place you they get a | | | | are able to find you further jobs as you move through |
| percentage of your starting salary, say 20%. If you | | | | your career. |
| leave in the early weeks or months, they may have to | | | | Good luck. |
| return some of the fee. It's in their interest to place | | | | |