When you’re setting up as a recruiter there are a few things TBOS suggest you need to consider.
What do you say to potential clients?
The most important thing is to have a good understanding of their business. You need to assure them that you’re a part of their culture, that you understand their needs and will take them into consideration when you’re bringing a candidate to them.
How do you learn about their business?
It’s vital that you can take on board their list of requirements, not just as a checklist, but also contextualise why their business prioritises those skills. You should be able to ask follow-up questions to get the answers that you need, which will help you anticipate what they require from a candidate.
What makes a good CV?
The CV is the first point of contact with a potential candidate, and so you need to be confident that you can look at a CV and get a good feel for the suitability of the skill set of the candidate. You should also be able to contextualise their capabilities not just for the roles that they’re searching for, but roles they might not have considered which they would be well matched for.
How do you interview a candidate?
When you’re approaching a candidate about a prospect, you should be able to confidently explain the details of the job and what makes them a good match. This is especially important if it’s outside of the work they’re looking for. You need to be able to encourage them, and prepare them for their time with the company, utilising your knowledge of your client to ensure that both parties are happy.
How do you set up the invoicing process?
As an agency, you’ll be hands-on with the process even after the candidate has been placed. It’ll be your job to invoice all the relevant fees on time and accurately, and ensure that all the records are kept up-to-date. You will need to make sure that your invoices take into consideration bank holidays and other payment delays, as well as ensuring that you have enough capital to pay for wages, taxes and your own business costs.
How do you manage timesheets?
For every client, no matter how regular or sporadic their shifts, you will need to keep a clear record of hours worked, pay earned and tax incurred. This isn’t just for compliance, but also insure accurate invoicing. You will need to make sure that your candidate and their supervisor have submitted their timesheet in good order so that you have plenty of time to process them.
How do you keep compliant with all statutory requirements?
It’s important that you keep in mind the statutory requirements of the business – VAT, PAYE, year-end accounting, and so forth. There are too many to offer a thorough guide on this page alone, and even more when you come to specialist sectors. It’s an absolute necessity that you know what you need to adhere to and how to comply with it.
If you’re looking to start your own agency you’re very welcome to get in touch with us on our form, at enquiries@tbos.co.uk, or over the phone on 0845 881 1112.
