FAQ's
How do you operate?
Firstly we listen very closely to what both sides of the equation are looking for and we ensure, where possible, that both sides get exactly what they are looking for. Obviously, we do not live in a perfect world, and invariably life is full of compromise. We do make it absolutely clear that we want our candidates to be entirely happy with their choice, and so no undue pressure will come from us either way.
Who pays for your service?
The eventual employer pays entirely for our service and candidates are not expected to contribute towards our fees.
I'm having trouble putting my CV together - can you help?
We'd be delighted to!
Since setting up in 1987 we have seen possibly hundreds of thousands of CV's, some of which have missed the mark. We have good idea of what our clients are looking for and are happy to pass on advice where necessary.
Should I raise the question of salary?
No, leave it to the potential employer, and if they do simply say “there is more to life than money, however, I do hope to be paid the market rate – whatever that is” , and leave the negotiations to us!
Will you negotiate the best package for me?
We will always negotiate the best possible package on behalf of our candidates. Market forces will prevail, but we do get paid a percentage of your package - the more we negotiate on your behalf the more we earn. We cannot stress enough that there is more to life than money and our job is to get you the ideal job – as opposed to simply the one which pays you the most.
I feel that I am under paid! What should I be earning?
This all depends on experience, location and the field you are in. No salary tables can account for all the variations. The easiest way is to call us and ask for advice.
How many recruitment consultants should I use?
One - (less is more).
A well-chosen and experienced recruitment consultant should be able to cover the whole market for you in your chosen field. They should have developed close relationships with the main companies in your chosen field and therefore be able to offer you impartial advice on a number of opportunities that will enhance your career. This will avoid duplication and give you control of your next career move.
Some of my friends have come under unacceptable pressure from other agencies to take job offers - how do you deal with it?
Firstly let us say at the outset that we see ourselves as a consultancy rather than an agency and as such we do not agree with high-pressure sales approaches. We are privileged in our role to influence people's careers and we never wish to abuse our position, at what can be a critical time. We never forget the simple fact that people have only one career and often an awful lot of commitments depend upon it. We never underestimate the importance of giving good and accurate advice and giving it in an acceptable and straightforward manner. We do not work under onerous targets so therefore do not pressurise our people into saying 'yes when 'no thanks' would be far more appropriate.
What questions should I ask the interviewer?
Good questions to ask include:
What are the key skills and experiences that are required in order to fill this position?
What targets would be set in order to achieve the objectives of the role?
What training and on-going career development will be offered- What expectations does the company have in the first 12 months, 3 years (for example) of the candidate?
Do you always check first before sending out my CV to prospective employers, as this has been done by other agencies I have used in the past?
Yes, we never send out a candidates CV to a prospective employer without first receiving the candidates prior consent. Our old maxim holds true here “we never have or never will send out a single CV without your permission" – it’s as simple as that!
How can you assure me that my CV will not be sent out everywhere?
At Charles Fellowes we thrive on establishing long term relationships with our clients. Therefore we only send your CV to organisations who are actively looking for someone like you. It is not only you that could lose out - we could lose long established clients by sending inappropriate candidates.
