Some companies look at recruiting new staff as a cost rather than an investment. The process is time-consuming, uses up significant resources and rarely offers any guarantees. But the reality is that, ahead of advertising, new technology or office premises, hiring and retaining the best employees – the talent that will drive a company forward and boost its bottom line - is the most significant ROI for any business, so getting it right is crucial.

Enter the recruitment agency: with the expertise, drive, networks and know-how to identify and attract talent and negotiate terms, specialist hiring support can relieve considerable pressure on an employer. Here are a few more reasons to hire in our help:

• Industry insights and an eye for talent

As the conduit between multiple employers and large numbers of career professionals looking for opportunities, we are ideally positioned to offer valuable industry insights on everything from the competition and prevailing remuneration rates to candidate competency and salary expectations. Skilled in sourcing staff for organisations across many sectors, we understand employer requirements, candidate expectations, and the impacts of supply and demand on the overall jobs market – so they’re well placed to help you make informed decisions. A good recruitment agency can spot talent a mile away, shortlisting only the most qualified personnel, ultimately saving you time and money.

• Targeted advertising and wide-reaching networks

We have access to a range of national job boards and understand the need for adverts to rank highly in candidate searches, ensuring that vacancies are seen by the best candidates on the market. Employers using a recruitment agency are statistically more likely to access individuals looking for new positions, but will also benefit from an agency’s extensive talent network; recruitment consultants often proactively contact talented individuals they recognise as suitable for a given role and invite them to apply, even if they’re not actively looking for a career change.

• Sector expertise

We often specialise in a specific sector, giving us an enhanced understanding of an employer’s needs and the candidates within that field – as well as access to a network of useful contacts. We are experts at screening, filtering and profiling, and will only shortlist those candidates who are fully qualified for the role.

• Flexibility

An agency can also offer you flexibility in your hiring process to meet interim, seasonal or cyclical demand, so you can increase or decrease staffing levels as required. Temporary cover for full and part-time roles is a standard requirement for many firms, and recruiters have access to candidates who are well placed to hit the ground running, minimising the time spent getting new staff up to speed.

• Interviews
  

Having a recruitment agency conduct interviews on your behalf can be a major time and cost saver. To narrow the pool, we will spend considerable time screening candidates over the phone before compiling a shortlist of people to invite to interview. We can also carry out background checks on applicants, and advise on the interview questions that yield the most illuminating responses from candidates.

• Salary expectations

Salary conversations can be tricky between employer and candidate. We can help to minimise any potential awkwardness by helping you to benchmark remuneration against other businesses in your sector, based on hard-earned industry insights and trends. An agency can also negotiate on your behalf to establish a mutually agreeable figure, significantly increasing the prospect of sealing the deal for both candidate and client.

Many companies take the DIY approach to hiring, with some success. But given the time involved, and the limited networks and knowledge available, going it alone can be a gamble. A recruitment agency such as Grace May People can help businesses and organisations access the talent they need, on time and on budget, freeing employers up to focus on driving the business forward, and maximising efficiency for everyone.

Looking to take on new staff? Get in touch to find out how we can help.