How To Get A Job Through A Recruitment Firm- A Step By Step Guide

Job searching in Kenya got easier with the emergence of recruitment firms and agencies that act as intermediaries between employers and job seekers. Today, we are going to give you an insight into the recruitment process of Corporate Staffing Services, a leading recruitment firm, recruiting for top firms in Kenya and foreign companies interested with recruiting Kenyan staff.
In order to get a job through Corporate Staffing Services (CSS), the first and most important step is to understand their processes and procedures. Every firm is different and you might get disappointed if you have similar expectations when it comes to CSS. By understanding the process, you can understand better how to approach each job application and achieve success.
Today, we will let you in on their recruiting process, from the moment they advertise for a position to when the hiring decision is made. You can use this information to identify where you have been going wrong and to improve your chances of getting a job interview with them.

Here is a Step-by-Step Guide to Get a Job through CSS

Step 1 – Find the Job You Want

Assuming you already have a professional CV at hand, your first step to any job hunt is to find a job opening. With CSS, all open positions are posted on their website under the “Latest Jobs” section.
Visit the website, browse the current openings, read the job descriptions and identify a position that you meet qualifications for. If you don’t find one, then it means they don’t have such a position at that particular moment. But keep tabs on the site as they post new positions as soon as they have them.
You can also find their open positions on Kenyan job sites like Career Point Kenya, Brighter Monday, Kenyan Jobs, and other related sites. If you have registered your details with them, they will send you job alerts for open positions in your specific profession.
Recruiter Advice: Read and understand the job descriptions to ascertain you are well qualified and that you match the requirements. Also, your experience matters a lot in the selection process, so capitalize on it.
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Step 2 – Apply as Soon as You See the Job
Getting a job through recruitment firms is very different from a direct company hire. Unlike with the government, top organisations hiring in-house and parastatals where a position can take months before shortlisting begins, they start shortlisting as soon as they advertise the position.
This is because their clients have very strict deadlines that need they need to meet. So make sure you apply for the job as soon as you see it in your inbox or on the website. Avoid waiting until the deadline nears or on the deadline day to apply.
Recruiter Advice: To improve your chances for the interview, make sure your CV is well done, and that your qualifications for the job are very clear. Also, apply to the right email address (provided in the job advert), use the Subject Line provided and remember to follow instructions.

Step 3 – Wait to be invited for the Job Interview

After making sure you have the experience and special skills required and have applied for the job, it is time to wait for the call. You might receive a call on the first day of your application, second or third. How soon you get the call will vary from one position to the other.
One thing to note; the call to the interview can come as soon as you apply, so ensure your phone is close to you. And like I said in step 2, recruiters start shortlisting for positions as soon as they start streaming in. So don’t be surprised that you were called too soon.
Recruiter Advice: If one week has passed since you made your application and no one has called you for an interview, consider making a follow-up. You can call or send an email. The feedback will help to clarify the situation of your job application and ease any doubts.
Provide the full names and the position you applied for, and the recruiter will let you know the progress or problem with your application. Sounds good?

Step 4 – Go for the First Interview

If you were successful at the application stage, you will receive a phone call and email inviting you for the first interview at their offices. Some of you have interviewed with them and understand how this process works.
When attending the interview, remember to carry your original school certificates, appointment letters for places you’ve worked, recommendation letters, current or last payslip and your updated CV.
Recruiter Advice: Come well prepared, be confident about what you do, have a positive attitude, dress for the position and don’t lie about your experience. If you have the experience the position is looking for and can demonstrate the same during the interview, all should be well.

Step 5 – Wait for the Second Interview

This stage is very crucial. When the recruiting manager is convinced that you are well qualified and can do the job, the next step is to recommend you to the client. Remember that recruitment firms hire on behalf of employers and that the final say rests with the client.
When CSS recommends you to the client and they happen to like you, you will receive a call inviting you for the second interview. It can take place at the offices in Westlands, or the employer’s premises. It will all depend on the company or employer hiring.
At the second interview, you can expect a more gruelling experience than the first one, so prepare more. At this stage, you will already know who the hiring company is, what they do and the kind of candidate they are looking for.
If you were not successful in the first interview, you will get a regret message in your email, explaining why. If, for one reason or the other, you don’t get this email, feel free to follow up.
Recruiter Advice: The time taken to get to this stage will vary, so please be patient. You might get the call in a few days or weeks. How soon you get the call is usually dependent on the time it takes for a client to confirm a meeting with the candidates or their availability to interview.
If it takes longer than a week and you are yet to receive a call or email about the second interview, consider making a follow-up. They will let you know the current status of the position.

Step 6 – The Client Picks His/Her Best Candidate

If you make it to the second interview and the employer selects you for the job, expect a phone call letting you know that you succeeded and an email with the job offer. The offer may come directly from the client who is hiring, or from them.
And if you didn’t make it, CSS will send you a regret email, explaining reasons why you didn’t get selected. But this is not to mean that you were not good. When another client comes to them with a similar job opening, they will call you to know if you are interested in the position. And you never know, it could be the right position for you.
Remember that your job search is a journey and a process that takes time. While you might not have been successful in that particular position, there will be many others you can be considered for.
Recruiter Advice: If the client doesn’t pick you for the job, remember to ask the recruiter who interviewed you what went wrong. When you are open to feedback and are ready to accept it, however negative, chances of success start to improve.
In Conclusion, Please Note
At Corporate Staffing Services, they do not charge candidates any fee for job placement. The recruiting and hiring process (as laid out above) is completely free of charges.
If anyone using their company name asks you to pay a fee for any of the stages, run as far as your legs can take you. They are cons preying on unsuspecting job seekers.
Alongside Recruitment Services, CSS also offers Interview Coaching and CV Writing Services.
Visit them via corporatestaffing.co.ke