If you’re an employer looking to bring in some fresh talent, you may have considered using a recruitment agency to help you with your search. Such agencies can handle all the advertising and help connect you with top-notch candidates. Of course, it’s important to find the right agency – industry specialism, quality of service and fees can vary. Below are a few tips to help you find the right recruiter. 

Understand your industry needs

While some recruitment agencies offer a general service, there are many that cater to specific industries. These specialist recruiters may have a better idea as to the type of talent you require and where to find the best candidates.

For example, a tech recruitment specialist might have a better idea as to where to find the best tech talent, and may even be able to pour money into headhunting campaigns or stalls at recruitment fairs at universities where there are a lot of tech students. 

When it comes to hiring contractors and temporary staff, specialist agencies are also typically very valuable. Many construction companies use a labour hire agency to help them find specialist labourers for individual construction projects. Catering companies, hotels and restaurants meanwhile often use hospitality-specific temp agencies to fill temporary roles. 

Consider reviews and recommendations

Sadly, there are many poor quality recruitment companies out there, and even scam companies that take money from companies and jobseekers without actually doing any work. Checking out online reviews can usually help you to avoid such companies – honest hardworking recruiters will often have lots of positive reviews. 

You may also be able to seek out recommendations from other business owners. If they highly rate a recruitment agency, it could be worth trying them yourself. Similarly when comparing recruitment agencies online, look out for testimonials and endorsements from companies. 

Compare agency fees

Recruitment agency fee structures vary. For permanent roles, most recruitment agencies charge a contingency fee to the employer. This is typically between 15% to 30% of an employee’s first-year salary.

Other companies may charge an upfront retainer fee – particularly for senior and specialized roles. For contractors and temporary hires, expect to pay a markup on their daily or hourly rate (if you’re paying a construction worker £20 per hour, you might be expected to pay a further £5 per hour to the recruitment agency). 

While more reputable and elite-focused recruitment agencies will charge more, rates can vary a lot between agencies, and it’s therefore important to shop around to get the best deal. If prices aren’t advertised, ask upfront about pricing. 

There are some red flags to look out for such as upfront non-refundable fees or subscription fees, which are often just a way to get money out of you regardless of whether talent is secured. A few perks to look out for include rebate periods (this is when a recruitment agency provides a partial refund if an employee leaves immediately after getting hired) and negotiable payment terms (this allows you to pay back contingency fees over a longer period in installments).