Choosing a staffing agency is a huge commitment. You’re pairing with a company that will in turn represent you to prospective employers, meaning you want to choose the agency you’ll be associated with very closely.
When choosing among different staffing agencies, there are nine key things that you should consider to help you make your decision.
1. Is It a Reputable Company?
Working with a reputable company can be valuable because of the high-quality reputation it has fostered among companies you may want to work with. A reputable company has an established record of success that can benefit you in your own job search.
2. How Long Has It Been in Business?
The staffing industry is growing fairly rapidly, but not all the companies on the market are going to deliver high-quality service. Finding out how long an agency has been in business, and how many clients it has successfully placed, can give you a good indication of its performance.
3. Does It Specialize in Your Field?
Many staffing agencies specialize within a specific industry or field, giving them a competitive edge. When job hunting, the additional expertise and experience a niche staffing agency can provide can make all the difference, which is why you should find an agency that knows your field.
4. Do the Recruiters Have Industry-Specific Experience?
Once you’ve signed on with an agency, you’ll likely be paired with a recruiter. Knowing whether you’re assigned recruiter has experience dealing in your preferred industry is essential. Your recruiter is, after all, your link to potential employers.
5. How Many Openings Does the AgencyHave in Your Field?
At any given time, an agency will be able to use its contacts to find a certain number of openings within a specific field. Knowing how many opportunities are available through that specific staffing agency can help you determine if it’s the right fit. If the agency has no leads in your industry, then it may not be of much use.
6. What Is Its Process?
Every agency should have a transparent and organized process in place for how it goes about finding you work. Not being able to convey its processes to you in a straightforward way is a red flag; you don’t want to be paired with an agency that isn’t taking your job search seriously.
7. Does It Offer Temporary or Full-Time Opportunities?
Some agencies focus exclusively on matching companies with temp workers, while others can find you both permanent and temporary positions. When choosing a staffing agency, you want to make sure that it has the resources to find you the type of work you’re after.
8. Do Your Salary Expectations Meet up with Its Placements?
Different agencies work with different levels of employees. Some agencies place high-end executives in roles, while others focus mainly on non-complex types of work. It’s important to make sure the agency you work with is ready to find you a job that pays what you want.
9. How Were You Treated in the Initial Interview?
When you’re choosing a staffing agency, you want to know that you’re signing up with a company that is going to give you the personal attention that you need to succeed. While first impressions may seem inconsequential, the way its recruiters treat you during your initial interview can tell you a lot about the level of service the firm provides.
