If you live in a big city like Dallas – Fort Worth, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a staffing agency to register with to be considered for job opportunities. A quick google on “staffing agencies” would bring back more recruiting offices than you’ll have time to visit. So how do you go about putting yourself on their lists of available candidates? The process may vary with some agencies, but for the most part, they all offer the same options.

The four most common ways are to: walk in for a visit, set an appointment for a visit, apply online, or send your resume via fax or email.

I believe the most effective way is to visit in person. This gives you a chance to get to know your recruiter and the company that you depend on to find your next job. But more importantly, it gives your recruiter a chance to get to know you! Why is this important? If your recruiter works for a busy office, chances are he or she contacts tens of people everyday. If you can get a chance to make a good, and lasting impression on your recruiter, there’s a very good chance you’ll be remembered the next time a relevant opportunity comes up! So give an agency a call to find out when you could stop by to see them!

Applying online is very convenient, both for you, and for the agency. When you apply online, you’re submitting all your relevant information and work experience for the recruiters to review. If a recruiter feels that you qualify for a certain position, you’ll receive a phone call for further screening. Applying online will save you a lot of time and gas, and will allow you to apply to many different offices.

You could also send your resume via email or fax. This takes very little effort on your end, and you could potentially send your resume out to hundreds of contacts. This, however, would require you to obtain a big list of contact emails. You could do this by visiting staffing agency websites and click on their “Contact” link. Keep in mind, though, when you send your resume unannounced, there’s a good chance that it will get lost in the piles of other resumes that recruiters are often too busy to look through. To increase your chances of having your resume read, make sure you indicate the desired positions you are seeking in your email subject. As well, include an introductory paragraph in your email body to entice the recipients to give you a call back!

I hope this gives you a bit of a boost in your journey to that next job!

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