Many companies turn to staffing firms to help them find better candidates, supply temporary staff on short notice, or improve their hiring strategies. Asking your staffing firm to take many recruitment tasks off your plate isn’t unusual: it’s what good staffing partners do.
Before you contract with a staffing firm, ask yourself this question: Are you ready to help the staffing firm help you? Finding the best employees for your business happens when you and the staffing firm work well and closely together. Here are some strategies for you to consider when building a strong partnership with your staffing firm:
Learn more about your staffing partner
It’s tough to have any relationship with a stranger, and building a strong professional connection with your staffing partner is no exception.  Start by asking about your staffing partner’s strengths and resources.  Find out if they have a strong bench with their recruiting staff, support and back office staff. What is their recruiting process? What data can your staffing firm offer you to help you with retention or educate you on your stance in the marketplace?  How well do they know your industry and the specific challenges you face – and how much time do they spend expanding and updating this knowledge?  Not only will you know where your staffing partner’s strengths lie, you may discover they can help you in ways you hadn’t expected.
Determine a reasonable time frame
A good staffing firm will improve your time to hire. Realize, however, that finding the most qualified employee takes a certain amount of time. Work with your staffing firm to clarify your hiring deadline and, at the same time, to understand the time needed by the staffing firm. Arrive at a timeline together.
Define expectations
Give your staffing firm a detailed job description as well as a profile of the right candidate for the job. The more information you provide, the better equipped the staffing firm is to provide results.
Participate in the process
Expect the staffing firm to present you with a well-planned recruiting process. As an active partner in the process, respond promptly to any questions the staffing firm might have. Set aside time to review progress and be ready to interview candidates who are referred to you. Lack of communication may delay results and let high-demand candidates move on to other opportunities.
Share responsibility
If your staffing firm provides high-quality service, the firm will assist with onboarding and evaluation of the new hire. Help the firm to understand your corporate policies, procedures, and processes so that they can streamline the onboarding process for you. Give honest feedback regarding the employee and expect the firm to take responsibility for results.
If you’re ready to start a partnership with a team of seasoned recruiters, dedicated analysts, HR professionals, and marketing gurus with unparalleled resources and a deep pool of talent, call ETS today at 518.562.4673.