A Guide to HR Staffing Agencies

Finding the right talent is key to any organization’s success, but the process can be daunting. Fortunately, HR staffing agencies can help bridge the gap between employers and potential employees to make it easier to find the right fit for your company. Whether you’re seeking temporary HR support or permanent HR team members, HR staffing agencies can match you with the right talent.

What Is a Human Resources Staffing Agency?

An HR staffing agency specializes in recruiting and placing qualified human resources candidates in various roles within organizations. These agencies work closely with businesses to understand their HR staffing needs, whether they require temporary, contract, or permanent employees. HR staffing agencies handle everything from sourcing and screening candidates to facilitating interviews and assisting with onboarding.

Fractional HR Staffing vs Permanent Placement

Your organization can utilize fractional staffing to find experienced professionals for your team without the overhead of a full-time hire. This approach allows you to access top talent on a part-time or project basis, which makes it ideal for businesses that need specialized skills without the commitment of a full-time position. Fractional staffing is both flexible and cost-effective, and it can be used to find workers in HR, IT, finance, and other specialized fields.

If your organization needs HR expertise but doesn’t have the budget or workload to justify a full-time position, fractional HR staffing is an excellent choice. It allows you to bring in seasoned professionals for specific projects, seasonal needs, or part-time work, saving costs on salaries, benefits, and other full-time employee expenses. An HR staffing agency has the expertise and experience to make recommendations on the options that would work best for your business, based on your budget, needs, size, and goals.

What Kind of Roles Does an HR Staffing Agency Fill?

An HR staffing agency can help you fill a wide variety of roles within your organization, including:

• Generalists: Associates, coordinators, and more.
• Specialists: Sr. recruiters, benefits specialists, and payroll administrators.
• Managers: Supervisors, managers, and training managers.
• Leaders: HR business partners, directors of HR, and CHROs.

The Benefits of Working with an HR Staffing Firm

Large Talent Pool

HR staffing agencies maintain extensive databases of potential HR candidates, which gives businesses access to a wider range of skills and experiences. Tapping into an expansive network helps companies find the best fit for their needs, whether they’re looking for specialized skills or general talent.

Time Savings

Recruiting can be a time-consuming process. HR staffing agencies manage the most labor-intensive aspects, including sourcing candidates, reviewing resumes, and conducting initial interviews. This allows managers to focus on the main tasks that they are most efficient and effective at performing.

Expertise and Experience

Unlike general staffing agencies, HR staffing agencies possess specialized knowledge and experience in recruiting for HR-specific roles. They will have insights that can be applied specifically to your organization’s unique operational needs based on years of finding and vetting HR talent. Utilizing their expertise will help make the hiring process efficient and allow you to find HR professionals that are well-matched to the role and your company culture.

Flexibility

HR staffing firms offer flexibility in meeting your HR staffing needs, whether you’re looking for temporary, permanent, or contract HR employees. They can quickly respond to changing business demands by scaling the workforce up or down as needed.

Risk Reduction

By handling the initial stages of the hiring process, including background checks and preliminary interviews, HR staffing agencies help reduce the risk of bad hires. The vetting process will help ensure that only the most qualified candidates are presented to the employer.

Hiring Team Experience

Working with an HR staffing firm means partnering with experienced hiring professionals who understand the intricacies of HR roles and the unique needs of your organization. These experts can provide valuable insights and guidance throughout the hiring process, from identifying the right job descriptions to conducting final interviews. And that experience can have significant dividends.

For instance, a poor HR hire can have significant negative impacts on an organization. If your company is already short-staffed or lacks an HR department, the wrong hire can exacerbate these challenges, leading to decreased productivity, low employee morale, compliance issues, and increased turnover. An HR staffing firm can mitigate these risks by thoroughly vetting candidates, ensuring they possess the right skills and fit for your company culture, and providing temporary or fractional staffing solutions to maintain HR functions while finding the perfect permanent hire.

How HR Staffing Firms Work

1. Understanding Your Needs

The first part of working with an HR staffing firm is meeting  with the agency to make sure they understand your business needs, culture, and job requirements. This ensures that the HR candidates they present are well-aligned with your organization both from a skills and culture perspective.

2. Finding Candidates

Once the HR staffing agency understands what you’re looking for, they’ll tap into their network of HR professionals to source potential candidates. They’ll utilize a range of platforms and tools to reach both active jobseekers and passive candidates who might not be actively looking but may be a perfect fit.

3. Screening Resumes

As submissions come in, the agencies will review the resumes to shortlist candidates based on the job description and requirements. This step will include evaluating the candidates’ skills, experience, and cultural fit against the standards set by your team.

4. Presenting Candidates

The agency will present a curated list of candidates to the employer, complete with detailed profiles and assessments. This step includes discussing each candidate’s strengths and how they align with the company’s needs.

5. Facilitating Interviews

An HR staffing agency will coordinate interviews between the employer and the candidates. They also provide guidance on interview techniques and help prepare both parties to ensure a smooth process.

6. Assisting with Onboarding

After a candidate is selected, the agency assists with the onboarding process to ensure that the new hire transitions smoothly into their new role. This may include handling paperwork, training coordination, and other logistical support.

The Difference between a Staffing Firm and a Recruiting Firm

While both staffing and recruiting firms focus on placing candidates in jobs, they serve slightly different functions. Staffing firms typically handle temporary or contract positions since they can provide quick solutions for immediate staffing needs. Recruiting firms focus more on filling permanent positions, often with a more in-depth search and selection process.

Choosing an HR Staffing Agency

There are several aspects of HR staffing agencies that you’ll want to consider and properly vet before you enter into an agreement with them.

• Expertise: You should thoroughly evaluate the agency’s experience and expertise in staffing HR, as well as their understanding of the specific roles that you need to fill. Look for how many years they’ve been in operation and what kind of previous clients they’ve worked with.
• Reputation: There are several different avenues for vetting an HR staffing agency’s reputation that you should check out. Check reviews on their site and as well as Google and business review sites. Ask to see their testimonials, references, and case studies to gauge the agency’s reliability and success rate.
• Process: Not every HR staffing agency works the same way. That’s why it’s important to understand their recruitment process and how they source, screen, and present candidates.
• Network: Consider the breadth of the agency’s network and their access to a diverse talent pool. Ask what data they can provide and what partners they work with to demonstrate they have the resources available to get you the results that you need.
• Terms: Review the agency’s terms, including fees, guarantees, and the process for replacing hires if needed. Compare them to other agencies and industry standards to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

It’s also essential to assess the cultural fit between your organization and the agency, as this can significantly impact the success of the partnership. You’ll need to decide whether you need a niche staffing agency with specific industry expertise or a general agency like Robert Half or Manpower that can provide a broader range of services. Keep in mind that there are differences between fractional staffing (part-time, specialized roles) and temp staffing or gig work (limited engagement) 

Talk to Our Team

Ready to streamline your hiring process and access a broader talent pool? Contact our team today to learn more about how our HR staffing services can benefit your organization.