Picking Talent to Last: The Difference Between a Staffing Agency Vs. Talent Acquisition Firm
The number one question we get from prospective clients is: How are you different than a staffing agency? The truth is, we differ significantly. However, to understand what we do, one first must understand what staffing agencies do
Staffing for Volume
Staffing agencies are great solutions for hiring bulk candidates in “niche” roles. They can be band-aids for short-term problems that arise, or be long-term solutions for companies seeking an employee within their niche. There are many staffing agency niches – to name a few: administrative/clerical, IT, accounting, legal, etc.
The reason behind why agencies select a niche is because then they can have a pool of candidates to quickly pull from with similar backgrounds. All staffing agencies run open ads (sometimes for existent openings, sometimes for non-existent openings) to drive enough applicant traffic through their agency so they can test, screen, and eventually select the best talent for their general pool to pull from for your next need. Then it is just a matter of trial and error on their end, sending you talent from their pool until you eventually find someone who can help you out with your need. This can lead to a revolving door feeling (for both you and candidates) if the agency or talent pool doesn’t match up well with your company culture.
Staffing while Building for the Future
A talent acquisition firm like ours is focused on advising on best HR practices in all things recruitment, and creating processes and procedures around for your organization. We do not have a niche– although our expertise runs deep in many significant categories. We hire for any legitimate opening within your organization. We move those candidates through the process we have built for you and your organization.
We partner with you to target what it is you are seeking in an employee, have realistic conversations about what the market is like, and then use recommended tools to aid you successfully hiring qualified talent. We act as though we are your HR Manager when it comes to finding and hiring new employees. We integrate our HR knowledge and recruitment abilities to advise small to medium businesses hiring new talent much like a Corporate Recruiting Manager would do, if you had one internally. Our focus is to minimize risk to you and your organization by properly documenting the hiring process, and maximizing the qualified talent hired while focusing on the best cultural fit. We are able to adapt to recruiting for all positions within your organization. We consider ourselves your strategic partner/advisor in all things related to on-boarding new talent. This difference means less turn-over, more highly qualified final interviews, and a strong understanding of what will work for your company culture.
If you’re a growing organization, a service like ours will be a better fit in the long-term. With a company like ours, the focus will be on the best strategic approach for hiring talent. A staffing agency would be a great resource if you’re just looking to fill a niche support role within your organization quickly.
There is no wrong answer in which route you go. It really is a matter of preference.
Check out our next blog and upcoming newsletter for more hiring news and tips!
