How I Finally Got A Procurement Job Through A Recruitment Agency

Jeremy’s story…

I think it’s safe to say that gone are the days when you were guaranteed you would get a job simply because you have a degree.

If anything, you should be worried about all the people who have a degree similar to yours and are aggressively looking for jobs in the same field and industries you are in.

I cleared campus in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Procurement. But getting a procurement job was difficult until I used a recruitment agency.

It was proving to be an uphill task to get a job and for a whole year nothing was bearing fruit.

I would send out countless CV’s but no employer ever got back to me.

I even went ahead to get a professional CV but the interview calls I kept yearning for never came through.

It was when I finally I decided to apply for procurement jobs through a recruitment firm that my life and career took a completely different turn.

This year in January I decided to completely revise my job search techniques.

I started looking for some of the leading recruitment agencies in Kenya and immediately started applying for jobs through them.

After making a number of applications in my field with my professional CV and adhering to the career advice articles, I was finally invited for an interview in late February this year.

7 and a half months later, I am now working in the Procurement department in one of the leading NGO’s.

Had I not applied for a job through this recruitment firm, I would probably still be searching for a job.

I discovered that recruitment firms have a lot of advantages when you apply for a job through them.

Here are 3 crucial reasons…

1. Top companies recruit through agencies

Almost every other company in Kenya and the world today is recruiting through a agencies. Whether it’s in banking, manufacturing, private sector, NGO’s etc., employers prefer to outsource their hiring services.

Recruiters are trusted for their ability to select top talent from a wide pool in the job market.

They are outsourced by companies because they are objective in their selection process and only recommend the best and most competent candidates to their employers.

So if you are looking to work with a specific employer, go through a recruitment agency because they can get you there.

2. Updated and credible jobs

When I was desperately looking for a job in 2017 I was so discouraged and frustrated because two times I fell for job scams and in the process lost some money.

I was so hungry to get into the job market I ended up applying for fake jobs or called for interviews that did not exist.

However, I realized that when using a recruitment firm, all the procurement jobs advertised were with legit companies and I was never charged anything from registering my CV, being interviewed or after I got the job offer.

I also used to get timely job alerts meaning I could always apply for a job before the deadline passed.

3. Career advancement

Since I registered my details with a recruitment firm, I have always received tips on how to keep advancing in my career and making the right career choices.

For instance, I now know how to always brand myself in order to stand out in my field. Knowing how competitive the Procurement profession is, I always apply these tips to stay ahead.

And I have noticed that by so doing, I am now charged with more responsibilities and I have no doubt that I am certainly making the right decisions for my life and career.

In summary…

Truth be told, getting a job is certainly not easy. However if you start applying for jobs using the right avenues, then you can significantly reduce the amount of time you spend out of the job market.