By Robyn Lee
As an employer, is there value in working with multiple recruitment agencies, or should you just stick to one? This is a great question, and it is an important one, particularly in a candidate short market.
During a conversation with a potential client last week I realised this is a question many others have. But it is one they rarely ask the agencies they are working with. I get it. That can be an awkward conversation! In the interests of honesty and transparency, two things we are big on here at Thrive, I want to share my thoughts on the issue.
In my opinion, the short answer is in a candidate short market, yes. There is benefit in working with more than one agency if you are looking to secure occupational therapists and physiotherapists right now. Why? Because ultimately it gives you the best chance of finding your ideal applicant in a tough market.
Every agency has a different approach to candidate attraction, assessment and selection. You want to be sure the therapists you are seeing genuinely match the needs of your business and are also interested in yours. Candidate short markets often encourage a ‘numbers game’ approach by some agencies, rather than considered matching between role and candidate. This rarely serves a client or the candidate well.
Here are just three benefits we know clients can gain from working with our team at Thrive, alongside other recruitment agencies:
1. Accessing a wide network of contacts
As we continue to form genuine connections our network grows and so does yours. Having strong and trusted relationships with our candidates allows us to present your organisation to leading therapists, who may be open to a new opportunity but not actively looking.
Why limit yourself to only those currently searching or waiting aimlessly for applications to come in from expensive job boards? Accessing a wider cross section of the market increases your chances of achieving a great outcome.
2. Thorough candidate assessment
Yes, there can be cross-over in candidate pools when working with multiple agencies. But how the process is handled can mean the difference between them showing interest in your organisation or another.
We take the time to really understand our candidates, understanding the career aspirations, interests strengths and weaknesses. You want to be sure a detailed filtering process has occurred before a CV reaches you. It can be tempting for recruitment agencies to take shortcuts in a tight candidate market. We don’t operate like that. Here we always apply a targeted approach.
We invest time upfront to understand your business and get clear on what constitutes an ideal match. Then we meet with every candidate in person.
It’s important to understand the humans behind the practice and the CV. This personalised approach, in conjunction with our rigorous matching technique, significantly increases the likelihood we can deliver an ideal match each time.
3. Reduced risk of losing preferred candidates
Demand is currently outstripping supply across the allied health industry. There is a wealth of opportunity available to Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists right now. You want to avoid that feeling of losing your favourite candidate before you can bring them into the business.
Our strong relationships ensure we can nurture candidates through the recruitment journey. This includes helping them understand your business, why the role is a great fit and the potential your offer presents. We help you communicate your best features so top candidates remain engaged and committed.
Our candidates trust us and we care about them. How we treat our candidates effects how they feel about about your organisation.
These are a couple of reasons why you might want to consider the benefits of engaging with more than one agency. This is not something you would normally hear from someone in the recruitment world, however, if you have vacancies that aren't being filled, why not see what other support is out there?
I feel strongly that clients should never feel pressured to engage in an exclusive arrangement. Personally, I see that as a warning sign that an agency is not confident they can deliver.
At Thrive we are confident in the quality of our matching process and the depth of our candidate network. We have no issues with clients working with other agencies. It ensures we are always at the top of our game.
If you feel we can help you in the search for your next allied health professional, please connect with me here. I’d love to chat and see how we can assist.
