Staffing solutions can give your company a huge boost, no matter the type of business you operate. That’s because it’s always important to have the right people for the respective jobs if you want to succeed. And finding those people can be a huge challenge.
Generally, it takes about 23 days to hire a new employee. It’s a labor-intensive process. You have to review applications, interview potential candidates, and negotiate salaries. Even if you find a great candidate, your competitors will be vying for the same talent. To add insult to injury, all the effort you spent might even hurt your business in the long run. Why? It takes time away from your existing business obligations.
Working with a company that provides professional staffing solutions can dramatically reduce the amount of time you spend looking for an employee. Staffing companies have one goal: to make sure you have the right person for the job. They give you access to a database of talented employees, so you always have someone available when you need them. Staffing solutions might even save you money since they take care of the employees’ health insurance and benefits.
But how do you choose the right staffing company? There are so many options available that it can be difficult to find the right one for your needs. Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for staffing solutions from a staffing company.
Know What Kind of Help You Need
There are 3 main types of staffing positions:
- Short-term assignment
- Long-term assignment
- Permanent job placement
Think about what kind of position you are looking to fill. A good staffing company will have a wide database of available talent. This is important since you want to ensure that you’ll be able to get the right candidates for the job in a timely manner.
You can also ask prospective staffing companies for their opinions on how many employees you will need, or what kind of assignments work best for your company. For example, you may need short-term staff from time to time, such as when regular employees go on leave, or when you have a new major project coming up. Conversely, you may need long-term employees when you have open positions available, but you aren’t yet comfortable with a permanent job placement.
Then, ask prospective staffing companies if you can have a hand in the selection process. Can you submit job interview questions? This is especially important if you are looking to fill a permanent position or a position that is likely to become permanent.
If you need staffing for an upcoming project or event, make sure the prospective companies can do thorough reviews and background checks. You should also make sure that they give you a detailed presentation before you commit to their services.
Know What You’re Looking for in an Employee
Many people make the mistake of starting the hiring process before they have taken the time to understand what it is they’re really looking for. An employee who can do it all is every hiring manager’s dream. But don’t waste your time chasing unicorns. Your time will be much better spent focusing on what skills are needed to do the job well. Additionally, consider how flexible your requirements are with regards to years of experience. What is the minimum required level of education for the position? Are you willing to overlook a lack of formal education for a candidate with a solid portfolio?
Make Sure the Staffing Company Is an Expert in Your Field
You should visit several websites to narrow your search. You will want to focus on staffing companies that specialize in your industry. Yes, culture fit is critical. But at the end of the day, it is often the staffing company’s understanding of your industry that proves critical. As such, it only makes sense to choose staffing companies that have experience within your industry. After all, you wouldn’t want a staffing company that specializes in hiring designers, if you seek to staff factory positions.
It might also be helpful to think about the type of employees you need. For example, there are some staffing companies that specialize in leadership roles, like CEO. There are also staffing companies that specialize in filling entry-level roles.
Either way, make sure the staffing company visits your business. They need to get to know your corporate culture if they’re going to make successful job placements.
Make a Note of Your Impressions When Interacting With the Company
Contact the staffing companies on your shortlist. What was the experience like? They should provide you with useful information even before you hire them. This is their time to make the sale and prove their expertise. Did you learn something new when talking to them? If not, move on.
Were they professional, and friendly? Did they respond to you in a timely manner? This should give you a clue about how the staffing process will go.
Here’s why that’s important: You need to be able to trust the staffing company you choose. Think of them as a strategic advisor for your business. So, they need to prove to you that they are a professional and capable organization. After all, they will be recruiting, hiring, and training your future staff. How they run their business will have a huge effect on the quality of the employees you’ll be getting. In short, they will be playing a huge role in the growth of your company.
How Happy Is Their Talent?
When people are unhappy, they are more likely to quit on you. This can cost you money down the road. That’s why it’s so important to work with a staffing company that has happy talent.
One simple way to gauge how happy employees are is by reviewing the staffing company’s testimonials and satisfaction scores.
You should also have a look at the compensation and benefits packages the company offers. This will give you an idea of whether or not the staffing company is able to attract good talent. Generally speaking, the better the benefits and compensation packages, the higher the caliber of employees you’ll be getting.
Find out How the Staffing Company Recruits and Trains Its Talent
Look at their ads.
Find out what techniques the company uses to verify their applicants’ skills. You should also find out if the staffing company conducts background checks and drug tests on their employees.
Find out how they train their talent. Some staffing companies train their employees for specific skills. This might mean software tutorials or even business etiquette. Get details. Would you say their training techniques are proactive, or passive?
Do you need employees to be trained on proprietary software that only your company uses? If so, then ask the staffing company if they would be willing to train their talent to use the software.
Find out what kind of talent database the staffing company maintains.
All of these items will help you get an estimate of the quality of employees you will be getting from the staffing company.
Learn What They Mean When They Say a Placement Was “Successful”
Chances are, the staffing companies you are considering advertise some sort of placement success rate. In fact, the majority of staffing companies probably do this.
It’s easy to get swayed by the numbers. But before you do, ask them what exactly they mean by a “successful” placement. What are the criteria they use to judge whether or not a placement was successful? Some staffing companies will call it a success if they are able to just get a new worker for a company. That is probably not enough. A successful placement should consider how long the talent stayed on staff, and how satisfied the client company is with the employee. Furthermore, be sure to also ask about the staffing company’s turnover rate for their talent.
What Is Their Turnover Rate for Internal Staff?
Think of your staffing company as a business partner. You need someone you can trust. That means your account manager and recruiter need to know you. They need to have a feel for your business, as well as your industry. This will be difficult for them to do if they leave your chosen staffing company.
Set yourself up for a smooth, long lasting relationship by choosing a staffing company that has a lower turnover for their internal staff.
What’s the Process Like?
What do you do when you need a new temporary employee? Do you call them, or do they prefer an email? How much lead time do they need to fill the position?
What happens if there is an urgent, last minute need? Will they be able to respond right away? You should also find out how to reach them outside of regular business hours.
Square Away All the Legal Stuff
You need to make sure that all the legal details are taken care of. In most cases, the staffing company will be the official employer as far as the IRS is concerned. But that doesn’t mean that you don’t have additional responsibilities. You will want to make sure that worker classification and payroll taxes are settled. You should also ensure that the staffing company confirms the workers you get are W2 employees, not independent contractors.
Have a look at the contracts, and make sure your lawyer reviews them as well. Make sure that the proper provisions are in place when it comes to indemnification. This protects both parties in case any issues come up in the future.
Have a Look at Their Reviews and Ask for Referrals
What is the staffing agency’s most recent client satisfaction score? How do they rank against the competition? Make sure to read more than 3 testimonials to get a better idea of how well the company performs.
Don’t be shy about asking the staffing company for a few references. A good staffing company will have a long list of satisfied clients that you can contact. When speaking to a reference, ask the following questions:
- What was the outcome of the placement?
- How did you feel during the placement process?
- Was the staffing company open and communicative during the placement process?
- How would you rate the performance of the employee the company placed?
How Do Their Rates Compare to Other Staffing Companies?
Think about how the staffing company’s rates compare to others in the market. More importantly, how do they think their rates compare? Determine whether they think their rates are lower, higher or about the same as their competitors’ rates.
Picking the staffing company with the lowest price doesn’t always translate to getting the most savings. You need to base your decisions on value, as well. Otherwise, it could cost you more money down the line.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing if a staffing company is more expensive than their competitors. But they need to be able to justify their higher price tag by letting you know what makes them different from their competitors or the unique value they offer. Make sure you aren’t falling for a persuasive, but empty sales pitch. A good staffing company should be able to give you access to talent that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to tap into.
What Do They Expect From You?
Good relationships are a two way street. Both sides need to put in work. That means you will also need to invest some time and resources to make the onboarding process go smoothly.
This is yet another reason why finding a staffing company you trust is so important. You need to be able to trust them enough to allow them access to your business. Otherwise, they won’t be able to do their job well.
Getting the Staffing Solutions You Need
Hiring a staffing company can give your business a huge boost. It can set you up for continued growth and success. You’ll also have the flexibility that is necessary for coping with the ups and downs of changing markets. Finally, working with a company that provides reliable staffing solutions can give you the freedom to focus on growing your business. With the right company, you’ll likely end up saving time and money in the long run.
At Solvo, we provide expert staffing solutions in a variety of industries. We have a track record of satisfying our clients’ needs and partnering with them to grow their businesses. Contact us today to discuss how we can help your company get to the next level with as few hassles as possible.
