Before you pick up the phone or shoot off an e-mail, check out the following tips for working well with an agency:
Treat the agency as a valued business partner. The agency is going to be working as an extension of your company, and by taking the time to explain your business and specific job requirements to them, you will be pleasantly surprised at the quality of the candidates sent to your company.
Don’t wait until the day before you need someone to call the agency. That does not leave much time for the agency to track down the right candidate for the job. The recruiting process takes time. We recommend a lead time of at least one week for Contract-to-Hire or Direct Hire placements. Give the agency as much notice as possible. Don’t make the agency’s job harder than it has to be.
Specify what skills the candidate needs to have as well as dress code and other specific requirements. Your agency will appreciate the guidance and you will appreciate the results.
Let the agency know from the beginning how long you might need a candidate’s service. There is nothing more inefficient than having to switch a candidate in the middle of a project. This can be avoided by keeping the agency informed of the project timeline.
Offer the agency feedback. Let them know what you did and did not like about the person/resume they sent you. Your feedback is critical in helping them to understand your company and its needs better so they can provide you with the best possible match on future assignments or placements. Both positive and negative feedback is welcomed and very much appreciated.
Have realistic expectations. Don’t expect a contractor to come in and operate at the same level as the staff they are filling in for. Contractors produce high quality work, but obviously lack the situational experience of the employee they’re replacing. How helpful an employee is partially depends on how well you set up the job for them. Give them good instructions and they could excel.
