Is Agency Recruitment Difficult? A Comprehensive Guide

Learn all about working with staffing agencies: from understanding what type of employee you need and how much you're willing to pay for their services to communicating any changes in your needs or preferences.

Is Agency Recruitment Difficult? A Comprehensive Guide

The world of contingent and agency recruitment is highly competitive. It's a field where salespeople often wear nice suits and make grand promises, but as the saying goes, don't ask how sausage is made. When you work with a staffing agency, you'll be charged a one-time fee in addition to what your new employer pays you. During my time at two recruitment agencies, I had a lot of freedom to prioritize my day and decide what to work on.

You'll also face competition from other hiring companies; while you're trying to contact job applicants and introduce them to the employers you work with, other recruiters from other firms are also contacting them. Working with a staffing agency isn't the right choice for every company, but if you're considering it to meet your hiring needs, here's what you need to know about the process. Once the right candidate is found, they are hired as an agency employee (except for direct hire positions). This is why companies like Aerotek, Adecco, Robert Half or any other major agency don't hire experienced people.

Explaining to an employer in the interview that you understand their industry is easy, as long as you can show them that you're a great recruiter in your current industry. Some companies may think that workers who come through staffing agencies are only available because they couldn't be hired anywhere else. Therefore, agency recruiters focus more on making a successful placement with any candidate than on a specific candidate. One of the most widely held, albeit inaccurate, beliefs about hiring a staffing agency is that it's too expensive to be worth it.

The agency can also directly contact suitable candidates through professional platforms such as LinkedIn, which allow them to filter search results by keyword, job function, location, industry and more. Good recruitment agencies want to help you find the best workers for your organization, but they won't be able to do so if you don't communicate clearly and thoroughly about your company, your position, and the type of person you want for the position. If at any point your needs and preferences change, be sure to update the agency so they can adjust your search accordingly. This can help ensure that the potential employee fits in with the culture and gives the candidate an opportunity to ask questions that the agency may not be able to answer.

As employers increasingly rely on part-time, self-employed and temporary workers to fill their employment gaps, staffing agencies have become a valuable resource for finding talent quickly and efficiently. When it comes to working with a staffing agency, there are several things to consider. First of all, make sure that you have a clear understanding of what type of employee you need and what skills they should possess. You should also have an idea of how much you're willing to pay for their services. Additionally, it's important to communicate with the agency about any changes in your needs or preferences so they can adjust their search accordingly. Finally, it's important to remember that working with a staffing agency isn't always easy or cheap.

However, if done correctly it can be an invaluable resource for finding talented employees quickly and efficiently.