The Advantages of Working With a Staffing Agency
By Denise Brandenberg
Recruiters, hiring managers and human resources managers often work with staffing agencies, or employment services, to fill open seats and positions. Staffing companies provide a wide variety of services and types of employees -- from entry-level workers to management and executive positions. If your small business needs a temporary, temporary-to-permanent or direct-hire placement, there are many benefits of working with a staffing agency for your next job opening.
Save Time
While most employees give at least two weeks' notice when resigning, some workers quit on the spot or have to be terminated quickly. When this occurs, your small organization can lose productivity if the vacant position is not filled in a timely manner. Remaining employees also may feel resentful if they have to take on additional responsibilities for a long period of time. For most positions, staffing agencies already have pre-screened, qualified individuals who can be at your workplace within an hour.
Save Money
Some small business owners hesitate to use staffing agencies because they don't want to pay a markup fee. However, working with an employment agency can actually save you money in many areas that you may not have considered. Rather than paying for an expensive ad on a national job board, as well as the costs associated with pre-screening assessments, such as skills tests, drug screenings and background checks, you can hire a temporary employee who has already completed these prerequisites.
Save Energy
Small businesses usually don't have huge HR departments with dedicated recruiters. Your HR person may have many duties, including payroll, benefits and hiring. Your HR representative may have to spend days going through hundreds of unqualified resumes to seek a handful of appropriate candidates to pre-screen and interview. Staffing agencies take on this role, which can be very useful when you have a specialized position and have to find a candidate with unique skill sets. The staffing agency recruiter will simply send you qualified candidates to interview, so all you have to do is choose the best personality fit for the position.
No Commitment
If your small business has busy seasons, you may want to use a staffing agency to fill the extra personnel needs during the high-volume times. This allows you to save money on unemployment insurance that you're required to pay for permanent employees. If you do have a permanent opening, you can use a staffing agency to fill a temporary-to-permanent job. You can benefit from this feature, as it allows you to "try before you buy," which means you can see the employee in action for several months before making a permanent job offer.
