How Do You Choose an Agency?

A poor employment agency will waste your time by performing inadequate screening, thus sending your business unqualified applicants. Unscrupulous agencies will misrepresent the job to the applicant and the applicant to the employer in an effort to get their fees. Such practices are outlawed, and most states require agencies to be licensed and bonded. But even within the law, some agencies are engaged in hard-sell tactics that don't always best serve either client or company.

To find a helpful and reputable agency:

• Ask around.
• Check with others in your industry or with your employer association for recommendations.
• Consult the Better Business Bureau and other business and consumer groups.

Before selecting an agency, it is a good idea to make a personal visit to determine the professional level of the staff and the selection methods that are used. It is also helpful to have an agency representative visit your company to find out personnel needs and get a feel for the type of people you want. The better an agency knows a company, the better service it can give.

The agency will also need precise job descriptions and specifications, as well as feedback about candidates that have been rejected. The names of national and local employment agencies should be in your local telephone directory.

How do I know if an employment agency is in compliance with various laws and regulations? The increasing responsibilities of employment agencies have led the National Association of Personnel Services, the professional organization of employment agency personnel, to establish a Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) program. The designation is granted, upon payment of a fee, to agencies whose representatives pass a written examination. Look for this certification.

Fees. Although agency fees are occasionally paid by the job seeker, most reputable agencies work only with employer-paid fees. These fees vary within the industry — sometimes they are a flat rate, but more commonly they are a percentage of the job's annual salary. This percentage can run as high as 30 percent of the first year's salary or 1 percent per $1,000 of salary. An agency that has the employer pay the fee, however, normally guarantees that the applicant will perform satisfactorily for a minimum period or the fee will be refunded to you.