The people who complain about recruitment agencies are usually the ones who have had a bad experience. As a customer/client, we all expect a high level of service and if this is not the case, we are certainly not slow to give feedback if we feel like we are getting a poor service!
The two biggest mistakes we have seen people make when choosing or using a recruitment agency is that they either pick the wrong recruitment partner, or they don’t engage properly in the process and leave it all down to the recruiter… This will only end one way and it will not be the outcome you would have hoped for at the beginning.
Picking the wrong agency may be obvious to some people, but it does not stop others from making that mistake. Putting it in simple terms… You should not use a recruiter if they do not specialise in your area. Putting a focus on Mantell Associates specialisms, you may find someone who is excellent at recruiting a Business Development professional for a food business, however they will not have a clue about what a CDMO is looking for. It is like asking an electrician to do your plumbing – you should not do it.
‘If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur’.
One of the biggest errors when picking an external partner is going for ‘cheaper option’. Instead of just looking at a rate and thinking you could be saving money for other areas of recruitment you need to consider many factors. The largest part of this is to look at the difference in services, network, and resources that recruiter has to offer. A good recruitment agency will always be able to add value in many different areas. In fact, you should always be thinking ahead of future partnerships with this recruiter as it will save you a lot more money in the long run.
What are the first signs to look for in a good recruitment partner?
1.Market feedback– If a recruiter is not giving you market feedback then this should be the first thing you notice. This could come in many different areas such as:
- Feedback on your business from the market
- Feedback on your competitors – How they are hiring etc.
- Salary feedback – Are you competitive in the market?
2.Knowledge of your business– Does the consultant you are speaking with know the areas you work in and your direct competitors?
3.An agency who is honest with you– This is the most important part. If an agency is not answering your questions or is ‘beating around the bush’ with their answers, nine times out of ten, this is not the agency you should be partnering with.
Here at Mantell Associates, we pride ourselves on the service we offer to all our clients across the globe offering them a fantastic network of candidates across many different areas.