Exclusivity - friend or foe?

Working in an exclusive capacity in any area can make life much easier, getting it wrong can mean a total waste of your time and leave you without the agreed end-result. How do you know when an exclusive relationship is the right path to take?

For clients, having an exclusive relationship with a recruiter will make life a million times easier if they give that responsibility to the right person. I feel very strongly that an exclusive relationship must be earned over time, once a recruiter has proven they will deliver as promised. For me, a client’s exclusivity is the biggest reward and compliment and I take that very seriously. Once the client has identified their chosen agency, it means a fraction of the time and work they usually need to give to hiring. An exclusive relationship will only work, a lot like any partnership, if both parties are committed to its success. In order for a recruiter to excel given this opportunity, a full brief from the client is needed and feedback is critical. In the technically advanced world we live in, it’s very easy to use emails and/or portals and not have an honest conversation about the candidates pre or post interview. A two minute conversation giving feedback will save buckets of time down the line and will ensure the recruiter can hone their search and find the right candidate. We have all met one candidate (or hundreds!) in our time that ‘on paper’ looks like someone you would never request for an interview but in reality they may have been one of the most impressive candidates you ever hired. Without a strong relationship with your recruiter and having trust in their advice, instinct and opinion you will not meet special candidates that are a bit different to the norm.

For candidates, registering with a number of agencies isn’t the best way to achieve a smooth and discreet transition into a new role. Anyone who has registered with a number of agencies in the past will probably never do it again! Finding your new dream job isn’t a numbers game (if only it was that easy!). It’s about working closely with a talented recruiter who understands exactly what you want and possibly more importantly, understands your background and will represent you in the best possible way to prospective employers. I have worked with exclusive candidates, some for years, and have worked with them through each move in their career. As a recruiter, once you have that relationship with a candidate, the confidence you have promoting them is immeasurable. You understand not only their background and career but their patterns as individuals meaning you can coach, mentor when needed, advise and generally work as a team to a shared goal.

For recruiters, the weight of the exclusive relationship is a heavy one! I can’t speak for every recruiter but for me, telling a client I understand their requirement and I will deliver the ideal candidate is a big promise and not one that I take lightly. Our clients will receive the best possible service and candidates whether we work with them exclusively or on a highly competitive PSL agreement alongside 7 other agencies. Our exclusive clients have absolute faith in our abilities to fulfil the brief given and in return we offer preferential rates and a heavily extended rebate period.