Five reasons why you don't need a recruiter…..

Many employers, particularly in these days of the well connected internet and Monster, Jobsite, etc; wonder why they need to employ a recruitment company? The answer is - you don't. It's a free market, and you just don't need to - its really your choice. So here are five reasons why employers and candidates don't need to go via a recruitment company

Employers:

1. All the CV's are on the market via the internet - true, that's the theory by about 2012. But even if that were true, only about 1/3 of the target audience who could fit your requirements will actually be on the internet advertising themselves. One third will be happily employed because they are good at what they do (but could leave if the right offer came along - problem is, they work for your competitor); and one third will be looking but not shouting about it from the internet because of the reaction from their presently happy employer

2. Everyone knows about and respects my company - your customers must do: they pay you money. Your employee's are a far more fickle bunch, and if the wage cheque didn't turn up next month, would happily join the third with their CV's on the internet! Also, do you tell your competitors everything about what you are doing? Thought not - so how do you expect to attract people to your wonderful new project that requires new skills?

3. I pay great wages - probably true, particularly if you take note of one or more of the many surveys that are regularly posted by various employment or industry organisations. But, does the size of the wage packet wholly sum up your organisation? And when you pay a better basic and have nicer offices, a better car package and include health care - over your nearest competitor - is that taken into account in those surveys?

4. I know what people fit into my organisation - yes, you wholly do: you and you alone can make that decision - it's the most important decision to be made around your business and its ability to survive. And we all know that beneath that gruff and hard business like exterior you are a really nice person. But - now, rather than selling your business to your customers, you need to sell you and your businesses future to your potential employee's - that a different sell, and a far softer one of getting to know people over a period of time. Where as, you need someone next month who will perform from day1

5. Recruiters charge huge fee's - yes, so always choose one if you must use one who specialises in your sector, is REC registered, and who's fee's are NOT wholly payable before the new employee starts, and are fully refundable if the employee leaves within a reasonable period. Mind you, if you do decide to DIY and make the wrong decision, then chances are you will have trebled the chances of the new employee leaving, and hence incurring total costs equivalent to around three times their basic wage costs.

Here are the same five concerns from the candidates position:

1. I don't want to put my CV on the internet because I don't want to upset my current and very reasonable employer

2. I don't know about that company whose advert I saw in the Sunday Newspapers/on the internet

3. The package looks reasonable, but I need to know if they cover other issues like healthcare - plus I have a holiday coming up

4. I have heard some bad things about them in the past, so not sure I will fit in there. Plus, where are they going at present?

5. Recruiters charge huge fee's and just leave you once their fee's are paid - a REC registered recruiter should negotiate for you, and check you are making the agreed targets. Hence, a reasonable question to ask any recruiter when they approach you is "And if I take the job, how will you get paid?"