Whether looking for work or staff, most people will see direct contact between employer and candidate as the natural option, but there are times when a third party can help to achieve a better result.
An agency can provide access to a wide range of job opportunities that jobseekers may not be able to find on their own, says an article on the website of Nepal-based agency Landmark HR Consultant.
The article adds that agencies can provide jobseekers with guidance and advice on their career options. They can also help to prepare a candidate’s resume and cover letter, and coach them on preparing for interviews.
The relationship between the candidate and the agency can last well beyond one position. An article on the Indeed jobsite points out that after you register with a recruiter, they will usually have all your information, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and expectations.
“Recruiters may also continue to work for you even after they've found you a job that matches your skill set,” says Indeed. “They often keep your CV on file and are continuously searching for better jobs and bigger opportunities for you.”
Advantages for employers
Recruiter Robert Half (RH), on its website, sets out six key benefits for employers when they use agencies:
- speed up the hiring process
- access to highly skilled talent
- up-to-date specialist industry knowledge
- role and brand advertisement
- a smoother interview process
- long-lasting relationships.
To ensure smooth workflow, firms need to act quickly to ensure they secure the best talent, says RH.
“However, it is often difficult for business leaders to prioritise hiring new talent when faced with other pressing concerns. Rather than wasting precious working hours scouring CVs, employers can supply a list of requirements and allow a recruitment consultant [to find] the right talent from an existing network of professionals.”
Recruitment experts are in a position to do this because of the relationships they have built with candidates, which enable them “to make recommendations and placements intuitively”, says RH.
Loss of control
But an article on the website of recruitment agency Apollo Technical sets out some downsides to using agencies.
Firms will lose some control of the hiring process because of outsourcing it, the staffing agency won’t be familiar with the firms’ company culture, use of the wrong agency may be damaging to a firm’s brand, and the agency may not have the necessary network or relationships, resulting in subpar applications.
But the most obvious disadvantage of using agencies is cost. Recruitment agencies will often charge a fee in the range of 20–30% of the candidate’s earnings in the first year in the position, says US recruiter Upwork. This is paid by the employer, not the candidate. The employer must decide whether this cost is justified.