Still on the fence about using a recruitment agency? These misconceptions might be the reasons why you are still feeling hesitant. To give you clarity and peace of mind, we address these misconceptions with actual facts about working with construction recruitment agencies and recruitment firms.
Misconception #1: Recruitment agencies only care about filling job positions.
Recruitment agencies do care about filling the job positions that their clients ask them to fill. That is the main reason why they exist after all. But the darker undertone to this misconception is that agencies fill the positions simply to meet a quota rather than provide value.
Caring only about filling job positions is not only careless, it also works against the recruitment agency in the long term so it doesn’t make sense for them to do it. See, if the agency did recommend a candidate that did not fit right with the company, then clients will not see any reason to work with that agency again. The clients already have this idea that the agency is not so efficient at providing quality candidates for them. Clients might end up switching or opting for in-house recruitment instead.
Recruitment agencies do care about speed and delivering what’s required of them. But in most cases, they take their time in finding the right fit for the roles. The process can take up to 8 weeks, sometimes even more, depending on how complex the job position is. The process includes sourcing for the candidates either through their database or through advertising, conduct interviews, manage offers, candidate proposals, client approval, and placement.
Misconception #2: The in-house recruitment team can do what recruitment agencies can do.
Of course. Any HR department, small or big, can handle the recruitment side of things. But not all companies might have the luxury of having their own dedicated recruitment team. Even big companies with highly competent human resource departments still reach out to recruitment agencies. Why?
Because it is incredibly hard to find the right people for the job right away. Construction recruitment agencies are not only there to fill gaps, but they are also there to provide access to the best talents out there. They have a network to well-experienced and highly-skilled workers in the industry, talents that in-house recruiters might not catch wind of on their own.
Moreover, allowing third-party recruiters to handle this on your behalf can save you a lot of time and money. If you already have an existing HR department, they have more time on their hands for employee development and more. This is true especially for temp workers who are under a short-term contract.
Misconception #3: Recruitment agencies don’t do a lot, yet they cost a lot.
A lot of people use recruitment services without fully understanding their role. The unfortunate consequence of this is that recruitment agencies typically receive less of the merit and gain criticism for “not doing enough.”
But you have to understand that their role is not only to fill gaps in your workforce. They go through lengths just to ensure that every candidate they recommend adds value to the workplace. In the case of hard-to-fill positions, for instance, they have to source their connections just to find the perfect fit for your project. Otherwise, you’ll run the risk of losing money due to productivity loss and other inefficiencies.
Hiring is not a linear thing that can be done overnight. Failed hires can cost the company from 3-6 times the employee’s annual salary. Effective hiring takes time and experience. That time and experience come with a price, of course. But if you really take time to compare the expenses you’ll incur if you use in-house recruitment versus labour hire recruitment, you’ll find that you will spend less on the latter.
Misconception #4: Labour hire agencies do not understand my industry needs.
This misconception might have come from disappointed clients who worked with inefficient labour hire agencies. But that does not mean that all labour hire agencies are the same. There are many kinds of labour hire firms out there. Some cater to many industries, while others specialise in specific industries.
Perhaps clients will get more peace of mind if they work with agencies with specialised recruitment services. That does not mean that the former would do an awful job, though. Specialised labour hires are just more capable of honing the best talents in that specific industry since they can focus on that industry through their years of experience.
So, the next time you’re looking for a recruitment agency, be sure to choose one that specially caters to your specific industry. Construction recruitment agencies like Labor Solutions, for example, has a really good background in finding workers in the construction industry.
Misconception #5: Recruitment agencies are not necessary
The digital age has tremendously changed the way recruitment and staffing is done. Online job portals and social media hubs make it easier for aspiring applicants to connect directly to employers. So, why exactly do you still need a recruitment agency? Your human resources staff can easily skim through the applications online and find the best fit through innovative recruiting data analytics techniques.
Though it is true that any human resource department can handle that kind of application influx, it still discounts the aspect of time and money out of the equation. Not to mention that most development firms do not have the kind of manpower for effective recruitment. That is where construction recruitment agencies can come in.
Recruitment agencies have their own sources and techniques for finding qualified candidates. They even take the extra mile to fine-tune the candidate list through a series of background checking and interviewing. Yes, you can go ahead and proceed on your own, but wouldn’t you prefer taking the more cost-efficient and time-saving route with labour hire agencies?
Misconception #6: Recruitment agencies don’t care about building relationships with their workers.
On the contrary, recruitment agencies actually do have to build relationships with the workers that they recommend to clients. From the recruitment stage to the end of the contract, they keep close contact with the workers to check on how they are doing. Agencies will also often shoulder the costs of training and managing the workers. They step in when matters about safety and workplace ethics are in question.
Agencies make it a point to build relationships with all of their workers – whether they are strong performing or otherwise. For workers who are deemed unsatisfactory by the clients, the agency provides an option for them to train or work with another client. They are never left hanging and are considered a great asset by the agency.
If you wish to know more about construction recruitment agencies, here’s a comprehensive guide on labour-hire in NSW.
On the other hand, if you are ready to work with an agency, feel free to contact us. Our friendly staff will be right with you