For Factors to consider when choosing a staffing agency on end, staffing agencies have already been providing several services to employers as well as finding occupations for job seekers across the nation. Also referred to as employment agencies, these companies, whose employees are occasionally referred to as head hunters, act as a recruitment service for employers who outsource their hiring needs. Theoretically, staffing agency employees specialize in specific industry knowledge (based on the company that uses their services) and serve as a type of human resources professional by searching for, recruiting and hiring individuals for specific jobs, conducting and dealing with payroll responsibilities, and dealing with other issues such as disciplinary actions and employee claims with respect to the business that employs them.
While these companies certainly are a great resource for employers that not wish to dabble in hiring affairs, and for job hunters having difficulty landing a steady position, there are some things that job hunters in particular should know. Typically, whenever a job seeker applies with a staffing agency, several things may happen. First, the candidate will be interviewed for the position about that they inquire. If all goes according to plan, the candidate is then hired on a temporary contract with the staffing agency and then released to the company for full-time employment at a later time. When the candidate is not selected for the particular position they that they apply, the staffing agency could keep their name in a job bank on file within the agency. Any potential job matches will be flagged and the candidate will be contacted in the event that future matches meet their needs.
An important to note to create that sometimes throws interviewees off and also deters them from desperate to interview is that most staffing agencies require a computer skills assessment examination before they'll even interview you for one of their jobs. It is just a good idea to sharpen up on your skills prior to going to the interview. Unfortunately, some staffing agencies will not interview you for any jobs if you won't test or fail numerous tests. So again, practice, practice, practice.
Another important little bit of information for the job seeker to learn is when trying to get a job with a staffing agency, be sure to note whether or not the job is direct hire, contract to employ, or temporary contract. Staffing agencies are most likely used by companies to hire temporary contract or contract to employ positions. Temporary contract is just as it sounds. There will be a temporary period of time that the employee will undoubtedly be contracted to work and at a specified date, employment will undoubtedly be terminated. Point blank. Contract to hire is slightly different. Employees could be contracted to work with a set amount of time, usually 3-6 months. At the end of this time frame, the company might want to hire the employee on full time, or ask the staffing agency to end the contract between your company and employer.
Buyer beware! Investigate the business before you sign any contracts to be sure they are reputable and hold a solid track record of hiring contract to hires on a reliable full time basis.
Hands down, direct hire is your best bet but if it's no option, you still should consider the others offered by the agency. As with any job search, using a staffing agency or not, do your homework. Seek out as much information regarding the staffing agency and the business as possible. The more you understand, the less likely you're to create a poor decision.