Choosing an Agency
Recruiting the right people is essential to business success.
A recent survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found that speed and the ability to recruit scarce skills were the most popular reasons for using an agency - even the most experienced HR professionals can benefit from an agency’s local and specialist knowledge.
“When deciding to use an agency you should ensure it has membership of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC)”
Recruiting within the Law, published by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (2003)
Does the agency have experience of your industry and/or the types of roles you are recruiting for?
Can they supply references or testimonials from other clients?
Can the agency deliver against the staffing levels and skill sets you require?
Does the agency have clear, ethical terms of business that can be agreed before the recruitment process proceeds? This will ensure you understand the circumstances under which you will be charged a fee by the agency.
What customer service standards will the agency adhere to?
Look specifically for what checks the agency will do on candidates and who would be responsible for obtaining references.Can the agency demonstrate that they comply with all relevant legislation?
What qualifications and experience do the consultants that will be managing your requests have?
Are they accessible and ready to respond at the time you need?
What else to look for?
REC Member logo 
This logo means that an agency has signed up to the REC Code of Practice committed to operate ethically, lawfully and in line with industry best practice.
Find an REC member agency
You can find an member agency, or find out if your current
agency is a member, by searching our database.
