This is a subject that is close to my heart, as a recruitment consultant my brand is everything.

I specialise in the property, construction and architecture sectors and the job market very strong this year. It’s no secret that these sectors are performing well and I see many clients and candidates looking to make the most of such a strong market.

It’s well known that we have a shortage of skilled professionals in these sectors and so the ball is firmly in the candidate’s court right now when it comes to choosing an employer.

As a business, your brand is a very important piece of your talent attraction strategy and is often the first impression a candidate gets of you. I have no doubt you have worked hard and spent time and money on getting the right message out to the market.

Recruitment consultants work on your behalf and are often the first impression a candidate gets of your business. One of the ways you can control your brand in the job market is by working smarter with recruitment consultants.

Why is this important?

Controlling your brand in the market allows you to attract top talent and be their first choice. If you are working with too many consultants you can give off the impression that you are desperate to fill the position.

The message potential employees are receiving about your business can be different from different consultants depending on how well the consultant knows your business. It is really important that you trust your consultant and are confident they know enough about your business to excite the right candidates and fairly represent you.

What can you do as a Client to best manage your brand if you are using a recruitment consultant?

Spend the time to meet your consultant in person regularly, ideally in your place of work. So much can be picked up about your business just by the consultant spending time in it.

Talk your consultant through your company culture, values, what do you do as a team? What kind of person works well with the current team? What kind of person hasn’t worked well in the past?

Ask your consultant questions about how your business fits with candidate’s expectations.

Create an action plan with your consultant, generally if you are the one driving this you are working with the wrong consultant.

Why would you work with one recruitment consultant exclusively?

Personally, when a client works with me exclusively on a role I put all my time and energy into finding a great candidate for them. I will work day and night to make sure I find a great candidate for the role because it’s my personal brand at stake!

By working with one consultant you have one consistent message going out to candidates in the job market, top candidates want a clear and succinct explanation of the role, the business and the team they will be working with. Working with one consultant ensures that you will get the message right.

Having one point of contact for a role saves a huge amount of time and you do not have to be concerned with which candidate is working with which recruitment consultant. What if you receive the same candidate's CV from three different consultants? What did the three consultants tell the candidate about your business? Did all of the consultants actually meet the candidate, or did one of them just send the CV through in the hope that they would be first?

Any glitch in the recruitment process can have a negative connotation for the candidate and I believe as the client you deserve to be represented in the best possible way.

In a job market where it is hard to find good skilled people, you should give yourself the best chance at hiring top talent. To do this effectively I recommend that you work closely with one recruitment consultant or at the very least with a strategic select few.

Start by trialing it with one role and enjoy some excellent service and results!