Recruitment companies are often not recognised for being part of a dedicated team helping businesses to grow, according to a recruitment specialist.
Alex McLeod, director at Aberdeen-based recruitment agency Right People, believes it’s an issue that perhaps stems from occasions when client businesses are provided with ill-advised ‘quick-hit’ placements, or irrelevant CVs that don’t match role requirements.
Alex said: “It is a disconnect that does the industry no favours: an industry, incidentally, that I retain a real passion for, despite the constant headlines of economic doom and gloom in Aberdeen and the North-east of Scotland.
“The key to a successful outcome for all is developing trusted relationships with clients and candidates by meeting them face-to-face, gaining an understanding of requirements, and identifying opportunities.
“It takes time, commitment, talent and effort to be a first-rate recruiter. Simply put it is essential to fully understand the client’s immediate and long-term goals when sourcing talented staff to help the business develop.
“We tend to hear the same things from companies let down by recruitment agencies.”
Alex provides the following guide to avoiding these issues and having a successful recruitment strategy, whether your market is buoyant or in the middle of a downturn.
“We used a recruitment company in the past; it didn’t work out and we won’t be using one ever again.”
The chances are the wrong recruitment company was used for the project; one that may have had little experience in that sector of business. The company may have sent too many CVs to executives, trying to fill the position quickly and cheaply in order to move onto the next opportunity for a 'quick hit' rather than treating each position on its own merits. Your recruitment partner should understand the market and company culture, and present two to three strong candidates and perhaps a left-field or back-up suggestion too.
“Recruitment companies are too expensive. I don’t know what they do.”
If it’s expensive to hire the right people, it’s even more expensive to hire the wrong people. You should ask your recruitment partner about their track record and industry expertise, and get an overview of their recent successes. You should also ask about fees and how they will be paid. A good recruiter should get to know you and the business, understanding what sort of person will fit in with the rest of the team. A combination of our database, advertising and other tools will help find the right person for the role. The only problem should be which one of the talented candidates presented should get the job.
“My recruitment company has my CV, but doesn’t know me as an individual.” As a candidate, you deserve the same care and attention as a fee-paying client. Your recruitment company should get to know you to understand what you are looking for in a job and the workplaces you would be best suited for. They should also give you guidance to help you develop your CV, skills and prepare for interviews.
“The recruitment company found someone with a great CV, but they didn’t fit in.”
At Right People, we meet candidates face-to-face. We’ll often get more from this meeting than from their CV, learning about their personality and the sort of roles they would be suitable for. Your recruitment partner should understand your business and engage with senior management to discuss the type of people you are looking to recruit and how they would develop within the company.
“My other recruitment partners have reduced their rates, why haven’t you?”
By reducing rates, is your recruitment partner reducing their time spent on sourcing the right person? Expertise, service and quality matter when selecting candidates; we advise not to underestimate their value in the recruitment process. This isn’t a quick fix, where dozens of CVs with various capabilities are thrown at people – a good recruiter will take time to source the right person for the right job. A successful outcome leads to additional projects for the recruitment partner.
“It is important to find the right recruitment agency” says Alex. “One that understands your industry and is proactive in finding the best candidates for every job.”
Established in 2008, Right People is led by directors Alex McLeod and Bruce Russell. It is based on North Silver Street in the city centre, just off Golden Square.
Right People provides comprehensive recruitment services to the north-east business community. It works closely with clients in a wide range of industry sectors, including oil and gas, accountancy, IT, sales and marketing, human resources, business support and supply chain.
For more information on Right People visit www.rightpeople.uk.net, email info@rightpeople.uk.net or call 01224 628877.