Neil Hernandez's Blog

Another approach to get in

I'd like to begin documenting all the approaches recruiting agencies use to try to generate new business. Here's the dialogue from a call I got today:

Agency: "Hello my name is Mark calling from _ agency, I was wondering if I can help you out on any recruiting needs?"

Company: "No, not right now, how did you get my name?"

Agency: " I was working with your company in the past by a guy named Chad, the receptionist said that he was no longer there. So I asked who was in charged now, and they gave me your name.

Company: " Well we don't have any needs right now and we are fine with who we are using."

Agency: "Great, is there any way I can call you in a few months to follow up."

Company: "Sure."

Search candidates on agency's database

I got an interesting email from an agency trying to drum up business. They sent me this email:

Good morning, 

In response to your recent posting, I wanted to take a few minutes to let you know that I have a number of resources who appear to fit your position. Attached below, you will find a sample of Integration resources I currently have available.

 The Sheffield Group specializes in sourcing, recruiting and placing Integration resources on a direct hire basis.

 We currently have a database of thousands of Integration candidates, populated daily with qualified resources from across the country, some with the hardest to find skill sets.

To search this database, click here www.thesheffieldgroup.com.

Amy XXX
Director, Placement Services
The Sheffield Group
(866) 539-xxxx x.232

This company gives employers the ability to search candidates on their database. Then, if you are interested in their candidate you call their agency and they'll provide you a candidate - for a fee of course. Whether this approach works or not - I don't know. I do know is that I get emails (Spam) like this all the time. Now maybe if they sent a similar email to current clients, or to what I call "friends" (called by some as potential clients; then maybe it could work better. I would only send an email like this to someone if you feel you are really serving them.

Here is the above company's search database again:

http://www.thesheffieldgroup.com/search.asp?j=21531

An interesting approach to get in

I'm always on the lookout for how agencies get into companies. Here's an approach I heard from an IT staffing firm:

"Hello, my name is X, we've done business with you in the past through our sister company Y who does temporary office staffing. I was wondering if you have any needs in the technology arena or could direct me to someone in your company who makes those decisions?"

If you are that person, the agency then said this to set up an appointment:

"Well, I always found that it is helpful to set up a meeting before actual needs develop, would you be open to a meeting sometime?"