If you’ve worked with a recruitment agency in the past and they haven’t led you to a good hire, it’s easy to understand why you might think recruiters are a waste of time (and money!)
However, like with any business, there are those who excel in their industry and those whose heart isn’t in the job.
We like to do things a little differently at SRS. We want to leave you with new staff members you can count on, and save you time and money in the process.
So how do you find a recruiter that’s right for you?
What a recruitment agency should do
Firstly, it’s important to have a sound idea of what is expected of a recruitment agency so you know whether you’re working with a productive one.
Good recruiters are interested in building relationships, as connecting with others is how they produce great outcomes for their clients.
A recruiter that charges tens of thousands of dollars in commission should be spending time networking, meeting those in their niche industry, headhunting and then recording all this information down within a database pool from which to draw talent.
Avoid commission-based only recruiters
While many recruiters earn commissions when their hires are successful, if you are employing staff at the lower end of the pay scale, such as for retail or hospitality work, then you probably want to avoid the recruiters who are commission-based.
This is because they will be putting their efforts into the hires that will make them the most money – such as the $140,000 a year jobs – and might put your $50,000 a year candidate search on the back burner.
This is why we’ve been set on revolutionising the recruitment industry with flat-fee recruiting solutions at SRS. Businesses that outsource their hiring to SRS over keeping it in-house or hiring via a commission model save time and money, and can get on with growing their business sooner.
Share your knowledge to maximise your return
When you find a recruitment agency you’re interested to work with, it’s worth meeting face-to-face (which we do via Zoom as we know your time is precious) to build a rapport with them and to make sure they understand your business.
In the initial meeting, take the time to brief the recruiter on exactly the type of person you want for the role and why. This process should take at least thirty minutes, and it’s a good sign if the recruiter can offer insights or give examples of times they’ve put forward a similar calibre of candidates.
A good recruitment agency is approachable and transparent
You will probably get a feel for the recruitment agency from the first meeting and whether or not they are the type to cut corners. You want the recruiter to act with integrity and to be approachable so that you feel comfortable giving them honest feedback about candidates.
An agent that is upfront about their fees is also a good sign, as this transparency means you won’t be left with bill-shock.
So is working with a recruitment agency worth it? Yes, but they have to be the right fit for you and your business if you want to see success.
Interested to learn more about how you can work with us? Get in touch today to see if we are the right fit to help you with your next hire.