Many businesses take an ad hoc approach to recruiting staff, selecting people on the recommendation of others or on hunches. Neither is a reliable method.

One way to improve your recruitment practices is to engage a professional recruitment agency. Many businesses have difficulty in making a job sound attractive, which can reduce the pool of potential applicants. Agencies can be particularly helpful in writing advertisements for job vacancies, however agency fees can be high, with 17 to 18 per cent of the annual employee salary being fairly standard.

Job Network providers are another option and offer a cheap or free service to employers. However, you need to recognise that the providers’ primary role is to find employment for the jobless, including long-term unemployed people.

See the Skills & HR links on this website for links to the Recruitment and Consulting Services Association member directory, a free downloadable recruitment guide and other useful resources.

Case Study

Recruiter makes sure placements work
Outback Staff, Australia’s largest agricultural recruitment agency, talks with both the employer and employee throughout the probation period and beyond to ensure things are working out.