Staffing your company is one of the most important things you can do to ensure the success of your business. Every year, businesses lose about $11 billion because of employee turnover, and 57% of companies say that employee retention is a real problem for them. Professionals in human resources also see both retention and employee engagement as very important concerns. One of the best ways to ensure both retention and satisfaction when staffing your company is to use the right job placement agency. Staff your team the right way by following these six tips for getting the most out of your relationship with staffing agencies.
- Pick the right firm to work with. The first thing you want to do is find a reputable staffing company. Start with agencies that specialize in the kind of work that you need done. Use the Internet and the Better Business Bureau to find reputable companies. Check out references and make sure that others have been satisfied with their work. Don’t just grab the first company that comes along.
- Always tell the truth. Just as you must always tell the truth with your doctor and your lawyer, being honest with the staffing agency is key if you want to staff your business in the right way. You need to be very clear about what you’re looking for, and you also need to be truthful about the history of the position and the employment environment. If there’s someone very difficult to work with that your company, don’t hide this from your recruiter. If you’re really looking for someone to turn your ailing business around, be honest about this. The agency cannot go about staffing your company well if you don’t tell them what you really need.
- Be open to new ideas. Even if you’re quite sure what you want and are looking for permanent and full-time employees, be open to anything that your staffing agency might suggest. It’s possible that it would be a better idea to staff the position temporarily, either to allow for time for the position to mature, or to see if a particular person is really as good a fit as everyone thinks. There may be times when you think you know what the position will entail, but once someone gets it you will find the position is quite different and the needs are evolving.
- Know the culture as well as the position. Every company has a particular business culture. You need to be sure that you know something about yours and can communicate this to the staffing agency. This is just as important as communicating something about the position itself and will help them make sure a potential hire is a good fit all around.
- Be involved. Staffing your company should not be something you leave entirely to other people. Be engaged from the beginning. Be available when the staffing company has questions or concerns. Be willing to look over resumes, and think in advance about how to ask intelligent questions.
- Make your company a great place to work. Recruiting agencies are going to have a very difficult time staffing your company you’re not a great place to work. Make sure that the benefits, salaries, and perks you’re offering to a potential higher are worth jumping to. If what you’re offering is below market, you’re making it very difficult for a recruiting agency to staff your team. At the same time, never promise or suggest what you’re not willing or able to deliver on. If a bad hire leaves in part because you didn’t keep your end of the bargain, you’ll have trouble finding recruiting agencies that will work with you in the future.
The cost of employee turnover over is generally between 30% and 150% of the salary for that position. When you’re staffing your company make sure that you minimize the possibility you’ll have to pay more for bad hires and high turnover rates. Look for job agencies near you that you can work with to staff your business the right way from the beginning.