The staffing and recruiting industry represents many sectors; information technology, engineering, administrative support, sales & business development, finance & accounting, human resources, professional/managerial services as well as healthcare and industrial services.
Staffing agencies are engaged in permanent placement, temporary placement, executive search, and co-employment staffing services. Some agencies also do training and upgrading as well as payroll and benefits administration.
Canada’s staffing and recruiting industry represents about two million temporary workers or 13.6% of the country’s workforce and had a market size of 10.3 billion Canadian dollars in 2020. From this article, you will learn why to use a staffing agency.
What is a Staffing Agency?
Staffing agencies manage the recruitment, screening, referencing, interviewing, and skills verification of applicants and then refer suitable candidates to a business. An organization may use a staffing agency for temporary staffing; vacation relief, illness coverage, maternity leave, cyclical overtime situations, and project-based work. Companies also use staffing agencies for contract-to-hire jobs (short-term positions with the opportunity to become full-time/permanent jobs at the end of the contract) and for filling open permanent positions (from entry-level to executives).
Responsibilities of staffing agencies:
Candidate sourcing. Actively identifying potential candidates through various channels.
Candidate screening. Performing initial interviews, evaluating skills, and conducting background screenings.
Job matching. Ensuring the candidate’s skills and experience align with the employer’s job requirements.
Coordination and communication. Facilitating communication between employers and candidates throughout the hiring process.
Onboarding process. Making sure all required paperwork and documentation are finished.
Compliance and legal matters. Managing adherence to labor laws, regulations, and employment standards.
Providing HR solutions. Offering HR-related services such as workforce planning, talent management, and consulting.
Post-placement follow-up. Checking in with both the employer and the candidate to ensure the placement was successful.
Recruiters grasp the significance of locating a candidate who aligns well with your organization. Certain agencies may conduct site visits before making placements to comprehend the work atmosphere and guarantee a successful match.
How Does a Staffing Agency Operate?
Now that you understand the services a staffing agency offers, let’s explore how a staffing firm connects businesses with job seekers, helping to fill positions quickly and efficiently:
You contact the agency. The first step is to inform the agency about your upcoming vacancy. Provide basic details of the role, including responsibilities, requirements, and your timeline for hiring.
Job description. The agency will develop a job description based on your requirements. While your internal job description can serve as a foundation, the recruiter may rewrite it to attract the right candidates.
The role is advertised. The agency promotes your job vacancy to potential candidates through various channels: calling potential candidates from their database, posting on job boards, promoting via social media, and head-hunting suitable candidates.
They create the shortlist. The agency vets applicants, checking them against the job profile and assessing their fit with your company culture. They also verify any required skills or certifications.
Decide who to interview. Review the shortlist and decide which candidates you’d like to interview. The agency will arrange the interviews.
Make a decision. Once you’ve chosen a candidate, inform the agency. They will notify all candidates, providing feedback to both successful and unsuccessful applicants.
HR paperwork. Complete the necessary paperwork to officially hire the new employee. For remote hires, especially international ones, the agency may handle compliance with tax laws by acting as the “employer of record.”
Onboarding. The agency supports you through the onboarding process, ensuring a smooth transition for your new hire.
Why Use a Staffing Agency and What Are the Advantages?
There are numerous reasons why companies utilize the services of a staffing agency:
Reduces costs. Recruitment and training are costly. Using a staffing agency eliminates many of these expenses. An agency will determine the needs of the business, develop advertisements, manage job postings, and handle all aspects of the hiring, onboarding, and HR process. Using an agency mitigates the risk of making a bad hire, disrupting your workforce, and the potential need for termination.
Saves time. Recruitment agencies have deep networks of passive candidates allowing them to source qualified people with speed. An agency saves a company the time of weeding through hundreds of resumes, checking references, and taking calls from candidates, who may or may not be qualified. Your company is given the best three to four candidates to interview.
Specialized knowledge. Using an agency gives a company access to the recruiter’s insider knowledge of skilled available candidates (active and passive), salary ranges, and local market trends.
Training. Many agencies provide training that strengthens existing abilities and develops new skills. This ensures that when an employee starts at your business they’re well prepared and have very little need for extra training.
Increased productivity. Another reason why to use a staffing agency is to increase productivity. Agencies have pre-screened qualified workers ready and willing to work with little notice. This means that a skilled employee can be placed in your vacant position within a short time frame ensuring good productivity.
Flexibility. Whenever you need them, a staffing agency is there! They can help you fill in for maternity leave, provide additional help during a busy holiday season, cover emergency sick leave, fill in during vacations, or step in with added manpower during an unexpected project. They can quickly find candidates for managerial and executive positions. Agencies provide employees in a wide variety of disciplines to meet all of the needs of a business.
Try before you hire. Many agencies allow you to try an employee before taking on the liability of their employment. They work for the agency for a short period giving a company a chance to see if it’s a good match for both parties before hiring.
Increase ROI. When companies need staffing specialists for short-term needs, partnering with a staffing firm often provides a better return on investment compared to hiring in-house. This is a good reason why to use a staffing agency.
There are many benefits to using a staffing agency. High-quality recruiting in a timely and cost-saving manner, access to hiring experts, and increased productivity are but a few.
Tips for Working With Staffing Agencies
Choose staffing agencies that specialize in your industry to ensure access to candidates with relevant skills. Review their websites to understand the recruitment services they offer and the types of employees they provide. Compare their rates to the costs of hiring in-house candidates.
Inquire about the agency’s referral times, as this can affect your permanent staff’s productivity. For urgent vacancies, a quick response from the agency means you can fill the role promptly.
Clearly define the job qualities you’re seeking to help the staffing agency find the ideal candidate. For example, if you need a social media manager, specify that you require someone with analytics experience and content creation skills, not just platform familiarity. This specificity helps agencies create accurate job descriptions and identify the right qualities during candidate interviews.
Provide feedback to staffing recruiters about the performance of referred employees. This information helps them refine their recruitment process, benefiting your organization in the future. If a recommended employee’s skills align well with your needs, the agency can continue its approach. If not, they can adjust their candidate selection to achieve better results.
If you’re seeking a cost-effective strategy that saves time and provides access to top tech talent, partnering with a staffing agency can be an excellent choice for your business. Specialized staffing agencies, such as Equation Staffing Solutions, focus exclusively on helping clients find tech experts who meet their specific requirements.
Any questions about why to use a staffing agency? Then ask them to the manager at (403) 930-6080.