Are you currently on the fence about working with a marketing recruitment agency?
While agencies will jump at the chance to tell you all the reasons why you should partner with them, it’s important that you understand both sides of the coin before making a decision.
Sure, we are a little biased but we are also the first to say that working with a marketing recruitment agency is not always the best decision for every business.
After all, honesty is the best policy!
In this whistlestop guide, we run through some of the main reasons why you might want to avoid working with a marketing recruitment agency.
Recruitment isn’t rocket science. With enough time and effort, any business owner or marketing manager can find the right candidate for their role. If you have the time to spare and a good idea of the skills and experience you are looking for, then taking matters into your own hands might be the best route. It really depends on whether this is the best use of your time.
Those who want to go it alone and recruit independently should start by writing a compelling job description. This doesn’t mean creating a never-ending shopping list of all the things you may want the successful candidate to focus on. So keep it brief. You can then post this on job boards, distribute it across social media, and then move on to conduct some cold outreach.
When you hire a marketing recruitment agency, you are paying for the experience of seasoned recruiters, access to their networks, and their ability to identify top talent. If you want to tap into this expertise, then you need to be prepared to pay for it. For some, the cost is simply too high. So those with restricted budgets may want to explore other options.
Even though there’s plenty of noise online about recruitment agency fees being too expensive, it’s important to note that these fees have remained consistent across the last 20 years. If anything, they have become more accessible over time. If you do not want to pay a recruitment agency fee, then you will need to find other ways to identify and attract talent.
When you start working with a marketing recruitment agency, candidates come thick and fast. While it’s possible to find a done-for-you recruitment service, most agencies will need you to give feedback on CVs quickly to prevent candidates from losing interest. This will require some level of commitment from you. And once you’re on this train, there’s no getting off.
If you are the type of person who likes to take their time when reviewing CVs and interviewing candidates, then working with a recruitment agency might not be right for you. The same goes for those who are not ready to commit to hiring someone right away. Drawn-out interview processes are a surefire way to dissuade candidates from taking an interest in your role.
Partnering with a specialist agency means that you are tapping into a team of experts who understand your specific industry. This is incredibly valuable when recruiting for marketing roles. While a generalist agency might be able to find you a candidate with the right skills, they are unlikely to have an in-depth understanding of your sector. So make sure you ask the right questions before you select them.
This could mean that they struggle to suggest suitable candidates for certain roles. For instance, marketers with experience working in the B2B SaaS world have different skill sets from those working at global banks. If the recruitment agency doesn’t have access to a pool of suitably experienced candidates, then you might as well embark on the search independently.
Do they cover the geographical area you’re looking to recruit in? Many heavy-hitting recruitment agencies cover a broad geographical area – which means their database of candidates is spread out across many regions. With a smaller pool of candidates in your area, it’s less likely they will find someone that’s perfectly suited to the unique requirements of your position.
This is arguably the most important reason to consider when deciding whether or not to work with a marketing recruitment agency. Can you trust them? Do they understand your company culture and values? When it comes to finding the right candidate, this is vital. While online reviews and testimonials will prove useful, you can also learn plenty from face-to-face meetings.
Here are just a few questions to consider:
If the answer to any of these is no, then you might want to think twice about working with that particular agency. Fortunately, there is no shortage of good marketing recruitment agencies to explore.
Are you comfortable with junior recruiters leading the execution of your recruitment campaigns? Larger and more generalist recruitment agencies will likely have a team of junior recruiters working on your account. This is not necessarily a bad thing – but it’s worth considering. Those hiring for senior roles might prefer to work directly with an experienced recruiter.
When you begin talking with recruitment agencies, you should question who will be working on your account. If you’re not comfortable with the answer, it might be worth looking elsewhere. At the end of the day, working with a marketing recruitment agency is a major decision. Weigh up the pros and cons carefully before making definitive decisions.
Our B2B marketing recruitment agency will always aim to provide a personalised and consultative approach. We are firmly committed to understanding our client’s specific needs before beginning a search. This process begins with an in-depth conversation about the role, company culture, and what success looks like.
▶︎ Next steps?
If you’d like to find out more, read our guide on what it’s like to work with a marketing recruitment agency.
And if you’d like to hear more about our services, you can book a call with us today.
Subscribe to our fortnightly newsletter to hear about our latest podcasts, blogs, career advice & jobs.
When job seekers come across the term “competitive salary,” they may wonder what exactly it means. In the context of employment, a competitive salary refers to a compensation package that is in line with or above the industry standard for…
Hiring marketing operations talent? In this guide we talk you through everything you need to know to hire successfully.
What does a B2B digital marketing manager do? We dig into the key responsibilities, skills needed and what you can expect to get paid.
