Your people are the engine of your business, so finding the right talent is a make-or-break factor in your success. From junior support to senior executives, each hire matters. Employing the right person at the right time can propel your business forward; hiring the wrong person could stall your progress. Business owners, especially those experiencing growth, will be juggling multiple responsibilities. Dedicating time to recruitment may not always be feasible, making partnering with a recruitment agency a potential game-changer.
A recruitment agency brings a new level of expertise and experience, plus an advanced network of candidates and processes designed to streamline your hiring process. Partnering with a recruitment agency saves you time, ensures access to a database of quality candidates, and allows you to focus on running your business. So how do you choose the right agency for your needs? Below are ten tips to help.
Why Partnering with a Recruitment Agency is Essential
The hiring landscape can feel overwhelming, especially for owners of smaller businesses who have a growing list of tasks and priorities that need to be addressed to keep the wheels turning. Going through the hiring process alone may save you money in the short term, but being inundated with CVs, combined with limited knowledge of spotting the right talent and a lack of time to manage the process effectively, will surely cause more harm than good in the long run. This is where the right recruitment agency can help. Agencies are on hand to simplify and optimise hiring, providing expertise in talent acquisition, understanding market trends, and accessing pre-screened candidates as soon as your job is posted. An agency can also handle negotiating salaries or understanding a specialised role needed for a business.
Working with the right agency will save you time, reduce hiring risks, and ensure the right cultural fit for your role and business. How do you select the right one? Find out below.
What Are Your Hiring Needs?
To get the best results from a recruitment agency, you need to have a clear idea of what your hire will achieve. Are you hiring for a general position in the business, or a niche role that requires certain skills or expertise? Is it a permanent position, or could it be filled by temporary or freelance staff? Recruitment agencies often specialise in a certain type of recruitment, making understanding your specific requirements for the role incredibly important. Going to an agency that specialises in executive searches with a junior, temporary role would be a waste of time and resources—doing your research with the role in mind is key!
Determine Agency Specialisations
Not every recruitment agency is a one-size-fits-all solution. Agencies often specialise by industry or expertise of role level (e.g., executive hires only). For example, niche agencies may focus on the tech industry, creatives, or medical industry hires. Other agencies may hire across a range of industries but only for start-ups or small businesses. Collaborating with the right agency that focuses on your sector is critical to getting the best results. The right agency will understand the nuances of the role you are recruiting for and will be able to provide candidates quickly.
Prioritise Local Market Knowledge
Partnering with an agency that has insights into the local market can be a massive advantage for a small business. Choose an agency with a strong understanding of the hiring landscape in your area. Why is this important? The agency will have better access to local talent pools and will understand the benchmark for regional salaries, competition, and candidate preferences. These agencies will help you refine your strategy to suit the market and go a long way in negotiating competitive offers.
What Is Their Track Record?
Has the agency made placements for a business similar to yours? You can find this information by checking case studies or client testimonials to see if they have been successful in the past. A proven track record of placing long-term, high-quality talent is key to indicating their effectiveness. Ask for a reference or a good example of how they have worked with a business similar to yours. If they can’t, you may be better off looking elsewhere.
Assess Their Hiring Process
All successful and effective recruitment agencies will employ a thorough and transparent hiring process. Enquire about how they source candidates—are they proactively engaging passive candidates through their networks, or do they rely solely on job boards and submitted CVs? What is their screening process for candidates? Is there a preliminary interview, do they perform skill assessments, do they run background checks before presenting a candidate to a client? The right recruitment company will undoubtedly employ a rigorous process for sourcing candidates to ensure clients get the best talent. Make sure you get the details!
What Is Their Communication Style?
Communication between a client and an agency is key; it can make or break your experience. Choose an agency that is transparent in their communications, keeping you updated at every opportunity, providing timely updates, and acting on your feedback when given. After all, a partnership built on clear communication is essential for aligning the agency’s approach with your recruitment needs and ensures the most efficient and effective process.
What’s The Cost?
Understand the fees. Agencies will offer their services at varying fee structures depending on the support they provide. This could be a one-time placement fee, commission based on the percentage of a hired employee’s salary, or an annual or monthly retainer for ongoing support. It is key that you understand their pricing from the start of the process and factor it into your budget. Your decision should not be based solely on cost, but you need to ensure their services offer value for the amount you are willing to spend.
Evaluate Their Candidate Pool
A great recruitment agency will always have a great candidate pool. The most successful agencies depend on their pool of talent. Find out how often they refresh their database and the methods they use to source new talent. An agency with a diverse pool of pre-screened talent will be better equipped to provide you with a suitable hire quickly.
Prioritise Your Culture
Agencies shouldn’t just focus on qualifications; the right cultural fit is critical for employee satisfaction and long-term retention. Find out how the agency assesses cultural alignment. Does the agency understand your company’s values, goals for short and long-term growth, and your work environment? Ensure that the agency prioritises these aspects when screening candidates to prevent costly mismatches down the line.
Ask About Value-Added Services
Can a recruitment agency offer any additional services beyond just hiring? Many agencies will offer extra support with onboarding and training. These services could be hugely beneficial to a smaller business with limited HR support. Explore whether an agency provides these services and understand any additional costs. Working with an agency that can provide this support can help you streamline your recruitment and your employee retention and development.
How Can ACR Help?
At ACR, we specialise in matching small businesses with exceptional talent while easing the recruitment burden from your shoulders. Our expert team understands the unique challenges faced by small businesses and utilises a tried-and-tested process to deliver results. With access to a rich pool of candidates and a deep understanding of industry trends, we’re here to help you achieve your recruitment and retention goals.
If you’re ready to streamline your hiring process and build a winning team, don’t wait. Speak to us now!