Hiring Permanent Staff
Using an agency is second only to local press advertising as the most frequently used method of attracting permanent staff.
When deciding which method to use, various criteria need to be considered:
- Speed
- Cost
- Quality
- Certainty of results
- Warranty
- Time saved
- Local knowledge
- Advice
Recruitment agencies offer a reliable combination of all these criteria.
For instance, whereas an advertisement may lose you a week or even a month’s lead-time, a good recruitment agency will usually be sourcing candidates the same day you brief them.
An agency will work with you until your post is filled, unlike the advertising medium, which stops working for you once the advertisement has appeared.
The savings in time are self-evident. If you brief a competent recruitment agency properly and make it clear that they have the discretion to filter for you, you can avoid hours, perhaps days of wasted time.
Many agencies test skills to ensure they are sending candidates who meet your criteria – again saving you valuable time.
Another benefit offered by agencies is that they will often offer a refund (or rerun of advertisement) in the unlikely event the successful candidate falls short. Many agencies also apply a rebate if the person leaves within a specified timescale and provided payment is made promptly.
The REC Code of Professional Practice means that our members are committed to obtaining detailed information about your requirements and adopting proper selection procedures. Their commitment to equal opportunities and diversity in the workplace means they can access a wide range of suitable candidates.
Select your agency using the criteria stipulated in Section One.
The Process
Contact the selected agency to brief them on the role and talk through the recruitment process and the agency’s involvement (e.g. with regard to checking references, eligibility to work etc.).
The recruitment agency will use the information you provide to put together a job description and person specification to ensure they are looking for the right skills, experience and competencies.
The recruitment agency will source suitable candidates and submit their CVs for your assessment.
Review the CVs and feedback to the agency before selecting candidates required for interview.
The agency will arrange the interview process in conjunction with you and issue briefings to candidates.
Feed back to the agency after the interviews. All feedback is valuable and if the candidates do not meet your requirements the agency may need to review the brief.
Where instructed, the agency will make a job offer to the successful candidate and pass on their contact details.
Follow up with a formal offer letter.
If this forms part of their terms, the agency will check references for you. However, it’s recommended you always do your own checks too.
Organise an effective induction for your new employee.
