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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFundamentally, there are four different types of recruitment agencies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- High street<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Industry specialist<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Temp<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Executive search<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Depending on the vacancy, some of these services will be more relevant to you than others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Need a team of packers at short notice? Maybe contact a temp recruiter. Looking for a KS2 teacher? Try an education employment agency.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, there are recruiting firms that will do all of the above, so you might want to look around and compare a few different agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Should you use a headhunter? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Headhunting, also known as executive recruitment<\/a>, executive search or search and selection, is a form of recruitment that\u2019s used to make senior level appointments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The approach of an executive recruiter differs from that of a traditional agency, as they will look to engage with passive candidates (i.e. those who aren’t actively looking for work). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When to choose a headhunter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Headhunters are usually approached to fill c-suite, management or niche vacancies. So, if you need a managing director or a chief financial officer, then a headhunting service might be a suitable option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even though executive recruiters pride themselves on finding the perfect candidate, the process is typically more intensive and costly; this is something to consider before making your choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you haven\u2019t used an agency before, or you just don\u2019t want to take any chances, then a guarantee might be something to look out for.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
If you don\u2019t think you require a headhunter, then try a high street agency or one that specialises in your market. These offer equally good services and might be more suited to your needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do you need a local recruitment agency?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Depending on the nature of the vacancy, geography may or may not be relevant to your agency search. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, if you\u2019re looking for a permanent IT professional, proximity isn\u2019t likely to be indicative of a successful placement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, if you need a temporary team of labourers ASAP, then you\u2019ll probably want to work with an agency in your area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As many agencies will recruit nationwide, irrespective of where they have branches, a lack of local presence shouldn\u2019t be a barrier to using a particular service – but it may be something that\u2019s important to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Should cost be a factor when choosing an agency? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Seeing as it\u2019s the employer that pays recruitment fees<\/a>, you\u2019d perhaps be forgiven for trying to find the \u2018cheapest\u2019 service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As agencies tend to charge on a percentage basis, rather than a flat fee (although some do!), it\u2019s less likely that your decision will come down to a price war. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regardless of the agency you choose, fees are likely to be around 15%-20% of the role\u2019s salary. This could be 30% for executive jobs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may want to shop around a little, but these percentages don\u2019t deviate too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bottom line: don\u2019t make your agency decision a purely financial one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you choose a good recruitment agency? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s one thing to narrow down your search, but how do you select a \u2018good\u2019 recruitment agency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are around 30,000 recruitment agencies in the UK, each with their own USPs. While you can never guarantee that you\u2019re going to pick the perfect service for you, there are a few signs that you should be looking out for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.agencycentral.co.uk\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Checklist-for-choosing-a-recruitment-agency-1024x691.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAre they members of a professional body?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The main recruitment bodies to be aware of are the\u00a0Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo)<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC)<\/a>. While membership (or lack of) is by no means a sure sign of quality, agencies who join these organisations tend to tow a similar ethical line and are bound to certain guidelines.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The REC currently has 3,500 member agencies and more than 10,000 individual recruiters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do they offer any guarantees?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When making a new hire, there\u2019s always a possibility you\u2019ll take on the wrong candidate. While a recruitment agency will certainly lower this risk, you might just end up taking on someone who isn\u2019t quite the right fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To give employers peace of mind, many agencies will offer a guarantee of some sort – perhaps a waived fee or a replacement candidate. Unsurprisingly, this only applies during a limited timeframe, usually 30-90 days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you haven\u2019t used an agency before, or you just don\u2019t want to take any chances, then a guarantee might be something to look out for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who else have they worked with? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To get the measure of a recruitment agency, you only have to look at their clients. A good agency, even moderately new ones, should have a number of successful campaigns in their portfolio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As agencies tend to charge on a percentage basis, rather than a flat fee (although some do!), it\u2019s less likely that your decision will come down to a price war.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll usually be able to see this in the form of testimonials, with some agencies even listing companies they\u2019ve worked with on their website. If you recognise any big names, competitors or businesses you aspire towards, then chances are, this is probably a credible agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note, not all agencies are comfortable sharing their client list, and not all businesses are comfortable being shared as an agency client. This isn\u2019t unusual, and in itself, isn\u2019t a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Final thoughts\u2026 <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Choosing any recruitment agency is easy, but choosing the right recruitment agency for you can pose more of a challenge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n