In times of shortage, companies often resort to the services of agencies to facilitate the recruitment of specialists. However, the market for recruitment agencies is now overloaded, and among them it is easy to come across companies that do not have the necessary competencies. Today, anyone can open an agency, and many firms work without real experience or care about responsibility. As a result – wasted time, poor quality recruitment and the risk of damage to HR-brand client due to unprofessional recruiters.
How to choose a reliable agency and not make mistakes? In the article we will examine the key criteria for choosing a verified partner and tell you: what to pay attention to, what questions to ask and how to avoid cooperation with amateurs.
Why are there so many recruitment agencies on the market?
The recruitment market is growing by about 20% per year, and the number of vacancies is increasing annually. For example, in 2024, according to Superjob estimates, this figure was 9%. Especially attractive is the segment of recruitment in IT, which has shown an explosive growth over the past 4 years, and the fees for hiring specialists significantly exceeded the cheques for closing vacancies in other areas.
As a result, the number of recruitment agencies is constantly growing, but only a few remain afloat in the long term. Why does this happen?
1. No entry barriers
The start of a recruitment agency does not need large investments. It is enough to register a company or IP, assemble a team of 3-5 recruiters, make a simple site and start looking for the first customers. As a result, new agencies appear every day, but just as quickly close, not withstanding competition or short-term decline or «freezing» of the market.
2. The agency opens «on a wave»
Despite the global growth trend, the market for IT specialists is subject to periodic fluctuations: seasonality, economic conditions. After another surge in demand, recruitment agencies grow «like mushrooms after the rain». They fill their websites with not very realistic promises and deadlines. But then there is an episodic decline, and such agencies «disappear from the radar».
3. Agency lives at the expense of one client
Someone still managed to stay afloat by attracting a large customer. But the sales do not go beyond. The whole business is held by one client, and if they stop hiring, everything falls apart. At such moments, agencies start working in a hurry, trying hard to attract new clients, losing recruiters or even closing down without fulfilling their obligations.
4. Promises are many, results few
While some live at the expense of a single client, others beautifully talk about «unique selection methods» and «hundred thousand internal candidate bases», but in fact work on standard templates. As a result, many projects, especially from the demanding to the quality of selection BigTech, they are «not able». Agencies do not manage the large selection pool: they cannot process candidates properly and show unsuitable specialists.
How to avoid «personnel adventurers»: the signs of a good agency
If there are many recruitment companies on the market, and the professionals among them only one – how to find your contractor? There are a number of features that distinguish reliable agencies:
1. In the state team, not «singles on freelance»
Large number of recruiters in the state, processed by TC – sign of financial stability of the company. Small agencies often work on IP or self-employment. The main drawback – employees can be freelancers whose main goal is to earn faster, not build long-term relationships with the customer. As a result, they can select only convenient vacancies and transfer the same specialists to different companies. This leads to chaos, leakage of candidates to competitors and lack of accountability.
How to check? Find out how many recruiters work in the agency, whether they are officially registered. Serious firms invest in team and long-term relationships with employees.
2. Reviews from large customers: trust, but check
Does the agency declare cooperation with large clients? It is better to check this fact: reliable companies do not hide reviews, publish cases and openly keep a list of achievements in their media, if it does not contradict the agreements with customers.
How to check? If there is no information about reviews or letters of recommendation on the site, you should request it. See which companies left recommendations to the agency, find reviews on the Internet. If possible – contact real customers.
3. Famous people in the industry in contact lists
If the agency works with well-known specialists in the industry, this is an indicator of its reputation and experience. Their names are a «quality mark», which shows that the company is ready to invest in the best.
4. Automation is the key to success
Good agencies use modern systems to manage recruitment processes (ATS – Applicant Tracking Systems) rather than old Excel spreadsheets. Smart automation allows you to monitor the purity and relevance of data, analyze conversions on projects, allocate resources and provide clarity for all stakeholders, minimizing reputational risks and hiring errors.
5. Public and active media activities
Sustainable recruitment agencies actively invest in the promotion of their brand. They participate in conferences, are published in the relevant media and have pages on popular jobbords. Such agencies are not afraid to work openly and cherish their reputation.
How to check? Find references about the company in professional communities and events. Check if the agencies are active on social media and career platforms (e.g., Habr Career, HH).
6. Experience over low rates
When selecting an agency through the tender many companies are oriented to the lowest commissions. But it could be a mistake: experienced agencies don’t dump because they value their work. Low-cost hiring may mean poor quality of work, which means a protracted recruitment process and the subsequent search for a new contractor.
How to check? When working through tenders it is better to focus on the experience of the company, not on interest rates. Ask the agency for letters of recommendation and certificates confirming the work done.
Summary: How to choose a good agency
Choosing a recruitment agency is not just a formality, but a strategic decision that can affect the success of the business. How to avoid cooperation with unreliable or incompetent contractors?
- Pay attention to the agency’s maturity: number of recruiters, processed in the state by TC, reviews from large customers, letters of recommendation – the first signs of reliability.
- Looking for professionals: Well-known names in the industry and the use of data automation systems show that the agency takes its work seriously.
- Do not save on quality: When bidding, focus on experience and reputation rather than low stakes.
