Many employers struggle to fill job openings with qualified candidates. Employers are quick to point out that there is a talent pool that is lacking in formal qualifications, experience, and knowledge of the business world. But a lot of these same employers frequently forego using staffing agencies because they think that the expense will be a barrier. Frankly, this is the furthest thing from the truth. Employers should consider the opportunity cost of leaving a position unfilled, the expense of a bad hire, and the exorbitant and tiresome cost of recruiting candidates.
If you don’t already have one, you must first create the job description before posting the job listing in order to recruit for a new position. Then be prepared to be inundated with applicants. You will need to gather, compile, and review cover letters and resumes; prescreen candidates based on the materials; many candidates will need to be prescreened via phone interviews; and finally, you will need to conduct formal interviews. Once you have made a decision, you will check references, confirm prior employment, conduct background checks, administer drug tests, and then determine compensation. Last but not least, you can make a job offer that might or might not be accepted. The length of the hiring process can range from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the demands of the position. You should use a staffing company not only to fill full-time positions but also to manage workload peaks and valleys for the reasons listed below.
Should I use a headhunter / staffing agency to find a job?
Why use a staffing agency?
Using the services of a staffing agency can:
Prevent work overload
Temporary workers from staffing agencies can assist with tasks to reduce the stress of permanent staff, which may boost productivity at work. For instance, when a content creator at an advertising agency goes on maternity leave, the other creator is left to finish two people’s worth of work. The business engages a staffing firm to find an expert to assist the employee in performing their job duties until their coworker returns.
Decrease costs
It might be less expensive to hire temporary employees from staffing firms than to hire employees on a permanent basis. The money that your organization would have to spend on benefit packages and payroll taxes for contract workers can be saved by you, the human resources manager. After the temporary workers have finished working with the client, staffing companies find them new jobs, allowing you to avoid paying unemployment benefits. Additionally, the more the temporary staff contributes to an organization’s workflow, the less money from the organization would need to be used to pay for overtime for permanent staff.
Save time and resources
By conducting the job candidate evaluation on your behalf, staffing companies can speed up the hiring process. You can choose to hire a worker from a select group of professionals that the staffing agency suggests, saving you time from having to spend weeks going through the resumes of hundreds of applicants.
Staffing recruiters can locate candidates who already possess the specific skill the job opening requires, saving you time you would otherwise spend managing the entire recruitment process and onboarding internally if your organization has limited training resources. For instance, you might be the hiring manager at a small jewelry store that needs to hire a cashier for the busiest time of the year, Valentine’s Day sales. You employ a temporary employee with prior jewelry sales experience through a staffing firm to work at the shop until the holiday rush is over.
Offer a chance to evaluate before commitment
Before extending an offer of a permanent position to temporary employees, you can evaluate their performance on the job. You can keep an eye on how quickly they acclimate to the workplace and how well they handle unforeseen circumstances. Track their progress and any achievements they make. Before making a choice, you can also get the input of other organization members regarding the temporary associate.
Expand search for qualified candidates
You can find qualified professionals to meet the specific needs of your business through staffing agencies. They might have access to applicants who fall outside the scope of your search or those who used a staffing firm to locate the precise position you’re looking to fill. You can find more people to support the expansion of your business if you have greater access to talent in your sector.
For instance, if you are a manager at a technology company that recently switched to the Linux operating system, you are looking for an expert who can teach the rest of your team how to use Linux. The staffing company finds a candidate who meets the requirements of your job opening and is Linux certified and has a number of years of management experience.
What is a staffing agency?
A staffing agency is a company that helps businesses find qualified employees. Companies can employ associates as agency clients on a temporary, part-time, or full-time basis depending on the positions they need to fill.
Here is how a staffing agency works:
Tips for working with staffing agencies
Consider following these guidelines for working with a staffing agency:
Do your research
Finding staffing firms that focus on your industry is crucial to ensuring that you have access to applicants with the most pertinent skills. Visit the websites of staffing firms to learn more about the hiring services they offer and the personnel they place with businesses. Gather information on their fees so you can compare them to the cost of hiring applicants internally.
You can also inquire about the length of time it takes the agency to refer candidates, as this could affect the output of your permanent staff. For instance, if the agency responds quickly and you need to fill a position urgently, you can have an employee start their job right away.
Be specific about the organizations needs
By describing the job characteristics you’re looking for, the staffing company can recommend an ideal employee for your business. For instance, it may be useful to specify that you require someone with analytics experience and content creation skills rather than just someone who is familiar with the platform if you have an opening for a social media manager position. Staffing companies can more accurately create job descriptions and look for specific qualities when interviewing candidates if you are more specific about your needs.
Give feedback
Informing staffing recruiters about the accomplishments of the candidates they recommend can help them improve their hiring practices, which could be advantageous to your organization in the long run. If they are aware that they suggested a candidate whose skills complemented those of your business, they can keep going. They can alter how candidates are assigned if they are aware that the employees’ skills are incompatible in order to get better outcomes.
FAQ
What is the point of a temp agency?
- PRO: Staffing agencies reduce business liability. …
- CON: Training contractors can take time. …
- PRO: Staffing agencies reduce time to hire. …
- CON: Potential team bonding and culture issues. …
- PRO: Staffing agencies have deep talent pools. …
- PRO: Staffing agencies save employers money.
Do employment agencies really help?
A temp agency, also known as a temporary employment agency, is a company that links companies with workers for contract or temporary work. Businesses pay temp agencies for the workers it sends to fill positions, and the workers are employed by the agencies.
