Hiring Through a Staffing Agency
Then there are two main factors in hiring through a staffing agency: choosing the best staffing agency and making sure you hire qualified candidates. Easy!
The first will not be an issue if you have ongoing positive relationships with a staffing agency. Without such relationships, the experience may add challenges to your project.
The second is a bit harder. Check out these tips to help you avoid common hiring mistakes.
There are other basics to know, so let’s discuss three hiring tips to make your next project a success.
#1 Understand Your Company Culture
First of all, you probably have worked with people who did not fit well with the culture in your business. The ideal fit is not there and it causes problems. So naturally you want every qualified candidate for your project to blend-in and work well with your culture. Take a minute to think about the essential ingredients of your company’s culture and think about changing your hiring process to find these fits.
All workplaces have their own unique personality and this is part of culture. The ability for project members to succeed with minimal friction is important to the success of your project. Consider that any project forces team members to work closely with each other. If you are hiring, your team may be new, they do not know each other. They will still have to hit the ground running.
#2 Hire Industry Expertise
A new project may involve areas where your company has little to no experience. To ensure your staffing agency finds qualified candidates, extend the interview process to include in-house screening. This will help eliminate mistakes.
Have an open mind about qualifications and experience levels of the candidates your staffing agency sends you. One of the basic errors when evaluating candidates is looking for too wide a range of skill sets.
The key is identifying the most critical knowledge and skills. In the end, you may be better off hiring extra staff if it results in the expert knowledge you need.
#3 Leadership and Project Management
The final two key elements relates to leadership. First, any large project should have an experienced project manager. Second, you need a primary stakeholder from your company to provide supervision and management. Industry experience has shown that a project manager can make or break the outcome. These two team leaders will work closely together and the project manager should report directly to the primary management stakeholder.
Successful projects need careful planning based on the best analysis of your situation. Plan well in advance of your ideal project start date and allow time for finding the most qualified candidates for your team. A focus on consistent communications will give your project the oil it needs to run smoothly.
Need Help?
So, for your next project, if you need help hiring qualified candidates, a project manager with the right experience and skill set, or if you’re looking for a professional staffing agency, give us a call.