Hiring the right job candidate is like picking out an engagement ring. You know what the ideal ring looks like; you just have to find it. So you carefully browse a variety of cuts and colors until you discover the perfect gem. The process is, quite literally, a labor of love.

When done well, employee recruitment is the same way. You form relationships with candidates — identifying their strengths and weaknesses — and whittle your list down to the perfect person. The process takes time, but when you’ve identified the right candidate, the feeling is incredibly satisfying.

What happens when you don’t have the time or resources to invest in finding the right candidate? Maybe you’re conducting a nationwide search or you’re looking for a candidate with a very specific personality. This is where hiring a staffing firm comes into play.

The Benefits of a Staffing Firm 

Realizing that you need help and deciding to hire an outside staffing firm is the first step to structuring a more efficient staffing process.

Yet, companies often hesitate to use staffing firms due to high costs or because they don’t want to give up control. But staffing firms are experts at finding hidden gems among the masses, and they could provide that extra muscle your recruitment arm needs. Here are three reasons why you should use a staffing firm:

 1.     You’ll save time. If time is in short supply, a staffing firm will help free up internal talent to work on other projects. This is especially helpful if recruiting isn’t your company’s strong suit or you have other priorities.

On a similar note, company workflow will be optimized if HR and senior managers aren’t worried about maintaining paperwork, offer letters, and other candidate documentation that a staffing firm can handle.

2.     You’ll access a deeper candidate pool. Just because a candidate is contently employed at a competing business doesn’t mean he or she wouldn’t consider a new opportunity. Staffing companies can maintain these types of relationships with off-the-market talent, whereas a competitor’s corporate HR department cannot.

Staffing agencies are also incredibly helpful when conducting a nationwide search. Sorting through thousands of résumés is a tedious task. When you hire a staffing agency, HR can focus on developing and supporting current employees rather than sorting through résumés. 

3.     Your candidates will be better qualified. Despite the rise in recruiting tools such as LinkedIn and ZoomInfo, staffing agencies still rely on cold calling, creative sourcing, and relationship-building. These strategies are critical facets of the most effective staffing firms because they help ensure total comprehension of both their candidate’s strengths and their client’s needs.

Choose the Right Firm

Now that you’ve decided to hire a staffing firm, it’s important to choose the right one. Just like a staffing firm will vet candidates, you have to vet your potential agency. While you’re researching different firms, keep these questions in mind:

• Does it specialize in one area? If so, make sure it will fit your needs.

• Is it a small or large firm? Depending on your needs, you may prefer a smaller firm with a boutique business model rather than a global conglomerate.

• What are its numbers? For example, how many professionals has the firm placed within the past year, or what is its client success rate in terms of securing phone or in-person interviews? Numbers aren’t everything, but they can give you a baseline for measuring your potential ROI.

Once you’ve chosen your staffing agency, maximize the relationship by being honest about the kind of employee you’re specifically looking for and maintaining open lines of communication. These practices are the backbone of any great business relationship.

Don’t settle on a candidate just because the pool of options is small. Instead, hire a staffing agency to take the stress out of finding the right employee. It can expose you to the most qualified professionals, which can have a positive impact on your employee integration and retention.

Melissa Cooper is the executive vice president of the writer network Top Resume, a Talent Inc. company. A triple-certified résumé writer and dual-certified HR professional holding both SPHR and PHR designations, Melissa has eight years of executive recruiting experience and over six years of professional résumé-writing experience.