Over the years I’ve seen businesses save a pound or two an hour on an agency rate, only to lose far more because the person who arrived simply wasn’t the right fit. Sometimes they’ve needed constant supervision. Sometimes they’ve struggled with the work. Occasionally they’ve decided halfway through the day that the job wasn’t for them.

None of those situations is good for the employer, the existing team or the worker themselves.

The hourly rate might have looked attractive, but by the end of the day it certainly wasn’t the cheapest option.

Good recruitment starts long before someone arrives for their first shift.

It’s about getting to know the client, understanding the job properly and being honest about the type of person who’s likely to succeed there. It’s equally about getting to know the candidates. What experience do they have? Are they reliable? What sort of working environment suits them? Do they actually want the assignment you’ve been asked to fill?

That takes time.

It’s probably the least visible part of recruitment, but it’s also the most important.

One of the things we’ve always tried to do at ASL Recruitment is build long-term relationships with both our clients and our candidates. Many of the businesses we work with have been using us for years, and many of our temporary workers come back to us time and time again.

That makes a real difference.

When a client phones and says, “We need two warehouse operatives tomorrow,” we’re not starting from scratch. We already know how that business operates, what standards they expect and the type of people who tend to do well there.

Likewise, when we ring one of our regular candidates, we already know whether they’ll enjoy the role and whether they’re likely to be a good fit.

It’s not a perfect science. Recruitment never is. People are people, and occasionally things don’t work out despite everyone’s best efforts.

But understanding both sides of the equation gives you a much better chance of getting it right.

Of course, price matters. Every business has budgets to work within, and I would never suggest otherwise.

I simply think it’s worth looking beyond the hourly rate.

If a temporary worker arrives on time, gets on with the job, fits in with your team and allows your business to carry on without disruption, they’re often far better value than someone who looked cheaper on paper.

That’s certainly been my experience over the years.

Looking for Temporary Staff?

If you’re looking for reliable temporary staff in Hastings, St Leonards, Bexhill, Battle, Rye or the surrounding East Sussex area, we’d be happy to have an informal chat.

We’ll always be honest about whether we think we can help and, if we can, we’ll do our best to find someone who’s the right fit for your business rather than simply the next person available.

Photo by Andre Taissin on Unsplash