Working with a recruiting firm for technology talent to supplement your short or long-term project teams is an easy decision for business leaders who don’t want to put a strain on their internal staff. However, selecting the right firm can be the hard part, as no one wants to be that person who championed a bad vendor. Rather than simply choosing based on price or a friend’s recommendation, you should select a firm that can be seen as a strategic partner. Here are some tips to help select the right partner:
1. Like most things in life, the more specialized the services that a company provides, the higher the quality of the results. When a recruiting firm focuses on information technology only, for example, they will have more knowledge and experience in placing these types of professionals, over a general recruiting firm. They will have a better understanding of what the client organization is seeking and will attract more qualified candidates because of this knowledge.
2. Ask about the firm’s recruiting process, the types of references and background checks that are used, whether they create an exclusive right-to-represent, and how mature their external recruiting capabilities are.
3. Then, learn more about the candidate pool. How does a candidate become part of the recruiting company’s talent pool? What tests, skill sets, pre-screening activities, and communications are utilized to ensure quality and trust? Make sure to ask about the recruiters’ experience, methodologies and how they communicate with clients.
4. What kind of ethics and values are important to the recruiting firm? Do they just want to fill the position or are they looking to gain a better understanding of your company as a whole? A value-oriented recruiting firm will want to understand how the open position fits into the larger picture and will be consultative in nature.
5. Finally, have a conversation regarding costs and fees. A reputable firm will be upfront about this and will not charge you if you don’t select of their candidates.
Following these guidelines will ensure a positive experience and mitigate risks substantially. For more than a decade, we’ve been connecting exceptional technology talent with outstanding companies, so please feel free to contact us with any questions!
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