Employers and job seekers can both face challenges in today’s complex job market. Companies find it tricky to find the skilled talent for open positions, and job seekers struggle to convince hiring managers they have the required skills to fill the roles.
What Do Staffing Agencies Do?
A staffing agency is an organization that matches companies and job candidates. Whether you are an employer searching for staff to fill open positions or an employee looking for work, a staffing agency is there to solve your employment needs quickly.
Staffing agencies fill many types of jobs ranging from entry level to high level. Many mid-size and large companies use agencies to hire skilled talent because it’s efficient to have the experts in recruiting manage the hiring process.
Many companies use their recruiters to fill all of their jobs – everything from Executive Assistant to Office Manager. Many agencies are flexible and will work with you and your specific needs.
Benefits of Working With a Staffing Agency
There are additional benefits for working with a staffing agency; for example, you can save time and find excellent opportunities you may not be able to find on your own.
As a job seeker, you could potentially make connections with multiple hiring managers looking to find skilled professionals like you for their openings.
So how do staffing agencies work, what can you expect, and how can you get the most out of a relationship with a staffing agency?
How Do Staffing Agencies Work for Employers
Finding qualified talent can be challenging for many companies. A business owner or hiring manager will spend a lot of precious time, and money posting ads, reviewing applications, interviewing candidates, completing background screenings, check references, and negotiating salaries.
Because time is the most valuable and scarce asset for many business owners, many turn to staffing agencies to find the skilled professionals they need. The actual cost of hiring a new employee is more than some business owners expect.
A staffing agency can find well-qualified candidates while saving your business time and money. A staffing agency helps to quickly match qualified candidates with companies that are looking to fill open positions.
Working with a staffing agency can save your company time, plus it offers other benefits, including flexibility and access to a large pool of skilled professionals looking for immediate employment.
How Do Employment Agencies Work for Job Seekers
Job hunting can be an exhausting process with filling out countless applications, interviews, and convincing hiring managers that you have the qualifications and skills the position requires, only to be told days later the position has been filled.
A staffing agency takes a lot of the stress and headache out of the job-hunting process for you.
Benefits of working with a staffing agency:
Have access to fantastic opportunities you may not have had access to while job hunting on your own
Quickly find an ideal position that you are qualified for and start working soon after
It saves you time by eliminating the need to apply and interview at numerous companies
Working With Staffing Agencies
If you are a business owner or hiring manager and need new staff and choose to work with a staffing agency, you could expect the following process:
Make Contact With the Staffing Agency
There are staffing agencies that specialize in specific industries, so you will want to be sure the one you work with can fulfill your specific open position. You will provide them with information like the job responsibilities, the number of employees needed, and the wage or salary rate.
Create and Promote Job Descriptions
The agency will create the job description and advertise it to job seekers. Some agencies will have an existing pool of job seekers to reach out to potential candidates individually that are a good fit for the position.
Review Potential Candidates
The staffing agency will review the applicant’s experience and skills then conduct interviews with the qualified candidates. They will then introduce you to the applicants that best fit your open position.
The Final Decision
You will interview the staffing agency’s top choices before making a final hiring decision. They will then help with employee paperwork. Most agencies handle all the paperwork associated with a new employee, including contracts, taxes, and other payroll duties.
How Do Staffing Agencies Get Paid?
Typically staffing agencies charge the employer a percentage of the hired employee’s hourly wages. It’s important to discuss this with the agencies you are considering as many agencies have different types of fee structures, they can also be contingent or retained.
Ready to hire a staffing company? Here are some tips to help you have the best experience possible:
Choose the Right Agency
In order to find the right employee or your ideal position, you want to find a company that specializes in your field. For example, some staffing companies work with industrial companies while others work with corporate offices.
Working with an agency with the knowledge, expertise, and the right employers and job seekers will help with a quick and smooth process. Make sure you choose a reputable company that could bring real value, like providing background screenings, checking references, and verifying credentials.
Make a Good First Impression
As a job seeker, you should treat it as an interview when you meet with the staffing agency. You should dress in professional attire, be punctual, plus come prepared with your resume and any credentials you need to present.
The recruiter that interviews you will be the one to decide if you are a good fit for open positions, so making a great first impression is imperative.
Be Open and Clear About Your Needs
As an employer, you want to provide the staffing agency with as much data as you can about the positions you need to fill, the pay rate, hours, and job requirements to find the candidate that best fits the role and is clear on the expectations.
As a job seeker, you want to be upfront and honest about your work history and any gaps in employment, your credentials, and background, as they will do an extensive search on it all.
Respond Quickly
When a recruiter from your staffing agency contacts you with a potential candidate or job opportunity, be sure you respond quickly. You may potentially lose an opportunity if you keep an employer or candidate waiting for a response.
Arranging an interview soon after will help ensure the potential candidate is still available.
Stay Engaged
You need to keep in regular contact with your staffing agency and stay on top of the job search process. Notify them of any updates and new or additional details.
You should also notify them if you filled your position or if you’ve taken employment elsewhere.
Sharpen Your Skills
As a job seeker, it’s a good idea to make yourself marketable by increasing your knowledge and qualifications. There are many online courses available, including free ones that you can take in your spare time to sharpen your skills to make yourself a more sought-after employee and have your resume stand out from the crowd.
Takeaway
Working with a staffing company to fill your open positions or find your ideal position has many benefits for both the employer and job seeker. Spending less time and resources on the hunt are some of the advantages for the employer.
Also, the ability to quickly fill positions so that your business doesn’t experience a production delay is another huge benefit. Many staffing agencies already have a pool of skilled individuals who are waiting to start work immediately.
For job seekers, you can potentially find an opportunity that you may not otherwise find on your own. A staffing agency that specializes in your field should be your first stop in your job hunting process. Get your resume on file with them and see what happens. You always have the option to turn down an offer.
If you are looking to fill your open positions quickly or looking for work, we can help! Contact Pocketbook Agency today so we can find the right fit for you!
Sources:
8 Skills That Employers Are Looking for in 2021 | Go Skills
11 Costs of Hiring a New Employee for Your Company | Money Crashers
How to Write a Resume for a Job [Professional Writing Guide] | Zety.com