Fellows Bytes: What is the actual point of a recruiter?
In a past Fellows Bytes we explained why we think recruitment is not just all about the money. In this edition we’re bringing the focus back on the money and make our case on why it should actually be spent on a recruiter in the first place.
It seems like a relatively straight forward process. You’re looking for a new job and see one advertised; you successfully apply and start your shiny new role without any real level of hassle or stress. Same goes for a firm looking to hire. You advertise, interview a select number of potentially worthy candidates and end up with a brand new hire who is an asset to the team. Of course this can still be the case, however in an increasingly candidate driven market the need for a third party recruiter is becoming more apparent than ever.
Patent (and trade mark) attorneys by the very nature of their roles require a high level of attention to detail. They need to gather and digest information before any life changing decision, such as moving jobs, can be made. As a stark contrast firms are notorious for not providing detailed advertisements when they are looking to hire, opting for the more general and quite often vague approach. Potential candidates may not decide to apply due to lack of information and firms will lose out as a consequence. Recruiters are able to craft informative and detailed advertisements and speak to candidates in depth about roles, something most firms may not have the time to do, and are able to offer candidates a level of anonymity before they decide to apply.
There are an increasing number of positions available for a decreasing number of candidates at the moment. And when someone does make the decision to move, they are quite frankly inundated with a vast number of options. So, how do you pick the right one? There is a somewhat misinformed assumption that all patent, trade mark and law firms are the same, meaning making the jump from one to another will not impact too greatly on your career – right? If you’re moving because of a personality clash with one/all members of your team then of course a new firm will offer you this sanctuary. But if it’s because you’re not getting enough/have too much drafting, want more direct client contact rather than agency work, or are stuck working in a very specific technical area; then simply going with whoever offers you a job first is not going to be a clever move. Firms can offer very different things and recruiters can tell you this before you commit to filling in an application.
So if we’ve convinced you that a recruiter is the way to go (or perhaps you need a bit more convincing), why not give us a call on +44 207 903 5019?
Got a question you want answered? Get in touch with us via email: [email protected].