We’ve compiled six points that we recommend you consider when looking for your next career move or staff for your school:
Trust
Trust is the most important factor when it comes to dealing with a recruiter. Do you trust them to do the right thing for you or your school? Are they simply saying what you want to hear so that you will sign on with them, or are they genuinely interested in making a difference? Can you believe them when they say they’ve found the perfect match? Do you trust their feedback process? These are the questions you need to ask yourself from the very beginning.
Reputation
Just like certain educational institutions are known for their high standards, some recruitment agencies come with reputations that truly back up their offering. When searching for the right recruiter, always look for an agency that has a tried and trusted reputation in the industry you’re in (in this case, education). And if you’ve heard negative reviews of an agency and they approach you, remember what you’ve heard and weigh your options.
Experience
Sure, you do get recruiters who’ve been on the job for two years who are really great at what they do. However, they often have mentors or advisors in the same business who offer them guidance and help. When considering working with a recruitment agency, look at the experience of the people on the team – how many years of experience do they have in the industry combined? Are there people working there with 10 or 15 years of experience? Or is everyone new to the game?
Expertise
You want the recruitment agency you work with to be experts – not only in recruitment but in the sector that you’re in. They need to know the ins and outs of how the educational system in this country works, how schools operate on a daily basis, and what teachers need in order to thrive in their roles. When hiring for schools, you can’t simply go with a generalist recruiter because they lack the expertise and knowledge of the industry.
Connections
You want to work with a recruitment agency that has both candidates and schools on the books. They need to have both a deep talent pool and a wide network of institutions that are hiring. It takes trust, reputation, experience, and expertise to build up these connections. A recruitment agency with very little industry experience isn’t going to be able to deliver – whether you’re looking for your next teaching role or to fill an important teaching position at your school. Look for recruiters who are constantly networking, nurturing their connections, and growing their business.
Understanding
Any recruitment agency you partner with needs to understand you or your school. If you’re a candidate, the consultant needs to get to know your career goals, wants, and needs. And if you’re a school, they need to understand your institutional history, current culture, and standards of education. A good recruiter will take the time to get to know your situation and what it is that you’re looking for before they even start with the rest of the process.
If you’re looking for a transparent recruitment partner that ticks all these boxes, get in touch. We’re here to help teachers and schools find their perfect match.
