What to expect from a Recruitment Agency

What to expect from Grassroots as your agency partner

If you’ve recently applied to one of our vacancies, sent us your CV, or are considering doing so, here’s some key information about how we work – and what you can expect from us.

Why we’re different

At Grassroots Recruitment, we believe recruitment should be honest, human, and genuinely supportive.

We’re not a high-volume CV-sending agency. Instead, we focus on building meaningful relationships – with both our candidates and our clients.

What that means for you:

• We take time to understand your experience, strengths, and career goals
• We represent you professionally and accurately to employers
• We only put you forward for roles where there is a genuine fit
• We prioritise long-term outcomes over quick placements

We’re also committed to high standards and continuous improvement, reflected in our accreditations and values-led approach.

Roles and sectors we recruit for

We specialise in recruiting across:

• IT and Cyber: From IT Networking to Cyber Security and Defence
• Engineering: From Mechanical Design to Installation Services and Automation
• Scientific: From Chemistry to Life Sciences, Materials to Medical Devices
• Technical Sales: From Pre-Sales to SaaS, BDMs to Sales Directors.

Many of our roles are within SMEs across the North West, where culture fit and attitude are just as important as experience.

How a recruitment agency works

If you haven’t worked with one before, here’s a quick overview on what to expect from a recruitment agency:

• Employers partner with us to help them find the right candidates
• We review applications, shortlist, and manage the early stages of the process
• We act as a bridge between you and the employer—sharing insights, preparing you, and supporting you throughout

Importantly: our service is completely free for candidates.

What happens when we receive your CV

When you apply or send us your CV:

1. Your CV is reviewed against the requirements of the role (or roles) you’ve applied for
2. We may also consider you for other relevant opportunities
3. If there’s a strong match, we’ll be in touch to discuss next steps
4. If we don’t contact you immediately, it may be because:
   • The role is highly competitive
   • Your experience doesn’t closely match the brief
   • We’ve already progressed to shortlisting or interview stage
   • We’re waiting for feedback from the client

We aim to review every application carefully, but due to volume, we’re not always able to respond individually to every applicant.

What to expect from us

We aim to offer a professional, transparent, and respectful experience at every stage.

You can expect:

• Clear and honest communication
• Realistic guidance on your suitability for roles
• Timely updates where possible
• Constructive feedback when available from clients
• Support and preparation if you’re progressing to interview

We’ll always treat you as an individual – not just a CV.

How we make shortlisting decisions

Our shortlisting process is a combination of human expertise and technology.

First, we use an applicant-tracking database (ATS) to log your application. This identifies (or “parses”) key information on your CV (like your name, contact details and job titles) and inputs this into standard fields.

Second, we use keyword filtering based on the essential criteria for each vacancy to look for matching skills, experience and qualifications listed on your CV. This helps us to prioritise candidates who are the closest match to our client’s needs.

Finally, we review CVs and applications directly. We then pick up the phone to find out more about the person behind it.

We use systems to help us manage applications efficiently, but every shortlist is reviewed by a real recruiter.

We consider:

• Skills and experience
• Transferable strengths
• Cultural fit with the employer
• Career trajectory and motivations

This means not every strong CV will be right for every role – but we do keep suitable candidates in mind for future opportunities.

What our candidates say about us

We’re proud of the relationships we build and the feedback we receive from candidates.

“The team were supportive, honest, and kept me informed throughout the process.”

“I felt genuinely listened to – they didn’t just try to place me anywhere.”

“Great communication and really helpful interview preparation.”

Thinking of registering with us?

If you’re considering sending your CV, we’d love to hear from you.

The more tailored and up-to-date your CV is, the better we can support you in finding the right opportunity.