Recruitment Consultancy
Recruitment consultancies (also known as recruitment agencies, staffing agencies, or employment agencies) are specialized firms that help organizations find and hire suitable candidates for job vacancies — and help job seekers find employment opportunities.
Let’s go through this in detail, including what they do, how they operate, their structure, and the pros and cons for both employers and candidates.
🏢 How Recruitment Consultancies Work
Client (Employer) Side
When a company has a job vacancy, it can approach a recruitment consultancy instead of conducting the hiring process itself.
The consultancy will:
- Understand the job requirements (skills, experience, salary, culture fit, etc.).
- Search for suitable candidates from their database or through job boards, LinkedIn, referrals, or direct headhunting.
- Screen and shortlist the best candidates.
- Arrange interviews between the company and the selected applicants.
- Assist in offer negotiation and onboarding (in some cases).
The company typically pays the consultancy a fee once a successful placement is made — usually a percentage of the candidate’s annual salary.
Candidate (Job Seeker) Side
For job seekers, recruitment consultancies:
- Offer career advice and CV/resume optimization.
- Match them with suitable job openings.
- Prepare them for interviews.
- Provide feedback after interviews.
- Some agencies also help with contract or temporary work.
In most cases, candidates do not pay for the consultancy’s services — the employer does