Hiring companies using multiple agencies at the same time are shooting themselves in the foot. It’s mismanagement and inefficient. Stop it.
The argument said in desperation from those who wrongfully believe in this approach of involving several agencies including:
- It widens the candidate pool.
- It creates competition among the agencies.
- It’s faster.
It does not widen the candidate pool. Recruiters and Talent Acquisitions all have access to the Internet, LinkedIn, job boards, and are fishing in the very same pool.
When agencies know they are one of several working on finding candidates for the hiring company, it becomes a matter of speed and who gets resumes to the client the quickest.
The risk is obviously that no careful assessment is made before the presentation of candidates. It becomes a matter of quantity and not quality.
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Throw spaghetti against the wall and see what sticks.” It’s a common way to describe the process of sending many different candidates at the same time in the hope that at least one is suitable (sticks) and which resumes do not (falls to the floor).
Messing with your corporate brand
Your marketing people will surely have an opinion about this. If they just knew what HR was doing. Sadly, many marketers do not pay enough attention.
Engaging multiple recruitment firms can make your company appear disorganized or desperate.
Candidates may receive similar job opportunities from different recruiters, leading to confusion and a negative candidate experience.
This can harm your employer brand and make it harder to attract top talent in the future.
Coordinating with multiple recruitment firms can be challenging and time-consuming.
You will need to communicate your requirements, provide feedback, and manage the overall hiring process with each firm separately. This can lead to miscommunication, duplication of efforts, and confusion, potentially slowing down the hiring process.
What do candidates think when called by several recruiters
It’s a red flag and sends a signal to prospective candidates that the hiring company is in panic, they are stressed and miserable. For a reason no doubt.
Let me ask you this.
If you see a house that has been on the market for months and months through multiple real estate agencies, what is your first thought?
Well, I know what I will be thinking; something must be wrong with that house.
I rest my case.
Consider the following alternatives
Instead of involving multiple recruitment firms, consider the following alternatives:
- Choose a single reputable recruitment firm that specializes in your industry or job function. Work as partners and see the recruiter as your extended talent acquisition arm and personal assistant.
- Build an internal recruitment team to handle the hiring process if you are hiring for a large number of positions every year.
- Leverage technology and online job boards to directly attract candidates.
Remember, recruitment is a critical process that can significantly impact a company’s success.
By adopting a focused and streamlined approach to recruitment, you can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain better control over the hiring process.
