How can we get the most from employment agencies?
Featured in the Recruiting and Keeping the Right People training manual
By Susan Iacovou
Category: Recruitment, Selection and Induction
Credit price: 3 download credits (Single user)
Whatever the vacancy you are trying to fill, there is no shortage of employment agencies nowadays willing to put you in touch with suitable candidates – for a small fee, of course! Over the last decade or so, the number of employment agencies has increased dramatically, and as a result they have increasingly had to compete with each other for business. Many agencies actively chase new client organisations, offering all sorts of services and benefits as inducements. Some even read an organisation’s advertisement in the press and ring up offering ‘just the right person for the job’. There is no doubt that, managed properly, a good recruitment agency can be an excellent source of assistance when you are trying to fill a vacancy. However, many internal recruiters don’t know what to expect when they deal with agencies, and therefore don’t get the most out of the relationship. This training activity takes participants through the advantages and disadvantages of working with employment agencies. It also highlights the key features of a good agency, and shows participants ways of building a productive relationship with an agency.
You introduce the training activity by explaining that employment agencies can be a useful resource when recruiting. You then go on to distinguish between employment agencies, executive search companies and head-hunters, and outline the role of each type of organisation. Then you ask participants to come up with ideas about the services that agencies can provide. You then compare their ideas with the list you have and clarify exactly what these services are. Next, you split participants into two groups. One group is asked to imagine that they have been given the task of selling the idea of using a recruitment agency to their managing director, the other is asked to prepare a case against asking a recruitment agency for help. After the groups have presented their conclusions you compare them with your master list and then you look at each of the advantages and disadvantages in detail. You then ask participants what signs they would look for to determine whether or not an agency was a reputable one. You go on to take participants through a list of factors which distinguish good agencies from bad ones. You then outline the best way to build a productive relationship with a recruitment agency. You conclude the training activity with a summary of the key learning points.
Who is it for: This training resource is intended for use by trainers to looks at the pros and cons of using recruitment agencies and to give participants guidelines on building productive relationships with agency personnel.
- Themes:
- Benchmarking,
- Planning,
- Questioning,
- Recruitment and selection,
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 4 |
| Max Group Size: | 20 |
| Typical Duration: | 01:50:00 |
| No of Pages: | 18 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Purpose: This training resource is intended for use by trainers with participants who are likely to need to work with employment agencies on a regular basis.
Download the training activity, How can we get the most from employment agencies? as featured in the Fenman training manual; Recruiting and Keeping the Right People