Contracting with a Managed Staffing Services agency can be a bit risky if you don't know what qualities to look for.

While all recruiting firms naturally try to sell themselves as “the best,” look beyond their claims and take note of what they really have to offer you in terms of service and reliability.

Before choosing a recruiting agency to work with, assess each possibility based on the following qualities:

Reputation:

Perhaps the most telling information about the quality of a recruiting agency is its track record.

What are other companies saying about the agency? And the contractors? You want to make sure that the recruiting agency you choose provides a pleasant experience for all involved.

Additionally, you want the recruiting agency you choose to have a strong focus on improving the quality of their service at all times. Since you are likely to lay the foundations for a lasting professional relationship, you will need to be sure that the agency will be able to meet your growing needs over time.

Alignment:

You want to be sure that your business, your recruiting agency, and the talent that comes out of the agency are all on the same page.

A top-notch recruiting agency will take your needs into account when matching talent with your business. They will understand exactly what you are looking for in a specific hire, as well as the importance of finding that talent within a certain amount of time.

A quality recruiting agency will also take the needs of potential talent into account when connecting with you. Such an agency knows that to fill a position it is not enough to place a qualified person in the same place; it means aligning the needs of each party to ensure the best possible scenario.

Transparency

A quality recruiting agency does not operate in a vacuum. Instead, you make your processes obvious to your talents, as well as the companies you work with.

When hiring a recruiting agency, you want to know exactly what you are getting and what your business is getting into. You want the agency to be honest about the services they will provide, the terms of the contract, and what is expected of you.

By seeking transparency in your relationship with a staffing agency, you again ensure that all parties involved in the process stay on the same page.

Accessibility

While working with a recruiting agency, you want to be able to contact them if necessary.

In a world where communication can be done with the click of a button, there is no excuse that a recruitment agency does not have the means to offer 24/7 support to its clients. Find a recruiting agency that offers several options, such as a phone line, email support, and a one-on-one chat for immediate issues.

As long as these support windows are always open, you can be sure that your contracted agency will be there for you.