How should you decide which recruitment business to work with?

The recruitment sector is a highly competitive marketplace with plenty of options of Recruiters to place your vacancies with. For an industry with a very mixed reputation, choosing the right one is key! 

Trusting a supplier with your company name and reputation is of the utmost importance, so investing some time researching and building a partnership with your chosen Recruiter is time well spent.  

If I was embarking on a journey to selecting a recruitment business, this is what I would do….

Industry reputation

Seek recommendations from colleagues, friends or suppliers. Who have they used for their recruitment that they would happily recommend? Referrals provide an invaluable insight into past experiences and positive/negative feedback on recruitment agencies. I would be picking a selection of reputable agencies to explore before deciding on my preferred option.

Reviews and testimonials

A quick search on Google for any reputable business will allow you to read their Google reviews. How a Recruiter treats their customers says a lot for their service. What do their reviews say and how many of their customers have given a positive recommendation? Steer clear of the cowboys with either no Google reviews or poor feedback.  Do not entrust your company reputation to those without a positive one themselves!

Geographical/industry expertise

A Recruiter who has operated across their geographical area and/or industry for a period of time will have all of the relevant contacts and connections you need to fill your vacancy.  They will often have access to otherwise un-tapped talent and the ability to call upon candidates they have worked with before. These relationships are invaluable and ultimately I would be looking for a business with a proven track record recruiting for the vacancies I am looking to fill. An experienced Recruiter should be able to provide examples and/or case studies of where they have undertaken similar pieces of recruitment.

Meet with the Recruiter!

Be that virtually or, even better, face to face. I would want to spend time talking to, getting to know and utilising the expertise of the Recruiter I am planning to work with. The investment in this partnership is crucial to success and ensures both parties are comfortable, fully invested and able to have the best possible outcome from the recruitment process. Steer clear of any Recruiter who just says “send the job description and I’ll take a look” as they aren’t going to spend the necessary time in getting the process, or candidates, right!

Agree a fee that both parties are comfortable with

If there is one thing that is guaranteed in life and business, the cheapest is very rarely the best! You might feel relieved that you’ve got a great deal or the best rate but the result will likely be a sub-standard service, less relevant and qualified candidates plus no real attention to detail or “post-placement” service. Both parties should not feel hard done by when it comes to the rate so explore what seems reasonable and then go with the Recruiter who fills you with the most confidence.

Lastly, once you’ve spoken with or met the Recruiter(s) you want to work with, if any of the below are missing, keep looking until you find the right one!

• Trust
• Expertise
• Honesty and transparency
• Time investment
• Proven experience and track record
• Industry expertise
• Great communication skills and quick response times

Chris Jones is the Managing Director of Think Specialist Recruitment, a local business established in 2011 and operating across 3 key business areas:

• Business Support
• Accountancy & Finance
• Human Resources

Chris can be contacted for any enquiries – [email protected] / 01442 600100

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