RECRUITMENT AGENCIES NONO TION TTION T ALENT AALENT A SS SESSES SMENTSMENT Using an agency can be a great time saver. However, remember that they will most likely send good candidates to multiple companies and you can end up with a very top heavy funnel from recruiters. Take extra care to assess the key metrics and cut recruiters who don’t stack up. • Negotiate terms you’re comfortable with. For early stage startups, hiring fees are generally better than retainers since you’re only paying for results. Fees range from 15-20%. • Make sure you carry out reference checks or ask people you trust about which recruiters they recommend. Recruiters are good salespeople and it can be confusing to pick someone just based on a website or an ad. • You must give the agency time, direction and feedback. The recruiter will fail if you do not communicate with them about what you want and why, so help them calibrate and understand your team. • Give them your story. A recruitment agency will never sell the company as well as an employee can, so it’s up to you to give them your story. • Set a realistic deadline. Give them at least two months to find somebody. If things don’t work out, it’s okay to swiftly end the relationship. 4040