March 5, 2018 |
According to the American Staffing Association, more than 90 percent of companies in the U.S. use staffing firms. Staffing firms play a critical role in helping companies find talent. Unlike corporate recruiters, recruiters at staffing agencies have access to jobs at multiple companies covering a wide spectrum of industries and positions. If companies and your competition are using them, you should be too.
Partnering with a staffing agency means that you complete one application, have one interview with a staffing specialist and get considered for many positions. Rather than having to search for jobs, apply for each, follow-up on each application, then complete interviews with the hiring company, you have someone else doing the leg work for you.
When you are placed through a staffing agency you have the opportunity to work in a position and make sure it is the right fit for you. Similarly, the hiring company has the chance to see if you are the right candidate for their business. You have the opportunity to gain experience and skills while making sure the company you are working for has the right environment and culture for you.
Staffing agencies represent multiple companies and most cover multiple industries. This means that with one application you have access to a wider variety and number of positions that you could potentially be a fit for. It’s common for staffing agencies to send candidates for multiple interviews. The more interviews you have the better your chances of landing your next job. Even if they don’t have the right position for you at the time, their inventory of jobs is constantly changing. The position you are looking for may come available tomorrow and you will be at the top of the list to be considered for it.
When you register with an agency, you may be offered multiple positions and you can choose which position is the best fit for you. If you interview with a business and don’t feel good about the position it is easier to communicate that with your staffing specialist, who can help you refine your search.
Recruiters at staffing agencies have their fingers on the pulse of the job market all the time. They know who is hiring and what the positions hold in terms of future growth. The reputable agencies will only work with those businesses that they know to be good employers as well. Just as they have vetted their candidates, they have also vetted their client businesses. You can have peace of mind knowing that you have someone advocating for you and on your side.
It is the recruiters job to place candidates and fill open positions. Because they work for both the candidates and the businesses, they are highly motivated to meet the needs of both. Their goal is to make the right placement the first time for their clients (or at least it should be). They will be working to put you in front of the best businesses that match your job search goals.
Direct connections to the hiring managers at various companies, people you might have never been able to get in though with
Businesses hire staffing agencies to find them the right candidates and do the leg work for them. They will work with the agencies that they trust and have confidence in. Because of this rapport they have built with businesses and hiring managers, they can successfully advocate for you and get you in front of the right person, something you couldn’t have done on your own. They have the ear of the right people that are making the hiring decisions.
Reputable agencies will require you to do an in-person interview with one of their staffing specialists or recruiters (unless special circumstances apply) before sending you out to one of their clients. This will mean doing more than one interview to secure a position. If placed through an agency, you will most likely need to complete their new hire paperwork and repeat the process when you are hired on by the business you are placed with after your temporary period is concluded.
If you are working with an agency that only has a few openings at a time or specializes in an industry that is not your chosen field, you may limit your options. You will want to make sure the agency you work with represent the kind of employers and industries you are interested in and that they work with a large number of companies so you have more potential options.
Some agencies may place more value on higher level candidates. If you’re not one, you could be pushed to the back burner. Make sure that the agency you partner with has positions in the fields you are qualified for and that they are motivated to fill all their positions, not just the high level ones.
While there are some minor downsides to using a staffing agency, they can all be avoided by making sure you choose the right one to represent you. Do your research, ask around, and make sure you are choosing the agency with the best reputation and the most jobs. Working with a staffing agency to find your next career will only help you expand your options. Employers are using staffing agencies and you should be too.
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