Why employers should use a staffing agency and the advantages it offers

Two professional women are seated on a couch as they engage in a focused discussion while reviewing notes on a clipboard.
Two professional women are seated on a couch as they engage in a focused discussion while reviewing notes on a clipboard.

Summary

  • Faster hiring with candidates who are already vetted
  • Better decision-making using thorough screening methods
  • Broader access to talent
  • Flexibility to cover absences, projects and smooth transitions

It’s normal for any employer to wonder why they should use a staffing agency as part of a broader strategy for sourcing candidates. Hiring is an important responsibility for any organization, and the way you handle it as an employer shapes productivity and success in your business 

Partnering with a staffing agency is not about replacing what internal teams do. It is about strengthening the process with added support, substantial resources and more accurate matches.

Here, we will explore why a company would hire using a staffing agency and also show how such a partnership increases efficiency and long-term success.

Faster access to the right candidates

Why do companies hire through staffing agencies? The clearest reason as to why you should use a staffing agency is the ability to move quickly without cutting corners.

Staffing agencies keep active networks of candidates, and they are constantly receiving new applications. This robust pool of candidates is what allows staffing agencies to connect employers with qualified professionals almost immediately. Working with a staffing agency is attractive even for employers with strong HR teams.

Instead of beginning a search from scratch, managers receive resumes that have already been reviewed and that align with the role’s requirements. It saves time, but more importantly, it maintains continuity in operations.

Building confidence with better screening

Another reason why you should use a staffing agency is that their hiring team specializes in just that: hiring. They review resumes, meet candidates, and conduct testing full-time, as their business depends on it. They have the resources, experience and time to fully vet candidates. These vetting processes can include references, software testing and even background checks, if required. 

On top of that, agencies offer the ability to temp a candidate or utilize temp-to-perm placements which add layers of assurance, trust and confidence that the candidate you hire will be the best fit for your organization.

Reaching talent beyond standard channels

Another reason as to why you would use a staffing agency is that it provides exclusive access to fully vetted talent. Many candidates in a staffing agency’s talent pool are not actively applying but would consider a new role if the right one came along. Staffing agencies have skilled candidates just waiting to start. This is why many companies do their hiring through staffing agencies.

A staffing agencies’ reach extends beyond traditional listings and they maintain these connections. For you as an employer, you get access to more choices, which often leads you to phenomenal employees that would have never been found otherwise.

For many organizations, having a broader reach in hiring is also a long-term strategy, which is why they use a staffing agency. Having a way to ensure that their candidate pool reflects both immediate availability and future potential helps them to avoid scrambling for employees and rushing hiring decisions.

Image of a woman signing paperwork at a desk

Supporting a positive candidate experience

While we are still talking about long-term strategies, we should mention that a positive hiring experience can help you attract the best talent in the market, which in turn helps your company grow while remaining competitive. Here is why. 

Today, there are many popular review sites, like Trustpilot and Glassdoor. Just like employees post observations and share their experiences at their workplace, applicants can also visit these sites and share their experiences with a company, good or bad. 

Staffing agencies help ensure that candidates have reasonable expectations and a positive experience. The recruiters keep in constant communication with the candidates, from giving them guidance to updates on their applications. This relationship makes applicants feel respected and supported. They are more likely to accept offers, start with enthusiasm and have a positive hiring experience with your company. 

That means better talent, a better reputation and better employee retention in the future.

Covering for staff absences and project surges

Businesses need to maintain smooth operations, whether their employees are able to be in the office or not. Teams often face issues like illness, an employee who goes on maternity leave, a sudden emergency or a seasonal spike in workload. Staffing agencies can quickly step in to bring highly qualified temporary staff to assist in these situations and keep your team working seamlessly, with no disruptions to workflow.

Simplifying transitions and offboarding

When your employees come back from leave or vacation, or when a surge in workloads subsides and temp assignments come to an end, there are a fair number of time-consuming loose ends to tie up. This is another reason why companies use a staffing agency. The staffing agency handles the final pay, paperwork and compliance for the temporary employees who were brought on, so your team doesn’t have to. Your team can stay focused on your business’ goals instead of worrying about offboarding.

Staffing opportunities in the D.C. metropolitan area

Whitman Associates has been providing expert staffing services to organizations in Washington D.C., suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia since 1972. As a women-owned business with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, a nearly 5.0 rating on Google, with more than 230 reviews and recognition as one of the Three Best Rated staffing agencies since 2020, we are confident in our ability to offer talented candidates that fit your business’ needs.

We’ve achieved our success by first and foremost listening to our clients’ needs and understanding the demands of the industries in our region. If you’re in D.C., Maryland or Virginia and need a staffing partner with local knowledge and a trusted reputation, submit a Staffing Request Form today.

WAI Staff

Whitman Associates is a professional staffing agency serving businesses and job seekers in the Washington, D.C. area. Since 1972, we’ve been dedicated to matching highly qualified candidates with a wide variety of temporary, temp-to-hire and permanent positions. We prioritize the needs of both our clients and candidates to ensure successful, lasting relationships.