Finding, hiring, and retaining good people is one of the most important things a business can get right. Companies without the resources to have an in-house human resources specialist can profit from the professional assist of a recruiting company. A large business with high volume needs can also benefit by farming out their frequent search requirements. Of course, job seekers can hire a recruiter for when circumstances call for specialized placement or industry expertise.
What does a recruiter do?
It's a balancing act between employer and employee in consideration of professional skills, availability, location, remuneration, and more. A recruiter aims to identify those candidates most closely matched with the hard and soft skills their clients are looking for. Following a potential interview, a number of qualified candidates who indicate interest may be put forward to the employer. Following further discussion, the recruiter receives feedback from the employer and the applicant receives feedback from the recruiter. Ideally, a job offer results for the right candidate.
Recruiter compensation
The client is the employer. Recruitment company fees are typically paid by the hiring company, not by the prospective employee. In the case of a contingency recruitment arrangement, the recruiter is paid only if and when they successfully place a candidate in the open position.
Retained search firm
An executive search or a niche skill set may require the expertise of a recruiter with access to highly specialized talent. When a retained firm manages the search, there will be a more personalized process with both the company and the candidates. Retained search firms bring a curated network of their own.
Temp staffing agency
Also referred to as a contract house, a temp staffing agency can assist companies in need of temporary support. Large agencies have departments for popular needs such as hospitality and events, call centers, customer service, office administration, retail, and more. Jobs may be full-time, part-time, seasonal or hourly, and are usually time sensitive and must be quickly filled. A contract house can also be a resource for contract-to-hire, giving an employer time to evaluate a temporary employee for possible full-time employment.
Contingency recruitment
If and when a candidate is placed, contingency recruiters typically charge a percentage of the first year's starting salary. Contingency recruiters do not have exclusivity in a given search, as an employer will likely use multiple contingency recruiters simultaneously.
Develop a good professional relationship with a recruiting company who can get to know your corporate culture over time for the best candidate results.
This article was written by Laurie Jo Miller Farr for Small Business Pulse