How to Choose a Search Partner

It may seem a bit odd that we’re talking about how to choose a search partner – when obviously we hope you’ll always choose us – but it’s helpful to know what to look for and the benefits of working with a search partner regardless of who you decide to work with.

Building or adding to a team within your organization – whether a brand-new sales group or rounding out the last few spots in your executive suite – is one of the most important business decisions you will make as a leader.

New hires set the tone for the future of an organization and contribute to the culture that will (ideally) make your business one that potential candidates will seek out as you continue to grow.

Internal HR teams are responsible for guiding this process and, in the right circumstances, calling in external support from a recruiting agency is necessary.

Here are a few things to consider when choosing a search partner for your hiring needs:

Do Your Research

Just like your organization works within a specific industry/specialization to deliver the optimal result – recruiting agencies have their niche and do their best work when they are given the opportunity to work within it. While you can listen to their sales pitch to glean information, it’s important to start the process by doing your own research. Understanding what they – and their current/former clients – believe to be their strengths will help narrow down which firms you seek to get started. 

“Look for firms with deep networks in your industry and city. Recruiters who have a solid circle of passive candidates — those interested in hearing about roles but not engaged in an active job search — provide substantial value because they give you access to people you wouldn’t find on your own”

Be Clear About What You Need

While recruiting partners are experts at finding the right candidate to fill a specific role, they will need clear information about what each job entails in order to provide the best result. Make sure you and your team have clear goals and provide as much information as possible up front, so that the process moves efficiently and effectively the first time. The better a recruiter understands your hiring needs the more honest they can be about their ability to fill it.  

“At TZR we say prescribing, without first diagnosing the unique need our client is trying to solve, is ‘recruiting malpractice’,” says president Mark Fisher.

• “A great recruitment partner will have a deep understanding of the type of role you are looking to recruit for and the specific skills and experience that are required for success.”

• “Your recruitment partner should be able to communicate effectively with you throughout the entire hiring process, from understanding your needs to keeping you updated on progress. This communication may vary widely, depending on the nature of the firm and the type of role they are recruiting for.”

Understand the Process

Reputable recruiting firms are beneficial for several reasons, but none more important than their knowledge of and access to a network of qualified candidates.

When hiring a firm, be sure to get a clear picture of how and where they find candidates. To be the best, you must hire the best, and you should be able to rely on your recruiting partners to know where to find them.

“The most significant benefit of using a recruiting agency is that most of them have expertise in specific sectors or roles, so they already have a skill base at their discretion. With their undivided focus and increased sourcing capability, they go above and beyond to find candidates across different platforms and adequately screen them.”

Define Your Relationship

Finding the right recruiting partner will help make current and future hiring a positive, effective experience. In today’s ever-changing job market, it can be hard to keep up with trends and manage the shifts that seem to occur almost monthly.

Establishing a partnership with a team of professionals in the space ensures that you stay on the cutting edge of your industry and build teams that can go the distance – navigating growth and changes that will keep your business thriving regardless of the market.

“According to a report published by Harvard Business Review, around 40% of businesses have outsourced their hiring to third-party firms or recruitment agencies.” Even when you’re at your most efficient, the hiring process can be arduous and time consuming – and some people also have a tendency to become siloed in their search. Calling in a recruiting partner just makes sense – if for no other reason than to support you and keep you one step ahead of your competitors – we’d be honored if you reach out to discuss if we’re the right fit to join you on your journey.

This article was originally published at tzrecruiting.com