Choosing the right recruitment agency; A comprehensive guide.

Choosing the right recruitment agency; A comprehensive guide.

So, you find yourself with a vacancy, but the question remains: how do you select the ideal recruitment agency to fill it? What are the different agency types available, and what criteria should you consider when evaluating the level of service they offer?

To help you out let’s first explore the four main types of recruitment businesses:

High Street recruiter – These agencies cater for a wide range of roles and are mostly locally based.  They excel at ‘quick to fill’ mostly non-specialist roles.

Temporary Employment Agency – work on short term roles, these agencies provide a quick solution for temporary employment needs.

Industry Specific Consultancy – Focused on particular sectors, these agencies recruit a wide range of roles within those sectors on local, national and international scales.  These recruiters are employed for their expertise within the industry, maintain strong networks with key players, and aren’t phased by difficult vacancies. (GCA is an Industry Specific Consultancy)

Executive Search – Tasked with headhunting for higher level / Senior roles, these recruiters often work on a retained basis.  (GCA also offers Executive Search)

Once you’ve determined the type of agency that suits your vacancy, how do you go about selecting the right one?

Consider cost:

Recruitment agencies typically charge a percentage fee based on the annual basic salary.   While the variance in agency costs is often minimal, differences in service provision can be significant. Therefore, it’s crucial to inquire about the standard services each agency offers.

Do they merely provide CV’s, or do they offer a comprehensive search and selection service?  What tools or advertising reach do they have?  Do they offer interviewing services or personality profiling within their standard fee?   What job boards do they utilise and do they subscribe to ‘pay per click’ on the social networking sites?

The level of service could determine the number and / or quality of candidates provided.

In addition to considering agency type and service level versus cost, what other factors should influence your decision?

Establish Trust:

As you’ll be sharing confidential information with the recruitment agency, trust is paramount. Consider the following:

• Are the individual recruitment consultants members of an industry or trade body? Look for accreditation with reputable organisations like the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC).
• Investigate the agency’s client base. Do they have longstanding relationships with reputable clients?
• Request testimonials or referees, and don’t hesitate to check google reviews.

Is there a guarantee if the candidate doesn’t work out?

Inquire about guarantees in case a candidate doesn’t work out.

Some agencies offer free replacements which means the recruitment activity is simply repeated and the vacancy is filled again FOC (GCA offers this), while others may refund a percentage of the fee.

Be mindful of additional costs associated with partial or % refunds.  The role will still be vacant and as such additional recruitment fees are likely needed to re-recruit.

In summary:

• Determine the type of agency that aligns with your needs.
• Assess the services provided relative to the cost.
• Verify the experience and professionalism of the recruiters, including their affiliations with industry-recognized bodies.
• Ask for references or check out google reviews.
• Secure a guarantee for a free replacement if necessary.

Your employees are integral to your business’s success, making the selection of the right recruitment agency  is crucial to your ongoing growth and prosperity.

Treating your recruiter as a long-term partner fosters collaboration, enhances understanding, and maximises the effectiveness of your recruitment efforts. By choosing your recruiter wisely and investing in this relationship, you position your organisation for sustained success through access to top talent.

Feel free to ask questions by contacting Kerrie in confidence at kerrie@glencallum.co.uk or call 01384485274. Kerrie will happily advise on what type of agency would be right for your business, similarly if you would like further information on the service provision offered by GCA, then you can also drop Kerrie a line.