How to Successfully work with a Staffing/ Recruitment Agency to Land your Next Job
Learn what a Staffing Agency is, how you will work with them as a job seeker, and how to get the most out of working with them!
What is a staffing agency? (AKA recruiting companies AKA 3rd party staffing AKA vendors)
A staffing agency recruits employees for businesses that are seeking to fill certain positions.
Here’s how Staffing Agencies Work:
- The employer ( for example, Facebook) contacts the staffing agency (for example, TekSystems). The staffing agency helps recruit and find candidates for the open position/ role that Facebook is looking to fill
- The staffing firm vets candidates: Once candidates begin applying for the open position, the staffing agency reviews their experience and qualifications before scheduling and conducting interviews. They then choose the most qualified individuals to introduce to the hiring manager at your business. The employer makes the final decision.
- The agency takes care of the paperwork. Most agencies handle all the paperwork associated with new hires, like contracts, taxes and other payroll tasks
Key takeaway: A staffing agency is a middleman that eliminates most of the time-consuming hiring process so that business owners can allocate their efforts elsewhere.
Benefits of Working with a Staffing Agency?
They Do the Job Searching for You
When you work with a staffing agency, they ask you about your skills and experience and let you know if they have a job that might be a good fit for you. You can also search for jobs on their internal job site. Often, they know of job openings that aren’t available on other job sites. It is a great way to get help finding job openings.
Opens the Doors to New Companies/Jobs
Each staffing agency typically works with 20+ companies looking to hire! You can find out about lots of job openings and companies hiring in your area with each agency! Jobs range from short-term positions (contract roles) to permanent (full time) positions.
Knowledge About your Industry and Free Advice
IT staffing agencies are your industry local area experts! They have the inside scoop on what companies are hiring, what companies are looking for, the hottest tech trends, and insight to job skills/ current salaries!
So How Do I Work with a Staffing Agency?
3 Main Ways to work with them:
- Apply to their job postings (a lot of jobs you see are posted by Staffing agencies)
- Staffing companies will reach out to you (they find your profile just like other recruiters on Linkedin, job boards, etc).
- You can reach out to them! Reach out to the Staffing Agency directly to see what open opportunities they have (they typically work with 20+ companies looking to hire in your city)
How to Find/ Reach out to a Staffing Agency?
- Go to Google and type in “IT Staffing Agencies Near Me”……This will pull up results of the agencies in your area….
2. Check out the company website! (They should have a tab for Job Seekers/ a place that allows you to search jobs) ex: Data analyst jobs in san francisco | Robert Half
3. Call them! Call the company number provided on their website (this will be their “main line”). Tell them you are a job seeker looking for a “INSERT SKILLSET” job in “INSERT CITY” and would like to talk to a recruiter about current job openings!
4. Tell them your Elevator Pitch! Once on the phone with a recruiter, it’s your job to tell them about your skill set and what jobs you are interested in. If you saw a job on their website you were interested in, ask about the role!
5. They May have a Job for you to Apply to….They may have a job you are a fit for, Yay!
And if Not….Ask to email the recruiter your resume and to be kept in mind for future jobs they have!
Sample E-mail to Staffing Recruiter:
Hi Sally,
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today and sharing a bit about the roles you have available with Tek Systems. As we discussed, I am interested in Jr Data Analyst jobs in Sacramento, CA. My resume is attached for your review. I appreciate you keeping me in mind for future opportunities!Warm Regards,
Joe B Seeker
Data Analyst
678–999–8212
Other Ways to Get in Touch with Staffing Recruiters?
- Search for them on Linkedin! Hop on Linkedin and type in the Staffing company name in the search bar! Click on/ go to the company page!
- Filter by Recruiters in your City Click on the “People” tab on the company page and use the Location filter to find your city. Type in “Recruiter” in the Search bar and check out your results!
- Click on their Profiles/ Check for Contact Info- Find a profile for a recruiter in your city? Great! Check out their profile and look for contact info! Lots of Staffing/ Recruitment Agency recruiters include their telephone number/ email address in their Contact Info or About section on their profile!
What to Look for in a Staffing Agency?
- Area of Expertise Look for agencies that specialize in your industry/ type of role….there are lots of “General staffing” companies, however you want to focus on “IT or Tech Staffing”
- Are they Legit? Make sure the company has a good reputation- check out their website to see info about the company and jobs they have currently available. Some companies will even share client reviews and recommendations on their sites!
- Local to you! The most effective partnerships are with companies that know your area! They should have an office in your city or be able to tell you about clients in your city they have worked with
Ready to Start Working with Staffing Agencies?….Here’s a list to get you Started
Staffing/ Recruitment Agencies