Recruitment should be built on trusted relationships as much as technical expertise. Instead, the term ‘recruitment agency’ has almost become a dirty word for hiring managers – and many consultants are seen in the same light as dodgy real-estate agents and used-car sellers.
If this situation leaves you wondering who will have your back and get you the results you’re looking for, here are our top 10 questions we recommend you ask to find the right recruitment agency for your staffing requirements.
1. Do they have access to the right talent pool?
Engaging a recruitment agency should make you more likely to access the best job seekers on the market (both active and passive). A good recruitment agency will already have a range of quality professionals registered with them who are in ‘passive’ search mode. In addition, your agency should advertise on a range of job boards and understand what it takes for adverts to rank highly in candidates’ job searches. All of this is knowledge that comes from years of working in the sector.
2. Can they address specific requirements?
If a client’s requirements for a particular role are very specific, they need an expert who understands the candidates in their niche and has a full database of them to call upon. This means that only candidates who are fully qualified for the role will be shortlisted for the position. Your recruitment agency should manage the initial selection process for the client, rejecting any unsuitable candidates from the start and managing any queries about the role.
3. Do they save you time?
The right recruitment agency should reduce the time and in-house resources you need to dedicate to recruitment. It should also lead to a quicker turnaround on filling vacancies, which in turn increases your efficiency.
4. Can they provide any additional services?
There’s a range of specialist services on offer to provide you with unique insight into potential future hires, such as psychometric tests and skills assessments. Sourcing these tests independently can be time-consuming and more expensive, which is why it’s important to use an agency that offers these services.
5. Do they have market sector expertise?
The right recruitment consultant should be an expert at screening, filtering, and profiling candidates in your industry. Recruitment teams who don’t have this level of expertise will likely affect time and cost efficiencies in the long run.
6. Can they cover increased workflow demand?
Depending on your business, you should often work with a recruitment agency that offers temp services, giving you flexibility in your recruitment planning to meet cyclical/market demand. When workflows increase, you need quick access to temporary candidates, which should be a pain- and stress-free process.
7. Do they have access to job boards?
Direct access to job boards improves the efficiency of a company’s recruitment processes. Negotiating job board contracts can be costly and time-consuming, and print media is nearly all but dead for job-searching purposes, so utilising your recruitment agency’s unrivalled access to job boards will put the best candidates on the market in front of you.
8. Can they shortlist the right candidates?
A recruitment agency worth its salt will shortlist the right people based on technical and cultural fit before you even lay eyes on them. Again, this is a huge time saver… and time is money!
9. Do they provide you with specific industry knowledge?
If a hiring manager is seeking guidance on the competitive landscape of salary packages or wants to understand the skill sets that are growing in demand, a seasoned recruitment agency can offer data-backed insights to help them make strategic hiring choices. This consultative approach turns the agency into a long-term partner rather than a transactional service provider.
10. Are they a member of a peak industry body?
Accredited membership in a peak industry body signifies an agency's dedication to best practices and ethical standards. Such membership ensures the agency is current with industry trends and legislation while adhering to a code of conduct for accountability. This enhances the agency's credibility, providing clients with a high standard of service.
Ten good reasons to use Rainy Day Recruitment
Need an agency that ticks all the boxes? Rainy Day Recruitment is setting out to change our industry’s image by moving towards a partner model and developing closer relationships with hiring managers to address and prioritise their unique needs – in short, answering all the questions above with a resounding yes.
Rainy Day Recruitment was founded on the simple idea that effective recruitment is built on transparency and trust. We bring expertise, industry knowledge, and a personalised approach to finding the right talent for your organisation. Our ethical approach, innovative thinking, and commitment to honest communication ensure a smoother and more efficient recruitment process.
Book a free consultation to discuss how Rainy Day Recruitment can help you hire the right candidates for your business – the first time, every time.