6 recruitment myths debunked - What employees should know

Recruitment is now part of the modern labour market. Many employees, but also employers, decide to use a recruitment agency when looking for staff or a job. The recruitment agency acts as a bridge: It helps both sides to ensure that their respective needs are met.

Although it is now common practice, there are still many misunderstandings and prejudices - both among employees and employers. Here, the most persistent myths are debunked one by one.

Myth 1: Recruitment agencies only work in the interests of companies

This myth persists. Many people assume that recruitment agencies only look after the interests of companies. One reason for this myth is that recruitment agencies are usually paid by companies and then take care of finding suitable candidates for advertised positions.

However, the aim of a professional recruitment agency is to find a long-term match between employee and employer. It is not just a question of whether the candidates have the professional aptitude, but also whether their career goals and personal values match the requirements of the position and the corporate culture. In addition, a professional recruitment agency also provides employees with comprehensive support - help with revising their CV, preparatory discussions for interviews and more. The employee therefore also benefits from the collaboration.

Myth 2: Only employees with poor prospects use recruitment agencies

The prejudice persists that only people who have difficulty finding a job themselves use recruitment agencies. It can be assumed that people who make this statement are not aware of the wide range of services offered by recruitment agencies.

Recruitment agencies work with candidates from all professional groups and qualification levels - from career starters to experienced managers. Recruitment agencies have a broad network of different companies and employees that can be brought together. Highly qualified managers in particular have the opportunity to access jobs that are not publicly advertised via the recruitment agency - so-called hidden jobs. Many companies use this exclusive service to avoid being inundated with an abundance of applications.

Myth 3: Recruitment agencies are expensive

It is often ignorance that prevents employees from working with recruitment agencies. They fear that the service is associated with high costs.

What many people forget: Recruitment agencies are usually paid by the company looking for staff - not by the employees. Recruitment agency services are therefore free of charge for employees. However, every employee can find out from the recruitment agency whether there are any costs. A reputable recruitment agency will provide transparent information about costs. In most cases, the recruitment agency receives a commission if the candidate is successfully placed - this is paid by the company.

Myth 4: Recruitment agencies only provide temporary work

In the early days of recruitment, it was common for employees to be seconded to temporary employment agencies. In the meantime, these areas have become separate and there is a clear distinction between recruitment agencies and temporary employment agencies.

Many recruitment agencies also offer both. However, the candidate can find out about this in advance and also give their consent as to whether they would like to be seconded to a company for a certain period of time - or whether they would like to use the service to ensure that a suitable position is found for them.

Myth 5: Brokers do not cater to individual needs

It is often claimed that recruitment agencies do not respond sufficiently to the individual needs and wishes of their candidates. Of course, this can happen in individual cases, but it also depends on the communication between the employee and the agency.

On the contrary, the recruitment agency has a strong interest in understanding the wishes and goals of its candidates. The better they can understand these, the better they can place vacancies with employees. The aim of the recruitment agency is to find long-term employment. It is therefore important that employees communicate openly and honestly with the recruitment agency - career goals and expectations of a new position are naturally taken into account.

Myth 6: Recruitment agencies are only intermediaries and offer no real support

There is often a rumour that recruitment agencies are only concerned with connecting companies and applicants. This is an outdated idea that no longer corresponds to reality in the modern world of work.

Professional recruitment agencies have a large portfolio of services that go far beyond mere job placement: Support in preparing professional application documents, valuable tips for job interviews as well as tips for salary negotiations for employees who have already been placed. A good recruitment agency also has extensive knowledge of the labour market and can provide its candidates with valuable insights into industry trends and salary structures.

What are the advantages of working with a recruitment agency?

One of the biggest advantages is the network: the recruitment agency has contacts with companies and decision-makers in various sectors and companies of different sizes - including many jobs that are not advertised publicly. For employees, this means access to exclusive job offers that they would not normally find.

The recruitment agency also saves time: it researches suitable vacancies and helps candidates to submit their applications in a targeted manner. The agency defines career goals in advance, searches for suitable jobs and helps to put together a professional application portfolio - including a professional CV using current methods. The recruitment expert also helps candidates to not only find their next job, but can also strategically focus the recruitment agency on finding suitable jobs and offers that successfully represent the candidate's career goals.

You can read more about the placement of skilled workers from abroad in our article Recruitment of foreign specialists.

Frequently asked questions about recruitment