The difference between a good and bad staffing company

Are you working with a good staffing company?

Ask anyone who works with recruiters, and they will tell you that there are a lot of bad apples out there. In the world of staffing and recruiting it comes down to a very limited list.

There are many great staffing and recruiting firms, but the bad ones outnumber the good and often ruin the reputation of the whole industry.

Here are some questions you should ask before engaging with a new partner

Good Staffing Company –

• A partner – A staffing company that cares about its clients will learn about the client’s industry, company, culture, management style, the opportunity for growth, and benefits. It is important to represent the client’s company name and reputation at its highest level when talking to potential candidates.
• Real expectations – It is important to have realistic expectations about your salary, the recruiting process, and the timeline for filling a position. A good partner should be able to tell you if a position is tough to fill and why, and should offer alternative solutions if the position is not filled within a reasonable period of time.
• Cause and Effects – Let’s be honest. The people they’re speaking to are potential candidates for your opportunity. If they’re misinformed, not communicated with properly, or given bad advice on the position, salary, or role, it could reflect badly on you. Most of the time you wouldn’t even know it, but it could have a negative effect on your reputation.

Signs of a bad staffing company –

• Overpromise, under deliver- Sales people and recruiters often make promises they can’t keep. They get you engaged and then things fall by the wayside.
• Overly confident and misinterpret the job – Poor recruiters often fail to understand the nuances of a particular job or the difference between a strong candidate and a mediocre one. This can lead to them becoming less confident in their ability to fill the position, and the client loses because the position remains open.
• Candidate experience – Many people have had bad experiences with recruiting companies or recruiters. The truth is that there are many companies and recruiters in the business for the wrong reasons – money. They treat people like commodities rather than connecting with them. Most of the time, the client company is unaware of these bad experiences.
• Honesty – Are they really who they say they are? Are they really combing the candidate market to find the best possible candidate? Do they really background and drug screen when they say they do. Do they really have enough support to work on the role? Candidates are a great barometer on this topic.
• And more underlying is do they have integrity? Do they value people? If your current provider is willing to sacrifice their long-term integrity for a quick fill, most chances are they don’t value a quality business relationship.

It’s easy to generalize all temp, staffing, and recruiting firms as one and the same. There is a big gap between good and bad staffing companies. It’s essential that you look at these mentioned characteristics to see what is important to your needs. We hope this article helps you make a well-informed decision. Best of luck!