As we shared in earlier posts, there are about 20,000 staffing and recruiting agencies in the U.S., operating out of nearly 40,000 offices. The American Staffing Association (ASA) reports that these agencies employed an average of 3.13 million temporary and contract workers per week in the second quarter of 2017. From quarter to quarter and year to year, we continue to see these numbers rise.
One of the biggest reasons for the steady upswing in staffing employment is that our professional workforce is evolving. As we continue to move away from the traditional 9-to-5 office setting and shift towards a more diverse landscape with an increasing number of part-time workers, temp/contract workers and teleworkers, more employers are turning to staffing agencies to help fill the gap in their multifaceted employment needs.
If your organization is considering a partnership with a professional CT staffing agency, look for these 3 important things as you do your research and talk to potential partners.
Experience
The amount of experience your staffing agency has is important. Find out how long they’ve been in business, and find out how experienced their recruiting specialists are. Have they been employed there a long time, or does the agency have high employee turnover? An experienced staffing team will have knowledge of important industry trends as well as key insights into the local and regional employment markets. They’ll also have experience working with a wide range of employers.
Make sure the agency you work with also has experience hiring the kind of talent you’re looking for – whether it be for a certain industry (healthcare, IT, marketing, etc.) or a certain type of position (contract, temp-to-hire, direct hire, etc.)
Reputation
The reputation that your agency has with other employers as well as job candidates is another important factor to think about. Find employers in your area that are already using the agencies you’re considering. Are they happy with the level of service they’re getting? Would they recommend them, or do they have regrets about partnering with them? The better reputation a staffing agency has, the more likely they’re attracting the top talent for the employers they’re working with.
Besides getting word from the street, ask the agencies if they can share references and/or client satisfaction survey results with you. Unless they have something to hide, they should gladly accommodate your request.
Certifications
Hiring a CT staffing agency that has industry certifications is critical. Check if they are a member of the American Staffing Association (ASA) and ask if they’re an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau. The agency’s recruiting specialists should also have full knowledge of your state’s labor and employment laws. And the agency should have the proper insurances, including general liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
If you’re ready to work with an experienced, reputable and certified CT staffing agency in 2018, A.R. Mazzotta can help. Contact one of our offices today or check out our Employer FAQ page for additional information about our company.