The Middlemen of the Job Market

If you’ve been job hunting in Nigeria for a while, you’ve likely encountered names like Phillips Consulting, Workforce Group, or Michael Page. Recruitment and outsourcing agencies control a massive portion of the job market, especially for bank tellers, customer service reps, and mid-to-senior management roles.

But many job seekers misunderstand how these agencies work. They treat agency recruiters like career counselors. Let me be blunt: recruiters do not work for you. They work for the company paying their invoice. Their goal is to fill the role as quickly as possible with the best candidate.

How to Make Agencies Work for You

1. Make Their Job Easy Agency recruiters review hundreds of CVs daily. They do not have time to guess what you do. Ensure your CV is perfectly formatted, ATS-friendly, and clearly highlights your core competencies. If your CV makes them look good in front of their client, they will champion you.

2. Build a Relationship Before You Need Them Don’t wait for a job posting. Find recruiters who specialize in your industry on LinkedIn. Send them a polite message: “Hi [Name], I’m a Senior Financial Analyst looking for new opportunities in the FMCG space. Attached is my CV for your database. Let me know if you see any roles that fit.”

3. Understand the Difference: Outsourcing vs. Direct Placement Be very clear on the contract type. Many agencies in Nigeria do “outsourcing,” meaning you work for the bank, but your actual employer (and the entity paying your salary) is the agency. These roles often have fewer benefits than direct staff. Ask questions before signing.

The Warning Sign

Legitimate recruitment agencies charge the employer a fee, not the candidate. If an agency ever asks you to pay a “registration fee” to be added to their database, walk away immediately. It is a scam.