I think it’s a sad indictment on the recruitment industry, that so many employers and job seekers “spread their bets” by using multiple recruitment companies. Is this lack of faith in using one supplier?
The strategy of using a list of recruitment agency suppliers certainly has its merits for the large multinationals, where the sheer range of skills (professions) needed requires a multiple agency approach, but even many of these large companies have cut their supply chain in the last 2 years (UK recession), to focus on better working relationships with key suppliers.
What about the SME market place?
The ways SME companies recruit can be immensely diverse: some go for open book, where anyone can supply, it is all about best service and best result; some go for a set number of suppliers; some have an exclusive relationship with one supplier; some go for a managed solution service; and others recruit themselves.
Employers have a difficult decision to make when choosing a recruitment agency to partner with. The agency will be sourcing you most precious and value resource: your staff. Making the right choice is essential, so that your company is lean and working at its most efficient level.
Some thoughts when deciding on recruitment agencies to partner with?
How do you perceive the recruitment agency? How do they answer the phone? How professional and efficient do they sound?
Does their website cover what you want to know? Do they have employer testimonials on their website?
Is the recruitment agency a member of the professional recruitment organisations, REC, APSCo or ARC?
What are the similarities between your businesses?
Is there business synergy?
Is the recruiter a specialist recruiter (i.e. location or profession specialist) or a generalist (i.e. can supply all locations or any profession)? What does your company need?
Does the recruitment agency talk the same language as you? Do they understand the technical needs of your job vacancy and business?
Does the recruitment agency supply the geographical area you seek staff?
Does the recruitment agency do all the things important to you?
Project Resource work very hard to understand our customers, we endeavour to tailor our service to ensure we perform the most efficient job we can, and be the recruitment partner of choice. We can work in any way an employer requests, and we will always give our advice on refinements that could be made to improve efficiency.
What is the case for working with a recruitment agency partner exclusively?
Most recruitment consultants work extremely hard to get results for their customers, and to work on their behalf. We have always sought to do this exclusively with our customers at Project Resource; the reasons are simple: by us focussing on a particular employer or job seeker, we can represent them better, and their needs. We are not in a rush to gets CVs on a desk, we can take a consultative approach, look at compiling the very best applicants for consideration, then once we have selected the very best available job seekers, then and only then we will present these applicants to the employer.
This works best for all parties, ensuring no time is wasted on reviewing irrelevant CVs, interviews are conducted with job seekers that have been thoroughly qualified and really do want to move jobs (they are not window shopping).
Working exclusively (or in partnership for want of a better word) makes the recruitment process as lean as it can be, which ensures less stress and time wasted for all parties involved. It also saves the employer and job seeker time by having one point of contact who is working with them rather than being bombarded by a multitude of people.
You can contact me (Bill Wynn) by email or Derek Scott by email or on 0118-952-2240 to find out more about working exclusively with Project Resource or click these links to read some of our employer testimonials or job seeker testimonials, and see why your peers chose Project Resource as their recruitment partner.
If you have any recruitment experiences, positive or negative, or you want any advice, I would be happy to assist you or gather your thoughts.
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