How recruitment agencies work

Start by understanding the arrangement

A recruiter may introduce you to an employer, or an employment business may engage someone for temporary work with a hirer. Those are different arrangements. Ask who would provide your terms and who would pay you; do not infer your employer from the name on a job advert.

For the official distinction, read GOV.UK guidance on employment agencies and businesses.

Make the first conversation useful

Give a clear picture of the work you want, the hours you can commit to and where you can travel. Explain which requirements are firm and where you are open to options. If a suggested role would not work, say why: a different shift or location may make a meaningful difference.

Ask the recruiter to explain unfamiliar terms. It is reasonable to want a clear role description and next steps before deciding to continue.

Before accepting a next step

Keep a short checklist: What are the main tasks? Where would I work? What are the expected hours? Who provides the written terms? What information is needed now, and why? Keep a copy of any specific instructions rather than relying on memory.

Fees and expectations

Rolefolk does not charge jobseekers for work-finding support. There is no deposit or payment to unlock a match. General information on recruitment fees is available in GOV.UK guidance for agency workers.

An introduction is not the same as being hired. The recruitment partner or hirer may have further steps and makes the final decision.

Rolefolk’s process

Rolefolk begins with your preferences, then the recruitment team checks suitable opportunities. If an appropriate opportunity can be identified, you can review the details and continue with the relevant recruitment partner. There is no public live-vacancy database to search and no account is required for the initial enquiry.