Did you know that, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average cost of a bad hire is 30% of the individual’s expected first year salary? Yet still, studies show that only 1 in 5 new hires is successful.
So, what’s going on here? When it comes to hiring, there are a lot of factors that go into candidate qualification. Beyond skills and experience, there’s also the matter of culture fit/add, teachability, soft skills that are hard to quantify, and so much more. When organizations approach talent management and recruiting, bandwidth can often be tight and external resources are often needed.
External recruiters know how to look for all the little things that make someone a great candidate. As they say, the devil is in the details. Recruiting partners also have access to large networks of potential employees and know how to connect with them in order to effectively introduce new opportunities to them. There are many reasons one might look to hire a recruiting firm . Our clients often come to us for the following reasons:
- Added due diligence: to ensure that they are really seeing all of the great candidates available
- Time restraints: when they cannot juggle the needs of a proper search process
- High profile opening: when a critical, urgent role opens up with significant impact to the organization
- Confidential search: they need to fill a role that someone still occupies, so they’re looking for a high level of discretion
- Surge: they need several roles filled at the same time and cannot sacrifice the quality of search due to volume
When looking for a recruiting firm to work with, focus on finding one that operates with a high sense of integrity, with your best interests in mind. Here are a few things you should prioritize in your search for a recruiting firm.
Attentive Listening
A recruiting firm who genuinely has your best interests at heart will always listen intently. Truly hearing what you have to say is the only way for a recruiter to have a solid understanding of your goals, priorities, negotiables, and so on. This understanding is the foundation of any recruiter’s ability to deliver strong results. A recruiter who does not listen wholeheartedly might not have your best interests at heart.
Frequent and Transparent Communication
When it comes to working with a recruiting firm , communication is key. There are always moving parts in the world of recruiting and clients and candidates both deserve to know what’s going on behind the scenes. Open communication is a sign of respect and collaboration in working toward mutual best interests. When a recruiter fails to communicate developments, road blocks, and general updates, that is the result of a disconnect that not only hinders the process, but also the results.
Relationship Building
Strong relationships are the basis for any working partnership — especially one that is almost entirely centered around dealing with people. A good recruiter should be focused on building a solid and genuine relationship with both the client and the candidates, and of course that should be apparent in their own network relations too.
A Compelling Track Record
At the end of the day, data speaks louder than words. Do some research into a recruiter before deciding to hire. Those who work with integrity will have testimonials and success stories to prove it. Look into their website to see what sort of values they uphold and the language that they use. If you can’t find real data to back their claims, then you should ask for references.
Hiring a recruiting firm has undeniable benefits because their network and expertise are valuable and unique resources. Good recruiters are not only able to expand your talent pool, but also to help you efficiently sift through the clutter. They know exactly what to look for in order to quickly identify a great fit for your vacancy, so new hires have a much higher chance of staying on. Just keep in mind that results can vary greatly depending on who you choose to work with, so be discerning in your search for a recruiting firm. If a recruiter operates with integrity, they will execute a job well done and save you a lot of time and money down the road.
If you’re looking for a recruiter who works with integrity, then look no further. We’d be happy to chat with you about your unique needs and get to know eachother better before you make a commitment. Schedule a complimentary consultation here.
