September 2008
How To Choose A Staffing Agency
Any company is only as good as its employees. This applies everywhere in your company, from your top executives to the people in the mailroom. Because your employees are vital to your business, you need the right staffing agency to make sure you get the right people on board.
Whatever position you need to fill, there’s a staffing agency that can do it. Temporary staffing agencies can provide flexible staffing who will work as long as you need them to—from a few days to a few months. Temp-to-hire agencies will send you temporary employees with the option of becoming a full-time worker, if the relationship works out. Some agencies staff high-level executives; some specialize in a certain skill set, like graphic designers or computer programmers; some concentrate on specific industries. Whatever your staffing needs are, here are a few questions to ask to ensure you’re hiring the right staffing firm for your company.
Is the firm able to fill the position I’m looking for? Because many firms specialize these days, it’s important to know if the firm you’re considering can fill the position you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a very specialized employee—someone with nursing skills, certain technical knowledge, or certain creative experience, for example—it can sometimes be better to hire a firm that specializes in placing this type of employee. Specialized firms sometimes attract more highly qualified workers than general staffing firms.
What are the firm’s pay rate and benefit packages? Because the employee is officially working for the staffing firm, it’s the firm who will be determining his or her wages and benefits. Make sure they offer good compensation and benefits packages. The better their compensation, the higher caliber of workers they’ll attract.
Has the firm worked in my industry before? In general, it’s better to find a firm with experience staffing companies like yours. Some staffing firms specialize in certain industries, and these firms
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