- Posting job openings.
- Tracking and pre-screening applicants.
- Running background checks.
- Ensuring compliance with labor laws.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Choose which responsibilities to farm out
You may decide that some parts of your human resources functions don't need to be outsourced, and that some portions are best handled internally. For instance, you may want to hire a recruitment or employment agency simply to handle filling temporary employment slots or to manage outreach programs such as college recruiting or job fairs.I recommend: The Recruitment Process Outsourcing Association provides an online form you can fill out to analyze when to turn to recruitment agencies or employment agencies. For temporary help, try Business.com’s directory of temp agencies and for general HR outsourcing specialists, use the directory of human resources outsourcing firms.
Posting jobs
Look for a firm that will use a variety of sources for job postings. Some HR outsourcing firms have affiliations with certain job posting sites or organizations and will limit their efforts to those.I recommend: Accolo uses every source possible for job postings — including referrals, job postings and professional organizations — and offers pay-as-you-go plans that are especially suited to small businesses.
Pre-screening candidates
Having someone else pre-screen applicants is one of the biggest time-saving benefits of employment agencies and recruitment agencies.I recommend: View an interactive presentation of Manpower's online pre-screening tool, which uses custom questionnaires
Using the Web
Make sure that any firm you consider takes full advantage of online recruiting tools to simplify and streamline the process.I recommend: Recruitment Enhancement Services (RES) uses Web-based applicant tracking, automated online scheduling and a host of interactive sourcing tools.
Staying within the law
Asking interview questions that get the information you need but remain in accordance with hiring laws takes experience, experience you may not have.I recommend: At TalentConnections.com, a seasoned recruitment professional handles recruitment tasks so you don't get into legal trouble.
Taking advantage of major firms
Although smaller companies may offer more personalized service, large, nationwide recruitment and employment agencies boast certain advantages. For instance, major firms often have voluminous résumé databases at the ready.I recommend: Spherion, which has more than 2,000 recruiters, boasts a database of more than 2.5 million résumés.
Considering costs
Recruitment agencies and employment agencies charge in a variety of ways, including a percentage of the salary of the hiree, a project fee or a flat fee per hire.I recommend: Take an online tour of HyrianOnDemand, which is geared to smaller businesses and charges a flat fee per position that averages one-fifth the cost of a search firm.
Using a recruiter for high-level hires
Executive recruiters keep an eye on who’s who in your industry and will identify and approach candidates who may not be actively looking for work.I recommend: Business.com’s directory of executive recruiters lists many leading firms.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Don't get overwhelmed. There are dozens of recruitment agencies and employment agencies that would love to win your business. Remember that your ultimate goal is to bring on employees who will assimilate well into your business culture and help you reach your objectives. Apply the same tactic when choosing a recruitment firm.
- Stay flexible. What works today may not be necessarily the best solution in a few months. While outsourcing offers benefits particularly in the start-up stages when you are being pulled in several directions, you'll want to evaluate the pros and cons occasionally.
the Employment Agencies page at Business.com
Compare Price Quotes for HR Outsourcing: AllOptions.com
Compare HR outsourcing price quotes from multiple vendors. Free, No obligation.
Get Quotes Now | Compare Vendors | Pricing Quotes
www.alloptions.com
Compare HR outsourcing price quotes from multiple vendors. Free, No obligation.
Get Quotes Now | Compare Vendors | Pricing Quotes
www.alloptions.com
Recruitment Process Outsourcing Services
SmartSource your hiring with Instigate's Recruitment Process Outsourcing Service - TalentAssist. Enterprise-Wide and On-Demand Talent Solutions.
www.instigateinc.com
SmartSource your hiring with Instigate's Recruitment Process Outsourcing Service - TalentAssist. Enterprise-Wide and On-Demand Talent Solutions.
www.instigateinc.com
Applicant Tracking Software Directory
Compare applicant tracking software using Capterra's free, comprehensive directory.
Capterra.com
Compare applicant tracking software using Capterra's free, comprehensive directory.
Capterra.com
Free B2B search marketing whitepaper, B2B Search Marketing Strategy Guide: Advice From the Pros.
