What a Staffing Agency Really Does, and How It Impacts Your Business

When many business owners hear “staffing agency” or “employment agency,” what they may actually be hearing is “temp agency.” But that isn’t what we’re talking about here. Instead, we’re discussing what services job placement agencies and staffing agencies in Cleveland can offer, and what you can expect when working with DeLong Staffing Specialists specifically. It’s more than you may think and oftentimes exactly what you need.

What Is A Staffing Agency?

Unlike a temporary staffing agency or day-labor service that is merely focused on providing temporary workers on a literal daily or hyper-short-term basis, a staffing agency often has a longer-term mindset. Truly temporary staffing simply cannot take into consideration all of your company’s needs and preferences, and relevant experience among workers is often very limited if any at all. Day-labor services aim to fill an immediate gap with no sights set on the future.

On the other hand, staffing agencies in Cleveland, like DeLong Staffing Specialists, are focused on filling employers’ needs, but more importantly, on building relationships. We aim to understand your business, your industry, your company culture, and what you expect from employees as far as experience and background goes. Instead of being transactional, we’re a partner who is working for your long-term success.

Now, that said, not all employees that we recommend will end up as full-fledged employees. But every worker we introduce you to is fully qualified and of a caliber that you would likely want to stay with you long-term. This is the key difference–a staffing agency is your business partner, an extension of your HR department, and focused on adding value to your team. We aren’t just filling shifts, we’re helping you to build teams.

How A Staffing Agency Works

Unlike a day-labor situation, a staffing agency takes the time to get to know your business. They work with you to learn what you are looking for in an employee and what sorts of skills are requisite to fill open positions. Skilled and experienced recruiters then spend time locating and vetting individuals who may fit your criteria. Each candidate is screened and thoroughly checked to ensure that they have key skills and that they will mesh well with company culture. This is far more than a superficial exercise.

Professional staffing agencies in Cleveland will ensure that they can find candidates whose qualifications match the job description, requirements, and estimated project timeline. Positions of all levels are filled, helping client companies to keep business running smoothly from top to bottom. While the focus may sometimes be on a quick temp-to-hire candidate to fill an immediate need, staffing specialists don’t rush the process and don’t settle for just anyone–criteria must still be met. Even temp-to-hire candidates may eventually be hired as a permanent, full-time employee after the original temporary employment period. Therefore each temp-to-hire candidate needs to be an ideal fit for clients, just like direct hire candidates.

What To Expect From a Staffing Agency

This all sounds good on paper, but what does a real life customer-staffing agency relationship look like? It really comes down to ongoing support and open communication–your staffing agency should be in touch at all times, not only if there’s an issue to address. They should supply key data when requested and always have qualified, vetted workers waiting in the wings to fill open positions or to step up during seasonal peaks and sudden employee absences.

Since the staffing agency often handles the legal side of things, you also want to trust that they are fully compliant with relevant wage laws, worker classifications, benefits, taxes, liability and more. When you call for help, a true blue staffing agency won’t send you a stack of resumes, they’ll send you a candidate that’s perfect for your team. The peace of mind that comes when you work with a professional staffing agency is part of the deal–it’s an understood feature, not a fringe benefit. Value is proven by what they offer your business and how that helps productivity and your company’s bottom line.

How A Staffing Agency Impacts Your Business

Once you’ve found a staffing agency you can trust, you can expect to enjoy a wide range of benefits. You and your team are no longer tied down to the recruitment process–outsourcing allows you to focus on core operations while saving time and bandwidth. At the same time, you will also have access to a much wider and deeper pool of talent than you may have been able to find on your own or with standard out-of-the-box online platforms.

Because your candidate search is more targeted when working with a staffing agency, you’re more likely to experience lower turnover rates and enjoy stronger employee retention. Instead of feeling stressed and overworked, your team will be happier and more robust. They’ll also enjoy higher levels of efficiency, since no one is being taxed with work outside of their expertise or expected to handle multiple roles.

Since staffing agencies take on the legal and administrative role of employers, they shoulder liabilities that employers typically have to assume. This lightens the loads on employers, reducing both their liability and administrative burdens. Working with a staffing agency also brings increased flexibility, allowing businesses to easily scale up during busy times or to scale down if need be, all without the demands and legal responsibilities associated with typical hiring processes. Most of all, employers can expect a smoother, more predictable hiring process. Your perfect staffing partner will help you to fill today’s roles while also staffing tomorrow’s key teams.

How To Choose A Staffing Agency

Before you commit to working with a staffing agency, you want to do your homework and ask some straightforward questions. First, spend some time fleshing out the roles and requirements that are fundamental to your business. Aim to find local staffing agencies who specialize in a narrow range of industry specialization that aligns with your needs. Investigate their reputation via online platforms and customer testimonials.

Start with asking these questions: How long have they been in business? What sort of training do recruiters have? Do they understand your industry and local market? Can they offer flexible seasonal help? How do they vet candidates? What support do they offer if things don’t work out? You need clear answers to these fundamental questions.

Your Cleveland Staffing Agency

At DeLong Staffing Specialists, we specialize in filling open roles in the industrial, manufacturing, customer service/call center, accounting/finance, information technology, office/clerical, and administrative sectors. When we’re building a profile to match your open positions, we’ll be verifying which skills, experience, and personality best fit your team and then looking for candidates who fit the bill. This typically means individuals who already have training and hands-on experience in a given field or role and who have proven their expertise. We work quickly and we’re efficient and flexible, but at the same time, we’ll never try to fit just any candidate into a position that doesn’t align with their qualifications. When you work with DeLong, you can trust that you’re working with a staffing company that truly cares about your success.

So if you’re ready to relieve the nonstop hiring headache and free up your team for more profitable endeavors, it’s time to partner with one of the premier staffing companies in Cleveland–DeLong Staffing Specialists. You’ll easily conquer turnover, seasonal shifts, and understaffing when you work with a staffing agency who gets you and is about solving problems while building relationships.

You’ve got options, but when it comes to choosing your long-term staffing partner, rely on someone who’s been at this for awhile. Hard at work since 1983, we boast the most experienced and longest tenured staff of any staffing firm in Northeast Ohio. It’s time to do more with more–contact us today to get started on your recruitment  needs.