Using a Recruitment Consultant – Do and Don’ts

For nearly 25 years Locri has been recruiting both Landscape Architects and Urban Designers. The business focuses on permanent placements, mostly UK based, but we also place people in North America, the Middle East, and across Asia and Australia.

Locri has been successful in this sector for many years, and for many reasons. The main reason for continued success is that Carl always looks to provide a service based on a high quality personal approach for both individuals and consultancies.

See below some general yet excellent advice when engaging a Recruitment Consultant. This is a guide for people looking for a new job.

Be careful to pick the right recruiter

In simple terms, find a recruiter who specializes in your sector. Find someone with a long track record in your field of expertise. This recruiter will have a stronger network of clients, as he / she will have been reliant on repeat business to sustain their recruitment consultancy over the long term.

Also –

Review their web page, is your recruiter talking about their clients?

If possible talk to other people / get recommendations.

Finally look at LinkedIn profiles, do they looking experienced and well networked in your sector?

Build a strong and personal relationship with your recruiter

The better your recruiter knows you, (your interests / ambitions / expertise), the better he or she will be placed to help you find the right job. Meeting them in person is critical.

When engaging with a recruiter for the first time make sure that you agree to meet them to discuss your career and build a trusting relationship.

Be honest about your skills and interests

When you meet them, be very clear and honest about your current career situation. Make sure you explain what level of experience you have, what particular skills you have, and what skills you are looking to develop in your next role.

At this point you should also be discussing your interests and where you want to take your career next, and also in the long term.

At the end of this meeting your recruiter should have a very rounded knowledge of you / your professional aspirations.

Your recruiter will then be in a position to develop a clear strategy to help you achieve your short term and long term ambitions.

Do not let your CV / Folio be sent to anyone without your prior consent

This is something that is critical – we cannot stress this too often.

Your CV and Folio should never go to any studio without your prior knowledge / your consent.

You should be controlling this stage of the process, allowing your details to be sent only to studios that you have agreed with them / studios that interest you.

Remember it will look very bad for a candidate if they are being put forward for roles they are completely unsuitable for and this may harm your potential future relationship with that studio(s).

Utilise your recruiters’ knowledge prior to Interview

Your recruiter should know his / her client well, your recruiter is in a really good position to help you perform well at the interview.

You should both have the same objective, to find the right role for the next step in your career.

Therefore – ask your recruiter as many questions as you need to, they will be keen to help.

Make sure you have basic practical details, but also more nuanced information about the studio, and the people you are meeting and what they might expect to see.

The more informed you are before the interview, the more successful the interview will be for both parties.

Build a long-term relationship with your recruiter

Here at Locri we have excellent long-term relationships with candidates. (We have taken candidates from Graduate roles through to Director level).

Most people do change jobs from time to time, keep in contact with your trusted recruiter, they will be keen to help you with your career as required, and the better the relationship you have the better the advice and help you will receive.