Here’s What You Should Know
A professional staffing agency can help your company by reducing costs and locating highly qualified individuals.
- A staffing agency can offload some of the recruiting processes to find individuals that may be a match for your company.
- Staffing agencies generally have a larger talent pool and can identify qualified candidates more quickly than your in-house HR department.
- A staffing agency also often has access to various resources, including job boards and social media networks. This allows staffing agencies to cast a wider net when searching for candidates.
- In addition, a staffing agency can help your company reduce costs associated with recruiting and hiring.
- Staffing agencies typically charge a fee for their services, which is often lower than internal recruiting costs.
- A staffing agency also often offers discounts on placement fees if you use their services to fill multiple positions.
- A staffing agency can be valuable in helping your company find qualified candidates quickly and efficiently.
- If you are considering using a staffing agency, ask about their experience, fees, and process.
- Be sure to check out our staffing agency directory to find staffing agencies in your area.
For many small businesses, finding competent personnel is difficult. Applying, interviewing individuals, and negotiating salaries all consume time away from a business owner’s other obligations, which may be detrimental in the long run.
That is why, for certain jobs, some employers hire through staffing agencies, which take the time and effort out of looking for people by offering their employees open positions.
If you’re looking to hire, a staffing agency isn’t the ideal solution for every business. However, if you’re considering working with one to fulfill your hiring needs, here’s what you need to know about the process.
What is a Staffing Agency?
A staffing agency is a company that provides employees to work for another company on a temporary or permanent basis.
When you work with a staffing agency, you outsource the recruiting process. The staffing agency will handle all the advertising, interviewing, and hiring for the position you need to fill.
The staffing agency will also be responsible for paying the employee’s salary and benefits. In some cases, the staffing agency may even provide additional training for the employee.
Why use a staffing agency?
There are several reasons why you might choose to use a staffing agency instead of hiring an employee on your own.
One reason is that staffing agencies have access to a larger pool of potential candidates than you might be able to find on your own.
Staffing agencies also save you time and money by handling all of the advertising, interviewing, and hiring.
Another benefit of staffing agencies is that they can provide employees with specific skill sets or experience that you might not be able to find locally.
For example, if you need a web designer for a short-term project, you might not be able to find someone with the specific skill set you need in your area.
However, a staffing agency specializing in web design will likely have several employees who can meet your needs.
When you hire a staffing agency then, the process of hiring a candidate goes as follows;
- The employer communicates with the staffing agency. To begin, you’ll contact an agency specializing in your sector and provide them with information such as the job responsibilities, number of workers required, timeline to hire new employees and pay or salary rate.
- The employment agency writes the job description. The agency then creates a job description and places it on the market for your company. They may also contact them directly if a candidate is a good match for the position.
- After selecting the best candidates, the recruitment firm vets them: The recruiting agency reviews applicants’ prior experience and qualifications before arranging and holding interviews. They then select the most qualified individuals for your company’s hiring manager to meet.
- The employer is the ultimate judge. Before making a final hiring choice, the hiring manager or business owner will interview the staffing firm’s options. This saves you and your team time that would have been spent examining hundreds of people.
- The agency handles the administrative details. Most agencies handle all of the paperwork associated with a new hire, such as contracts, taxes, and other payroll duties.
Did you know that a staffing agency is a middleman who reduces the time-consuming hiring process to allow business owners to focus their efforts elsewhere?
What can a staffing company do for you?
A staffing agency can provide your business with several qualified candidates for open positions within your company.
The staffing agency will also handle all of the advertising, interviewing, and hiring for you, saving you significant time and money.
Fast hiring
It is crucial in today’s business world, and a staffing agency can promptly help you get the needed employees.
A staffing agency can also be a good resource if you’re looking for employees with specific skill sets or experience.
For example, if you need a web designer for a short-term project, you might not be able to find someone with the specific skill set you need in your area.
However, a staffing agency specializing in web design will likely have several employees who can meet your needs.
“Talent is getting more and more difficult to come by, and it’s becoming increasingly time-consuming for managers to read résumés and have interviews while also keeping up with their daily responsibilities.,” said Matthew Rowles, business development manager at staffing company Kavaliro. “Switching to a reliable staffing agency may help you save time and money. A staffing firm can pre screen and qualify applicants to ensure the manager is only meeting people who are a good fit for the position.”
Flexibility
Flexibility is another advantage of using a staffing agency.
If your business is seasonal or experiences peaks and valleys in staffing needs, working with a staffing agency can help you save money by only hiring employees when needed.
A staffing agency can also be a good resource if you’re looking to fill a temporary position or need to cover for an employee who is out on leave.
“Many staffing agencies offer temp-to-perm placements, which can be a great way to try out an employee before making a long-term commitment,” said Rowles. “You can also use staffing agencies for direct hire placements if you don’t have the time or resources to handle the recruiting process on your own.”
A staffing agency can provide several benefits for businesses of all sizes. Working with a staffing agency can be a good solution if you’re looking to save time and money on the hiring process or need help finding qualified candidates for open positions.
Reduced risk
When working with a staffing agency, you can try out an employee before making a long-term commitment.
This can be helpful if you’re not sure if someone is a good fit for your company or if they will be able to meet your expectations.
If the employee doesn’t work out, you can end the contract with the staffing agency and try someone else.
There’s no need to go through the time-consuming and expensive process of hiring and firing an employee.
“Staffing firms are generally considered the employer of record when it comes to the temporary associates that are placed, so … [staffing firm clients] appreciate the fact that, for the most part, the staffing firm maintains full responsibility for the employees while they are on assignment,” Leverant said.
How does it work?
When you work with a staffing agency, you’ll first need to identify your staffing needs.
- Be sure to include the following information:
- The type of employees you need
- The skills and experience they should have
- The length of time you need them for
- The number of employees you need
Once you’ve determined your staffing needs, you can begin interviewing staffing agencies.
When meeting with potential staffing agencies, ask about their experience in your industry and the type of employees they typically place.
You’ll also want to ask about the agency’s screening and interview process.
Be sure to get a list of references from each agency you’re considering and follow up with them to get their opinion of the agency.
What are common misconceptions about staffing agencies?
One common misconception about staffing agencies is that they’re only for businesses struggling to find qualified employees.
In reality, staffing agencies can be a helpful tool for businesses of all sizes.
Another common misconception is that staffing agencies are expensive.
While it’s true that you’ll need to pay the agency’s fee, working with a staffing agency can save you money in the long run by helping you avoid bad hires.
Finally, some people think that staffing agencies only place temporary employees.
While staffing agencies place many temporary employees, they can also help you find candidates for permanent positions.
Working with a staffing agency can be a good solution if you’re looking to save time and money on the hiring process or need help finding qualified candidates for open positions.
How to work with a staffing firm?
If you’ve decided to work with a staffing agency, there are a few things you’ll need to do to get started.
Find the Right Company.
First, you’ll need to find a staffing agency specializing in placing employees in your industry.
Be sure to ask about the agency’s experience in your industry and the type of employees they typically place.
You’ll also want to ask about the agency’s screening and interview process.
“Make sure you’re dealing with a respectable business that is proud of the folks it sends to your campus.,” he said. “Not only that, but you’ll also want to ensure that their workers are fully qualified, which includes doing thorough background checks on them. You should also make sure they have the required insurance coverage, such as general liability and workers’ compensation coverage.”
Be Clear About Your Needs.
When you meet with a staffing agency, be sure to clearly understand the type of employees you need and the skills they should have.
You’ll also need to determine how long you need them for and how many employees you need.
If you’re unsure about your staffing needs, the staffing agency can help you assess your needs and make recommendations.
Check Over the Legal Aspects.
The next step is to sign a contract when you’ve found a staffing agency you want to work with and have determined your staffing needs.
Be sure to carefully read over the contract and make sure you understand all the terms and conditions.
If there are any terms you’re not comfortable with, be sure to ask the staffing agency to explain them.
Maintain a Good Relationship.
Once you’ve signed a contract and the staffing agency has started sending employees to your business, it’s important to maintain a good relationship with the agency.
Be sure to promptly communicate any concerns and give feedback on the employees you’ve worked with.
If you’re happy with the staffing agency’s service, let them know.
A good relationship with your staffing agency can help ensure you get the best possible service and employees for your needs. Staffing agency, staffing firm, contract, employees, business, qualified candidates, screening process, interview process, references, follow-up, opinion, misconceptions, expensive, time-consuming, qualified employees. When it comes to staffing agencies, a few misconceptions seem to persist.
