Fallacies about staffing agencies

Some organizations are hesitant to turn to a staffing agency.

But hesitancy should never be based on myth—and when it comes to the ins and outs of staffing agencies, too many organizations are stuck in a fog of swirling misconceptions.

Well, there’s nothing like a little sunshine to improve visibility and enhance understanding, so read on.

Organizational myths about staffing

Expensive? No.

Costs of recruitment and screening are high for companies—but some of those costs are avoided when you partner with a staffing agency. Staffing agencies are by necessity experts at matching people with appropriate jobs—meaning turnover is reduced. When an organization takes into account the many costs associated with finding and keeping personnel, or with dealing with personnel who don’t succeed, the premium paid to a staffing agency looks more like a cost-saving measure. Don’t let cost become a myth-based hurdle!

Only for entry-level jobs? Wrong again.

At Garnet River, we staff companies and departments with personnel working at all levels of authority and complexity—entry level yes, but right on up to decision makers and C-level executives. Organizations trust us to find the best people for the toughest positions—and because our team produces results, the arrangement works for both the organizations and the candidate’s seeking employment.

Already have an HR department? So what?

Sure, for a small organization without a Human Resources department, Garnet River can step in and help fill that gap. But when dealing with larger organizations, we work as a partner with your Human Resources department, filling in the holes and creating a synergy that will lead to organizational retention and growth. And that synergy can lead to maximum efficiency and productivity from your workforce.

Only for temps? Heck no!

Seasoned personnel are the heart of our business—our goal is long-term. Many of our people have been with us for years, even decades, and many find themselves providing their services for the same outside client for the same length of time. We can handle temp positions as well, of course, for such things as seasonal hiring variations or during stretches of uncertain economic conditions. At Garnet River we view the economic and hiring landscapes the same way you do—with goals of fostering stability when possible and maximizing flexibility when necessary. We understand the uncertainties, and we adapt to fit the needs of our clients. It’s not just about the temps—though we support them, too!

You already have a stack of resumés? But can you find the needle in the haystack, or is it too time-consuming?

With a stack of resumés, you don’t know where to begin, while we know exactly how to proceed. It is what we do at Garnet River every day, every week of every year. And we like to think we’re good at it. With you, hiring seems like a roll of the dice, maybe win, maybe lose. Garnet River has a tenured recruiting team with decades of experience. We find the right people for the right jobs with greater regularity than you thought possible.

Agencies only care at the outset

Quality and responsiveness—that’s how we succeed! This myth drives us crazy. One and done? Not with Garnet River. We focus on building relationships with companies, not making a “sale” and disappearing. When you work with us, you’ll have not a vendor but a partner—and you won’t be “ghosted” once the contract is signed. We’re always available, and we believe that constant attention to the lines of communication is not a nuisance but a windfall—a chance to learn about an industry, a company, a diverse group of people. Immersion leads to better understanding—and we pride ourselves on involvement in the challenges faced by our clients. We provide not only staffing services, but a full range of business consulting expertise, and our success is measured, quite literally, by your success. So do we care? You bet we care!

Agencies don’t understand the industry? It is our JOB to understand!

We hope that de-bunking these other myths has answered any fears you might have about this one. Understanding diverse industries is central to what a good staffing agency does. At Garnet River, we staff many highly technical positions with capable people exhibiting specialized skills—and to make the right placement, we need deep insight into the nature of the work, and the expectations of our clients. We believe that, over the years, we’ve developed hands-on familiarity with multiple industries, to an extent that works to the great benefit of our clients. We not only learn from our clients, but we actually bring to bear an informed outside viewpoint on inside problems. We strive to understand your industry, because that furthers our greatest goal: we want to help!

Candidate myths about staffing

These are dead end jobs? Hardly!

Career advancement is in everyone’s best interest! Many of our placed candidates move up the ladder from their initial jobs—promotions occur when performance warrants, as in any other workplace. But that’s not where the value to the worker ends. A staffing agency gives you an opportunity to get your foot in the door when your credentials are in the “establishing” phase. Staffing agencies aren’t “dead ends”—they’re on-ramps to the economic superhighway.

Job seekers have to pay the agency? The craziest myth of them all!

It’s not just organizations—even some candidates are in the dark when it comes to working with a staffing agency. Whether you’re hired as a temp, temp to permanent, or direct hire, you’ll never pay us a dime.

Candidates can find their own jobs? Not if the position you are seeking isn’t posted publicly.

Let’s be honest—looking for a job is a job in itself. But here’s the biggest catch: you can’t find an opening when it’s invisible to the market. Many open jobs are neither advertised nor publicized—the search is conducted insider-to-insider, so if you’re on your own, you’ll never become aware. A staffing agency can expand your prospects—not only does it provide access to numerous jobs not otherwise posted, but it also gives you the chance to become the “insider” who gets first crack at great opportunities.

We hope we’ve made our point: misleading fallacies shouldn’t deter you from partnering with Garnet River. But make sure you do your research and find the one that is best for YOU. For both organizations and job seekers, the right staffing agency is a valuable option.