Why use a recruitment agency?

"Expensive", "over promise but under deliver", "making a quick buck", "poaching our staff".  These are just a few of the phrases which have been batted around in reference to recruitment agents over the years.  What do recruitment agents do for their money, anyway and are they worth it? 

1. Time Saving
   Even if you have a dedicated HR team on the case often they are so busy they don't have the time to trawl through numerous CVs in the hope of hitting the jackpot in finding an ideal candidate.  Sticking an advert in your local paper and hoping for the best isn't always going to result in the calibre of candidate you require either.  Yes, you could be inundated with CVs but do you really want to go through them all, reply to all of the unsuitable candidates and still be left with nothing?  This is where recruitment agencies can save you time.  A good recruitment consultant should know their candidates and clients needs, who is available, what qualifications they have to fulfil your vacancy and if they don't have an ideal candidate readily available on their books they will know where to find them!   
2. Candidates off the radar
   Good recruitment agents will have some key contacts who they regularly stay in touch with but aren't actively seeking a new role.  Additionally, they can tap into their existing database of candidates and reconnect with the ones who may have decided to delay a job move previously.  Recruitment agents have the time, and are paid, to seek out the candidates you don't know about. 
3. Quality candidates
   If you use an agency specialising in your sector then you can be certain that a candidate put forward to you will possess the relevant experience and qualifications.  Quality recruitment agencies will also screen candidates, interview them on a one to one basis in person, check the relevant documentation (such as eligibility to work in the UK) and get a feel for their personality and what sort of company they will fit in to. 
4. Fees are only paid for a candidate who starts with you!
   You could interview one candidate or twenty five candidates through a recruitment agency (hopefully it will be closer to the former!) and a fee will generally only be payable if a candidate starts employment with you.  Ideally a good recruitment agent should be able to narrow down candidates so that you conduct only a handful of interviews before you find the right person.  This saves you time, money and stress! 

My advice would always be to have a chat with a local recruiter, ask them to meet with you and sound them out on how they may be able to help.  This way you can develop a good working relationship and know that they are the type of people you will be able to, and want to, work with.