No matter your industry, when it comes to sourcing top talent the task can often be difficult and time consuming – that is why so many companies, both big and small, now outsource this activity to recruitment agencies. Relying on the assistance of a well-established firm can mean the difference between a long-lasting and productive employee and one that is not going to go the distance. But not all recruitment firms are equal – and it is really important to know the difference between the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to choosing the right one.

Here is our list of the top five factors to look for when researching recruitment agencies.

1. Experience. Obviously a great place to start. When a firm has had years of experience within the recruitment arena, you know that they will be well-suited to meeting your needs. Becoming the best at what you do takes time – you can’t just command this right out of the gate. An experienced firm with have the respect within the industry, as well as the knowledge regarding what works and what doesn’t.

2. A strong and extensive network. When a recruitment firm is like an isolated island in a sea of competition, you can pretty much guarantee that your results will reflect this. Conversely, when a firm has a vast network of contacts, partners and relationships built on mutual respect, you benefit greatly from this. This also means staying well connected on social media (LinkedIn especially) in order to maintain relationships with various channels as well as to source talent.

3. Grasp the importance of technology – but don’t rely on it! Employing the most advanced and valuable technological recruitment programs is par for the course for any respectable recruitment agency – but it can’t be the only method utilized. When you rely solely on technology to do the work, you lose a great deal of the personal interaction required. A great recruitment firm will use both tested and proven methods of practice coupled with technology.

4. Great at communicating. When you are trying to find a new team member, you have to be able to express concerns, wants, needs, etc., and so you have to be able to talk to your recruitment firm. The ability to relay your expectations is crucial in ensuring the firm finds the right fit for your company. If you can’t talk to your recruiter, you are likely not going to get what you want from the relationship.

5. A well-defined, well-established process. The role of a recruitment agency is to find you top talent. Sure this largely over-simplifies the task, but when it comes right down to it, that is what you are hiring them to do. In order for this to be accomplished effectively, there needs to be a process in place that sets a standard and can easily be adhered to in order to maximize results. This should include traversing a number of different channels to find candidates, pre-employment and behavioral testing and reference checking. Conversely, if a recruiter cannot explain their process to you, they may not actually have one in place, thereby maximizing the risk in finding an excellent employee.

Use this list the next time you enter the recruitment agency pool. For more information please contact Permanent Search Group by calling 1-905-276-2006 or visit us online at www.permanentsearch.com