Before you start searching for a staffing agency, think about your employees, clients, and customers. How do you interact with them? What are your expectations of them? Your relationship with your future staffing partner should be very similar. The word “partner” is strategically being used here! A good staffing partner becomes an extension of your team – contributing to your bottom line. Positions that go unfilled or have to be backfilled often cost an organization much more than hiring the right partner to help up-front.
Top 5 Tips for an Employer Looking to Hire a Staffing Agency
1. THUMBS UP – LET’S TALK LIKES!
Nowadays, people aren’t shy about sharing their like and dislike online. In fact, the number of likes and comments on a product or service post might be a better indication of value than “official” reviews. When looking for a new staffing agency, always start with your referral network. Who do your friends and professional contacts use? Your network is likely to give you an honest review of their partners. This becomes your starting point for additional research. If your network does not have any suggestions, get your fingers ready for Google! A simple Google search will yield several staffing agency suggestions.
2. WHERE IT HURTS MOST – START WITH THE SOURCE…
Get your hiring managers involved early! Sometimes, there are communication gaps between recruiters and hiring managers. You may see this within your organization. Can you imagine what it will be like when you bring in an outside resource? When selecting a staffing agency, allow your hiring managers to be part of the selection process. What is important to them? What do they need? What drives them nuts!? Foster rapport building from the start. Including your hiring managers in the beginning will naturally encourage their involvement in the next phase of relationship building where they share their needs, wants, struggles – critical information for the recruiting team. If your hiring managers are “too busy,” corner them, draw this information out of them, and speak on their behalf. Make no assumptions about what they want, need, etc. Unfortunately, we all know that there are gaps between a job description and what a hiring manager actually wants.
3. AVOID THE “WE NEEDED THIS POSITION TWO WEEKS AGO” MENTALITY
You may be proactively looking for a staffing agency. But, most likely you are looking because times are tough and you NEED help right this minute. That is ok by the way! However, be realistic with yourself and your future partner. Take the time to evaluate your needs, timelines, and non-negotiables. Choosing the right partner and ultimately the right talent is important. If you spend the time up-front, you are lessening the likelihood of having to replace or backfill in the future. In addition, be fair to your staffing partner. While staffing agencies are skilled at finding talent quickly, don’t pressure your agency to cut corners on their process to get you “people” faster. Are you looking for resumes or qualified candidates? There is a difference!
4. GO ON A FEW DATES – YOU MAY HAVE TO SWIPE LEFT A FEW TIMES
After doing some research, speak to a few staffing agencies – at least three. You are bringing a partner into a very confidential and critical part of your business. Brainstorm a list of questions that are important to you and your organization. Answers to these questions will allow you to make comparisons and ultimately a “match.” Fit is important! Consider how the conversation with the staffing agency leaves you feeling. How do you feel about their communication style, organizational set up, resources offered, proposed timelines, fee structure, etc.? This goes without saying… But, don’t forget to talk to your potential agencies like you would speak to your current partners and customers. Are you feeling the “partner” vibe that keeps showing up?!
5. SHOW ME THE MONEY!
Yes. We intentionally listed pricing last. Is it an important factor? Yes! However, fee and value are closely correlated. Most employers who are looking for a staffing agency start with – How much do you charge? This question comes before anything else is known about the agency. Does price matter at this point?! Gosh, I hope not! Don’t let a staffing agency’s fee structure be your ONLY deciding factor for partnership. Also, be fair to yourself… you aren’t going to get a Ferari for the price of a Honda. Competitive pricing is very important, but be cautious when you are really scoring an excellent deal, especially if there is not a foundation of a previous relationship.
We hope these 5 tips are helpful on your search to find a staffing agency! Have additional tips? We would love to hear them. If you enjoyed this blog, you might enjoy learning more about the Benefits of Using a Staffing Agency.
As a trusted recruitment source for more than 15 years, TruPath has the industry knowledge and a proven model to help our partners feel comfortable in their search for a candidate. Contact TruPath today to tell us about your staffing needs.