How to interview with a Staffing Agency

A staffing agency is a company that provides a service to their clients (other companies), may it be temporary work for a day or longer to helping with the hiring process. The agencies do the leg work by interviewing, doing references and sometimes background check to get the best person for the job. There are a lot of different types of agencies; some specialize in IT, Medical, Engineering and some are more broad, having a variety of different opportunities. The person that is coming into a staffing agency should treat the interview no different as he or she would be with a direct employer, but with some differences. There are some tips to use when interviewing with a staffing or employment agencies. Remember that the person that you are meeting with has to “sell” your qualification to the potential employer.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Professional Attire
• Resume
• Good attitude

1. 1. Dress Professional. Yes presentation counts, you are trying to make a good first impression, and a lot of people think that you do not need to dress appropriately to interview with an agency, but that is not the case. If you are at work and the environment is very casual, you can either bring a change of clothes with you or call your interviewer and explain the situation. A simple call can make a difference.
2. 2. Have a good attitude. Be polite, excited and energetic. Remember to smile and keep good eye-contact with the person that you are interviewing.
3. 3. Be honest, but do not share too much, especially if it’s regarding your personal life, sometimes people feel they need to impart a little too much particularly if it is a sad story, maybe you feel the person is trustworthy or maybe you think it may give you an advantage.
4. 4. Keep it business as should your resume (please do not add hobbies or share about your married life). The resume is a statement of your career accomplishments; your hobbies, interests and marital status may actually hinder you and spell-check your resume. That goes for your interview as well, let them know what you did and where you want to go in your career.
5. 5. Most agencies give tests (and some of their clients request the results), a good idea is to prepare a little before hand. If you are testing for an administrative role, practice typing or for an HR role, go over the basic of HR laws and regulation.
6. 6. Don’t re-write their guidelines, if you questions about it, ask in the interview. Not all agencies have the same rules and regulations, but most of the time the documents are written for a reason.
7. 7. Be friendly to the receptionist, remember that when she gives your file to the recruiter, she will tell them if you were rude or not, making the recruiter already have an impression of you.
8. 8. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Staffing agencies shouldn’t be used as your sole approach to finding a job or a different career. They should be used to maximize what you are already doing on your own. Make sure to check in with the agency once a week, but do not overdo it; it will make you look desperate.