Staffing agencies are not simply for those who want a job in a warehouse. In fact, they may be an untapped resource in your ongoing job search, as many employers who enlist staffing agencies don’t post open positions online or advertise in newspapers.

"I have clients that will just pick up the phone and say 'This is what I need…'” explains Sherry Johnson of Strictly Staffing in Halifax. “We’re a hidden job market which a lot of students aren’t aware of”, Johnson says. But before you throw on your Indiana Jones fedora and go looking for the hidden city of jobs, there are a few things you should know.

If a staffing agency says that it will charge you for the placement, or any other services, they cannot lawfully call themselves a staffing agency. “As soon as a company charges the candidate, they are, in most provinces, no longer a recruiter,” explains Neil Patte, publisher of The Directory of Canadian Recruiters. The first thing you have to do, says Patte, is be able to separate all those other people out. It’s the employer who pays the agency for services rendered, not the candidate. Your best bet when searching out legitimate staffing firms is to either check with Patte’s directory, or visit the Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services.

Once you know which firms are legit, the next thing is to browse the websites of various companies to see which ones match up to your career aspirations. Different agencies specialize in different industries. Once you have your list, make sure that your resume is up to date. Just because the recruiter will be doing the leg-work for you doesn’t mean that your resume can be in shambles. The idea is to sell yourself to the recruiter, just as you would with an employer. “We review every resume that comes into our department,” Johnson says of Strictly Staffing. “Then we call you in for an interview if it looks like you have the skills and qualifications that our employers will be looking for.”

“Never show up at a recruiter’s office without an appointment,” says Patte, who recommends a phone call instead. Once you are on the phone, “the idea is to come across with the one sentence explanation of yourself that will hit home,” he says. “When you pick up the phone and tell, for example, a pulp and paper recruiter that you looked after the sulfite contents of the paper, they know exactly what you are talking about. And you have made an instant connection because they are looking for people like you.”

When you get the call to come in and meet with a recruiter, think of it as an interview. If you impress the recruiter, there’s a better chance that recruiter will put you at the top of the recommendation list. This means dressing smart, preparing for interview questions, and knowing what you want.

There is also a good chance that the agency will assess your skills, so be ready to write a test or two. The agency wants to make sure that you do possess the skills that your wonderfully crafted resume says you have. There can be tests specifically for accountants or IT personnel, as well as the standard grammar and computer skills assessments. Some places will even go the extra mile and train you in the latest software, or how to effectively market your skills on the job field — for free.

The recruiter will always be on your side, but don’t forget that they are on your side because the more marketable you are, the more lucrative their business will be. “If a recruiter was trying to fill a medium level accounts payable job … they’re going to send the five best resumes they can,” Patte points out. Candidates who have two or three years experience will be more valued than those with less than a year, which can make it difficult for students.

Working through a staffing agency isn’t a shoe-in, so it’s important to be patient, but persistent. If you don’t hear back right away from the agency, call back or try other firms. And if you feel as though the firm isn’t working for you, try another one. There are thousands out there, and, according to Patte, what makes a good recruiting firm “...is the one that gives you the perfect position. That’s the only answer.”

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