Getting the right recruitment agency can be challenging, especially when there are multiple agencies that cater to your particular niche.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at five questions that you should ask any recruitment agency before you hire them.
What kind of selection process do you use for CVs?
Recruitment agencies are designed to save both time and money, which means that they must be able to analyse and filter through CVs with supreme accuracy.
When discussing how the agency vets candidates, ask them about the selection process, how applications are handled, and what information they obtain from applicants outside of the CV.
It might also be worth asking how many CVs they expect to provide you with per role.
What happens if the candidate doesn’t work out?
This is an important question that should be on the lips of any company looking to recruit a new recruitment agency.
Sometimes, even after rigorous screening processes, tests, and interviews, a candidate might not work out. If this is the case, you need to ensure that the agency has a refund guarantee policy in place.
You should also ask what the cut-off date is (this is generally around three months). A good agency should also go the extra mile to find out why the placement didn’t work out and find a replacement.
Have you placed candidates in similar roles before?
As you’re probably aware, selecting the right agency for your business can be hard, which means that it is integral that you find one with the right kind of experience for the roles that you are looking to fill.
Asking whether the company has filled similar positions before can help you narrow down your search. For instance, if you’re looking to fill admin roles, but the agency specialises in marketing, they might not be the one for you.
With a short-list of relevant agencies, ask them to produce relevant testimonials and examples to help you with your decision.
Does your agency specialise in any particular niche?
While many recruitment agencies offer services that cover multiple industries and niches, some might have bespoke departments that work on ultra-niche or specialist industries and roles.
Of course, there are other recruitment agencies, such as ourselves, that work solely in those specialist and niche areas. In fact, Oriel Partners is one of the few PA and admin specialist recruitment companies in the London area.
As well as investigating niches, it is sometimes worth asking whether an agency covers specific geographical areas, as they might be able to help out with contracting or offsite employment.
Many London recruitment agencies, for instance, are able to find candidates from far afield to cover remote working positions.
Are you a member of a recruitment body?
There are several recruitment bodies in the UK that ensure that all agencies, including PA recruitment agencies, work to the highest possible standards.
Two of the most common agencies are the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and the Association of Professional Staffing Companies.
If the agency is a member of the above, or any other body, it means that they are regularly checked and reviewed to ensure that best practices are maintained.
If you’d like to know more about recruitment agencies, or Oriel Partners, check out our FAQ page for more information.
