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Contract Process and Etiquette

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Contract

Contract Process And Etiquette

Once you have registered with myJobCaddy (or a recruitment agency) you will be contacted by a recruitment consultant when they think they have found a suitable role for you. They will provide you with a Job Spec if you are interested, and confirm the rate if you decide to have your CV put forward for the role. (Their remuneration is based on a percentage of your rate therefore they will be keen to put you forward at a favourable, yet realistic rate.)

Take note of the unique job reference number the consultant provides as a number of agencies may approach you with the same role. It is best practice to proceed with the agency that introduces you to the role first.

If you have agreed, the consultant will forward your CV to the client's hiring manager. Depending on the urgency in placing someone in the role, this process can happen quickly or be more drawn out; during this process you should keep in regular contact with the consultant handling the role.

If you are asked to attend an interview you should do some research on the role and the company (see our Useful Information pages for guidance). After the interview provide the consultant with feedback, including expressing your interest (or lack of) in the role.

If the client offers you the role you have a decision to make; consultants may push you to decide on the spot in order to finalise the deal. This sounds straightforward but can be more complex if you have had more than one recent interview and your preference is for a role you are waiting to hear about. In addition, the role on offer may not be at the rate you were hoping for.

It's important not to feel pressured into making a decision and that you are confident when negotiating your rate. (If you are unsure of the rate being offered or the value of your skills, Contact Us for up-to-date advice.) Clarify the exact date by which you must confirm your acceptance and use this information to push for any other roles you have interviewed for.

Your decision will probably come down to:

  • How selective you can be with the role (i.e. is the job market buoyant or depressed?) As a general rule, there are fewer roles as you move up the remuneration scale.

  • How close the rate being offered is to the one you are seeking. Determine if you are in a position of strength and be prepared to bargain.

  • The length of the contract. If the role is not quite to your liking but is only a three-month contract, this may sway your opinion.

If you do accept the role, the client will require the consultant to complete formal checks (although in some cases this will be performed by the client themselves). This includes confirming the details of your employment history for the previous five years; with more senior roles this may stretch to ten years. The details you provide on myJobCaddy will take the hassle out of this referencing process for both you and the consultant.

You will not be permitted to start the role until all checks are completed. We suggest you manage this process and check with the consultant to ensure they are not being held up at any stage.

Even though you may be able to provide your own references, recruitment agencies have an obligation to perform an independent check with previous employers. The consultant will contact your employers for the past five years and ask for (emailed or verbal) confirmation to verify your experience. Ensuring your previous employment details are accurate is critical to managing this process efficiently.

When you start your new role, impress from day one by arriving on time. You will soon become familiar with your daily duties and delivering what is expected; most Antipodeans are considered resourceful and bring a certain personality to the work environment which is often appreciated.

For the duration of the contract, always be professional and adhere to the company's rules and regulations. Use common sense by not abusing email, phone or Internet usage and be diligent with your timesheets and paperwork. Don't misuse company equipment or get too involved in office politics. Finally, it is good practice to honour the duration of the contract.

At the end of the contract, switch your job-hunting status on myJobCaddy back to 'Active' and update any changes to your personal details (including contact details, pay expectations, your CV, etc). Ensure you have the contact details of the recruitment agency that secured you the role and use these to update the referencing section of our website.