You have probably heard how staffing agencies can help you find great candidates, making hiring easier and cost-effective. If you’re thinking about working with one, doing your due diligence with research is necessary. There are a few questions you should ask before partnering with a staffing agency to ensure it’s the right move for your business.
Before Signing: Key Matters to Discuss with Staffing Firms
1. What is your specialization?
Choosing a staffing agency with industry knowledge of your sector can go a long way. For example, firms specializing in areas like technology, healthcare, or finance know what skills and experience people need in these fields. They also understand the unique problems and trends in these industries, which helps them find candidates who fit well with your company’s culture and technology.
Some staffing agencies go even further by focusing on specific types of jobs, like executive roles or temporary positions. This can be helpful when you need to quickly fill a special job or a temporary spot without hiring someone permanently. Partnering with a firm that matches your exact needs, whether for important long-term roles or short-term ones, can make your hiring process smoother and increase your chances of finding the right person for your team.
2. How do you source and screen your talent pool?
The quality of candidates you get from a staffing company depends a lot on the work they do behind the scenes. Make sure to ask about their hiring strategies and how they find candidates—specifically, what methods they use to attract qualified people and the types of candidates they focus on.
It’s just as important to learn about their screening processes. Look into how they conduct background checks and assess skills. Knowing these details will help you understand the quality and trustworthiness of the candidates you’ll be considering.
3. Can you provide testimonials or case studies from other clients?
Testimonials and case studies can tell you a lot about how good a staffing agency is. These resources show the firm’s past successes and give you an idea of how they work and what they have achieved for other clients who might be like you or in the same industry. This can help you see if they’re the right fit for your needs.
4. What is your fill rate and time to fill?
The “fill rate” shows what percentage of job openings the firm successfully fills, giving you an idea of how good they are at finding the right people for the job. On the other hand, the “time to fill” is how long, on average, it takes them to find someone for a position. This tells you how fast they are at getting things done.
These two metrics help you decide if a staffing agency can meet your needs quickly and well. If they have high fill rates and short times to fill, it means they can find good hires fast, so your business can keep running smoothly without delays.
5. How do you handle replacement hires if a candidate does not work out?
Even with careful screening, sometimes a person just doesn’t fit in with a company’s culture or job requirements. So, it’s good to know how the staffing agency deals with this situation. Asking about these policies they have in place can tell you how much the firm focuses on long-term relationships and handles unexpected challenges.
Many firms offer guarantees, like giving you a replacement hire for free if the first one doesn’t work within a certain time, usually 30, 60, or 90 days. This guarantee helps avoid disruptions and the extra costs of finding a new hire, showing the firm cares about keeping you satisfied.
Staffing agencies with good replacement policies are likely to be more focused on clients and make sure the candidate they provide really fits your needs. This level of service not only makes the firm more reliable but also gives you peace of mind that they’ll support your hiring needs well, even if things don’t go as planned at first.
6. What are your fees and payment terms?
Different firms have different ways of charging, which can affect your budget planning. Some charge a flat fee for each hire, while others take a percentage of the hire’s salary. There’s also retainer-based pricing, where you pay a set amount upfront.
Understanding these pricing models helps you budget accurately and compare different services. Ask for a breakdown of all costs, including any extra fees for things like background checks or quick placements, to avoid surprises.
7. What kind of support and communication can we expect from you during the recruitment process?
Good communication is the foundation of a successful partnership. Ask them how they will keep you updated during the hiring process. Find out if they have regular meetings, send email updates, or use digital dashboards. Also, consider asking about their support system—how they handle questions, give feedback, and adjust to changes in your hiring needs.
Setting clear communication rules from the start ensures the firm works well with your business. A firm that values communication and support is more likely to build a strong partnership with you, ready to handle whatever comes up.
8. What is your approach to diversity and inclusion?
In today’s workplaces, having a diverse and inclusive team isn’t just a good thing to have—it’s essential for talent acquisition. Based on a study by McKinsey, companies with diverse teams are 25 percent more likely to do well financially.¹ More importantly, according to a survey by WebMD Health Services, 72 percent of job seekers want to work for a company that cares about diversity, equity, and inclusion.²
When picking a partner, ask about their dedication to diversity in how they hire. Their methods for finding and evaluating candidates from different backgrounds won’t just help you create a team that mirrors society better, but it’ll also bring in a variety of viewpoints and creativity. This mix of perspectives can lead to more innovation, better problem-solving, and overall success for your company.
9. How do you handle confidentiality and data security?
Protecting sensitive information is essential in today’s digital age, where data breaches are increasingly common. When choosing a staffing agency, be sure to understand how they handle and safeguard data, both yours and the candidates. Ask about their data protection policies, including their methods for storing, accessing, and transferring personal and corporate data.
Also, find out if they have any cybersecurity certifications, such as ISO 27001 or GDPR compliance, as these indicate their commitment to data security. Knowing these details helps you evaluate how well they can protect your confidential information, minimize risks, and ensure that candidate data is handled responsibly.
10. Can you manage high-volume recruitment?
If your company is growing fast or has busy times when you need a lot of new hires, you need to find out if the staffing company can handle hiring a lot of people effectively. Ask them about their experience and ability to manage big hiring projects without lowering the quality of the people they find.
11. How flexible are your staffing services?
Having flexibility in staffing services can be a big plus, especially if your company’s staffing needs change often. Ask the staffing agency if they can offer temporary, temp-to-hire, and permanent staffing options. Also, check if they are willing to customize their services to fit your specific needs. This can help you determine if they can adapt to your company’s changing requirements.
LOOK NO FURTHER—HUGHES RESOURCES HAS GOT YOU COVERED!
If you’re searching for a trustworthy, supportive, and reputable staffing partner, you’re in the right place. At Hughes Resources, we’ve successfully filled over 6,000 positions in the industrial, clerical, and professional sectors, so we understand the job market and know exactly what it takes to find you the perfect hire.
Whether you need temporary staff, temp-to-hire, direct hire, or HR consulting, we’ve got you covered! Contact us today, and let us take the hiring stress off your busy schedule.
References
- Dixon-Fyle, Sundiatu et. al. “Diversity wins: How inclusion matters” McKinsey, 19 May 2020, www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/diversity-wins-how-inclusion-matters.
- Muldoon, Christine “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging: The Disconnect Between Employers’ Efforts and the Employee Experience” WebMD Health Services, 21 Feb 2023, www.webmdhealthservices.com/blog/diversity-equity-inclusion-belonging-the-disconnect-between-employers-efforts-and-the-employee-experience/.
