Why do companies use recruitment agencies?

Emmzi

DKLS wrote: »

I have advertised in the Job centre once, never ever again.
The calibre of candidates was dire. It was a complete waste of time and effort.

I agree. I use it occassionallywhen i need a person whio can walk and lift things, but not for anything more complicated. Agencies find me people with skills.

MrsTinks

I've always recruited staff through agencies because I expect a certain level of service from them in presenting me with candidates. Before inviting anyone to interview I have always demanded a quick recap from the agency about why they feel the candidate is suitable - this does mean that they have to have met them as I have pretty specific requirements (or had - I don't do a job where I recruit anymore ) and basically they had to sell the applicant to me before I'd interview them. This meant a lot less wasted time for all concerned.
On the other hand I also find all my jobs through agencies - I don't have the time or inclanation to scour every news paper going and coldselling myself to companies - a lot of companies go through agencies ONLY and therefor it's the best place usually to find both a job and candidates...
Could money be saved? Maybe... but weighing up the time vs cost is a tough one I'd personally always use agencies but then I have very specific guidelines for them (I'll call them - do NOT call me with candidates, when I need someone I will let you know, don't waste my time hassling me... etc)

1984ReturnsForReal_2

liney wrote: »

£5.73ph plus employers NI and holiday pay, ignoring actual running costs associated with having an employee at a desk, around £7.00ph I believe?

Thats right. Its around £7.00 if you deduct the weekly £9ish charged for NI below the Employers NI Conrtribution limit.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

andy46 wrote: »

Okay but it is not far off, I know that most agencies will be invoicing their client at least £10.00 per hour whilst the worker is getting minimum wage rate as well as also invoicing the client for holiday pay when the agency worker might not yet qualify for it if they have not been there long enough.

1: No. Its about 25% off. Which is a lot.

2: No. Most agencies will be charging around £8.50 per hour. Which is 15% below your own "quote" & if its in a city & its likely to be below £8.00 per hour which would make you over 20% over on your "quote".

3: I wont even go onto holiday pay where there is no 13 week qualification period anymore & hasnt been for years..



Not bad. 3 errors in a paragraph 4 lines deep.. :rotfl:

1984ReturnsForReal_2

dave4545454 wrote: »

listen to andy, he knows his stuff:T

Of course he does dave.... :rotfl:

You two have proven to anyone with any small amount of knowledge you both know nothing.

dave4545454

liney wrote: »

Free. No such thing. Who would you suggest funds it?

I was suggesting that if you were stupid enough to pay £12 ph plus VAT to an agency knowing that they were paying £5.73ph to a temp that you might be abit dim, and therefore the perfect person to play cards with for money..... and i don't feel the slightest bit of guilt saying that considering you are happy to start name calling.

excuse me, when did i start name calling? i've never called you any name

and neither have i ever paid any agency any money.

you need to get your facts right first.:rolleyes:

dave4545454

1984ReturnsForReal wrote: »

Of course he does dave.... :rotfl:

You two have proven to anyone with any small amount of knowledge you both know nothing.

well andy knows a lot more than you about the subject

liney

dave4545454 wrote: »

excuse me, when did i start name calling? i've never called you any name

and neither have i ever paid any agency any money.

you need to get your facts right first.:rolleyes:

Fact: "middlemen agency scum" is name calling, whether directed at me or not.

Fact: You have never paid an agency any money, and have no idea of the real cost to a business.

Fact: It would be polite to acknowledge you have been "misinformed" or have simply made up the figures you quoted to attempt to bolster your rant.

Bored now Have the last pointless quip; you know you want to.

dave4545454

liney wrote: »

Fact: "middlemen agency scum" is name calling, whether directed at me or not.

Fact: You have never paid an agency any money, and have no idea of the real cost to a business.

Fact: It would be polite to acknowledge you have been "misinformed" or have simply made up the figures you quoted to attempt to bolster your rant.

Bored now Have the last pointless quip; you know you want to.

as i said, i never called you any names, and you just proved i was right:o

i didnt make up the figures cos it's a figure given to me by someone who used to work at an agency. i'm not saying the figure is the same for every agency but it is for that particular agency. sorry if you can't handle facts

the only fact you got right was that i have never paid an agency which was a fact i had already told you!

CCFC_80

liney wrote: »

andy46 wrote: »

So you want the tax payer to pay for it. Good luck Considering the success of the JobCentrePlus, I don't think you will find people "buying in".

It is free to advertise in the JC, so employers obviously don't find it that effective else more would use the service.

Liney, you do have a point and I agree more employers should use the job centre plus website to advertise vacancies, however another reason in having a free national database for jobs is that many local employers do not want to advertise their vacancies in the local press due to the extortionate advertising fees, so instead use the useless agencies as the alternative option.