Overview
Many small businesses fail in the first few years due to under-qualified, or too few, staff members. Being proficient in your trade will not get the job done. You must find qualified employees to do the work while you focus on the big picture. This is where staffing agencies come into play. A staffing agency retains a large number of potential employees who are waiting to go to work. When you contact a staffing agency, you are assigned an agency rep. Build a good relationship with her and you will have a good relationship with her company.
Step 1
Meet with representatives from several different staffing firms. Choose two or three firms whose terms you like and that are compatible with your company.
Step 2
Sign an initial contract with each of the chosen firms. A short-term contract for a small project will give you a firsthand look at how each staffing firm performs.
Step 3
Stay in touch with each staffing rep you have decided to work with on a regular basis. Look up each rep on various social networking sites. Review each rep’s profile on those sites to get to know them to make forging a relationship easier.
Step 4
Call each staffing rep at least once a week. Send them a congratulatory email on anniversaries and birthdays. Make your relationship with the staffing rep mildly personal with a strong professional base.
Step 5
Continue communication with your collection of staffing reps throughout your association with each firm. Text messaging, email, and other forms of communication simplify building and maintaining these relationships.
Reference
SI Review: July 2011; The Art of the Follow-Up; Kersten Buck; June 2011