Finding the Best Recruitment Firm to Work for

How to find the best possible recruitment company to work for.
How do you determine if this is the right firm for you? You have to ask questions. Use these guidelines to make sure you don't make a move you could regret....

There are some wonderful recruitment firms to work for. Employers of choice with a solid financial position. Firms with a reputation that you would be proud to represent. Firms that offer training and development together with career progression.

It is not always easy to determine at interview whether you are negotiating with one of these, or perhaps about to make a move you may regret. Make sure that you know what your own ethics and preferred work environment are before interview.

How do you determine if this is the right firm for you? You have to ask questions.

We have prepared a list of questions that you can incorporate into your interview.
You won't always get an answer to every one, and certainly not on the first interview, but the answers you do get will help you make that very important decision.

Environment
- What are values of the company?
- What is the company culture?
- What is the working environment here? 
- What is your annual staff turn over?
- Why do people work for your company?
- Why do you work here?
- Describe the pulse of the business.
- How often do you do 360 on your service/business?
- How do you measure success in this business?
- Do you any have PSA?s and how long have they been in place?
- What percentage of assignments are repeat business? 
- Give me the names of your top 5 clients ? can I ask why they use you?
- How do you source your candidates? (It is good to see a range of candidate sourcing strategies, including word of mouth.)

Measurement
- How do you measure the success rate of your consultants?
- What is the ratio of candidates interviewed to those referred to the client?
- What percentage of candidates interviewed by clients are placed?
- What is your placement fall-off percentage?

Job Specific
- Could you please explain the financial reward system?
- What are the KPI?s for consultants joining your firm?
   1st quarter
   2nd quarter
   3rd quarter
   4th quarter
- Do you provide induction? What does it consist of?
- Do you provide formalized training, coaching or mentoring for your staff?
- What percentage of my time would be spent doing new business development?
- What do you see in me that can add value to this organisation? (Don?t ask this in the first interview ? you may not get the answer you were hoping for.)
- Why would working for you realize my career aspirations?

Finance
- What are your debtors average days outstanding?
- How are commissions paid?
- What effect do fall-offs have on commission?
- If I asked consultants if they earned commission regularly, what would they say?

This one will give you a good insight into expectations ...
- How would you describe a long day here?

You must be willing to give as much information as you receive. Do not spend the entire interview evaluating the company - allow them to get a good feel for your ability to contribute also.