Have you experienced being understaffed for a project you meticulously planned for? Instead of using up your time and resources on traditional recruitment methods, consider partnering with a trusted staffing firm. With the right recruitment agency, you can widen your recruitment pool and speed up your hiring process.
Although staffing agencies can offer your business many benefits, not all can provide quality staffing solutions. It becomes your responsibility as a leader to verify the expertise of the partner you’re eyeing. How can you do so? The key lies in asking the right questions.
10 Critical Questions to Ask Your Potential Partner
To verify if a staffing agency is worth partnering with, you need to begin a conversation with them. Whether through a virtual or physical meeting, find the time to discuss important aspects of their business.
As a way to help you choose the right staffing agency for you, Horizon America compiled 10 questions you can ask to fully get to know a staffing company. Even if you don’t have the opportunity to ask all ten, keeping abreast of these topics can help you make more informed business decisions.
1. What industries and roles do you specialize in?
It’s vital to ensure your chosen staffing agency meets your organizational needs. So, take the time to ensure your potential partner caters to your industry. Find out if they have the capacity and expertise needed to fill your open role.
Typically, agencies with niche expertise that align with what you’re looking for can better navigate industry-specific challenges. They are more likely to understand important staffing trends that can aid in finding candidates with the right skills. Their expertise and knowledge can also help ensure a better cultural and operational fit for the professionals they provide.
2. What services do you offer?
Consider that your staffing needs are unique compared to other businesses’. Your requirements can shift and change depending on the demands of your products. With this in mind, finding staffing firms that can offer personalized staffing services is critical.
This question will help you learn more about what the firm offers its partners. Whether it’s temporary staffing, direct hire services, or temporary-to-permanent staffing, this information can help you evaluate their long-term fit with your business needs. It’s best to choose an agency that can offer a suite of services, ensuring tailored solutions even in the midst of operational shifts.
3. What is your pricing structure?
Transparent pricing is necessary to avoid hidden costs and ensure that you get value for your investment. With that said, their pricing structure should be included in your questions-to-ask. Find out what’s included in the services you’ll pay for. For example, does it include any professional training? Does it stop at the end of the onboarding process?
By asking for a clear breakdown of costs, you can assess your ROI and ensure that you choose a partner within your budget. This will help prevent both overpayment and potential losses for your business.
4. What is your recruitment and screening process?
The recruitment process directly impacts the quality of candidates you’ll receive. Knowing how the agency sources, vets, and selects candidates ensures they have a robust process in place to identify the best talent for your needs.
This question can also help you determine if they consider diversity and inclusion during the recruitment process. In today’s working landscape, fostering DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives in hiring can result in a more innovative and engaged workforce. It also ensures a wider talent pool of skilled individuals. So, as a business, it’s ideal to prioritize staffing agencies that ensure diverse and inclusive hiring methods.
5. What technologies do you use in your talent acquisition process?
Technology plays a significant role in efficient and effective recruitment. The right tools and programs can improve candidate matching and ensure a seamless experience for both companies and candidates. Considering this, you need to look for agencies that leverage advanced systems. This includes applicant tracking tools as well as candidate matching tech.
Moreover, a staffing agency that utilizes technology is more likely to also stay informed of trends and shifts within the world of work. They are capable of adjusting to industry changes and trends that matter to your organization.
6. What ongoing support do you offer your clients and professionals?
Staffing isn’t just about placing a candidate. It’s about ensuring that the placement made is successful over time. Considering this, it’s valuable to partner with agencies that offer ongoing support even after placement.
Ask whether your potential partner offers regular check-ins or performance evaluations. Learn how they deal with issue resolution, and ask about their other initiatives that contribute to stronger and longer-lasting placements. Take note of how they support both their clients and the professionals they place.
7. What are your retention and turnover rates for placed candidates?
High turnover rates can signal that the agency’s placements aren’t well-suited to the roles they fill. This situation can lead to disruptions and added costs for you as a client. Retention rates, on the other hand, indicate how well candidates fit into the roles they are placed in.
An agency with high retention and low turnover rates is a good sign. It means their services are effective. Remember that these two metrics are great indicators of which partner you should choose.
8. How do you handle unsuccessful placements?
No staffing agency is perfect. Even the most diligent recruitment efforts may result in an unsuccessful placement. What’s important is how the agency handles these types of situations.
To fully understand, you need to ask about topics such as their replacement policies and timelines. You can also learn about any additional costs in the event of unsuccessful placements.
For the best outcome, try to look for an agency with clear written policies on replacement guarantees and refunds. Aside from being beneficial to your business, this aspect can also demonstrate the commitment of a staffing agency to providing successful and satisfactory services to its clients.
9. How do you stay current with industry shifts and trends?
The labor market is constantly evolving and agencies that stay on top of trends will be better equipped to meet your staffing needs. With that said, you need to understand how your potential partners stay above industry shifts and changes.
Focus on finding agencies that demonstrate a commitment to ongoing education. Consider those who participate in industry conferences or maintain membership in professional, industry-specific organizations. You can also look at the marketing content they create. Do they offer any leadership content or expert insights?
10. How do you ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations?
Compliance is non-negotiable when it comes to employment laws and regulations. Simple missteps in areas like worker classification, wage and hour laws, or workplace safety can result in big legal risks and financial penalties for your company.
So, when choosing a staffing firm to partner with, look for an agency with a strong compliance program in place. Prioritize those with well-established policies, as well as firms that remain up to date on all local, state, and federal regulations. Proactively look for staffing agencies with certification and expertise. This ensures that your business remains compliant with laws and regulations even when receiving help from third-party staffing sources.
BUILD A SKILLED TEAM WITH HORIZON AMERICA
Looking for a staffing partner with a good track record? Look no further. Horizon America is here to provide you with the most qualified candidates to join your workforce.
With more than 30 years of combined experience, we have the capacity to fill your teams within a short span of time. Gain access to our large pool of light industrial and manufacturing professionals by partnering with us today!
