| If you are interested in starting a recruiting agency | | | | them since both have spell check and every client |
| of your own, below is a basic introduction that will | | | | you work with will have them as well and because of |
| get you started down the right path. | | | | that, won't have any problem opening up the |
| The first thing you will need is a solid understanding | | | | candidates resumes you send them. |
| of just what that entails. What does starting a | | | | Inkjet or Laser Printer & Scanner. Any good quality |
| recruiting agency mean and what are the steps you | | | | printer/scanner combination will work fine. There will |
| will need to take to get there? | | | | be times when you have to print out contracts or |
| If you are starting a recruiting agency, it simply | | | | forms that must be scanned and faxed back. |
| means you are an Independent Recruiter (which is | | | | Dedicated Phone Number (land line or cell phone) As |
| someone who finds "employees" for "employers") | | | | far as a phone line goes, it is very important that you |
| and you work for your self (as opposed to being a | | | | have a separate phone number when starting a |
| recruiter for a specific company or agency - which | | | | recruiting agency. If you don't want to add another |
| would be a corporate recruiter or perhaps a military | | | | land line to your current residence or office, you are, |
| recruiter). As an Independent Recruiter, you will pick | | | | at the very least, going to need to have a cell phone |
| up you own clients (employers) and find candidates | | | | that you can dedicate to recruiting. In other words, |
| (employees) for those clients who need help filling | | | | you need a number that when candidates and clients |
| their job openings. | | | | call you, they get you personally with a professional |
| There are many advantages (and some | | | | greeting like "good afternoon, this is Jane Doe with |
| disadvantages) to starting a recruiting agency and | | | | ACME Agency, how may I help you". Another big |
| being an Independent Recruiter. On the advantage | | | | plus when starting a recruiting agency is an 800 |
| side, you are self-employed so you can make more | | | | number. If you shop around, you can usually get one |
| money and work when you want to. On the | | | | pretty cheap and it will enable candidates to contact |
| disadvantage side, you are self-employed so you will | | | | you from work. One other inexpensive alternative is |
| pay more taxes and you will work more hours even | | | | signing up for a VoIP number (internet phone |
| when you don't want too, so you can make more | | | | number) such as through Vonage or Skype. The only |
| money. In other words, the positives can be negative | | | | requirement with those is you must have a high |
| and the reverse is also true depending on how you | | | | speed internet connection and you will want to test |
| look at it. | | | | the service to be sure you are getting a quality signal. |
| Starting a recruiting agency and being an Independent | | | | Answering Machine or Voice Mail When you are not |
| Recruiter is not a "get rich quick" scheme. Although | | | | able to answer your business line, you will need a |
| the process is fairly simple, it does require several | | | | voice mail system or answering machine/service. |
| hours of work each day and, as with most things, | | | | Efax Number (Fax number that uses your email) You |
| the more time and effort you put into it, the more | | | | must have an Efax number if you are seriously |
| success you will have. However, for those who are | | | | considering starting a recruiting agency (or, if you |
| willing to "do the time", being a Recruiter can be very | | | | have a fax machine, feel free to continue to go 'old |
| rewarding both financially and personally. There is | | | | school'). Many of your clients still use fax machines |
| nothing better then knowing you helped someone | | | | and will want to fax you the signed fee agreement. I |
| land their dream job while at the same time making | | | | currently use which provides me with a toll-free fax |
| $10,000 $20,000 or even $30,000 dollars in cash. No, | | | | number (which comes to my email in PDF format) |
| that is not an exaggeration. | | | | and also allows me to send faxes using my email |
| First thing you need to think about when starting a | | | | program. At the time I wrote this, the service was |
| recruiting agency of your own is where are you | | | | just $9.95 month. |
| going to do this? Ideally, you need a quiet location | | | | Agency Name (what are you going to call yourself?) |
| with some privacy so when you are talking to clients, | | | | This may seem to be an easy matter but you may |
| you are not getting interrupted by noisy pets or | | | | be surprised. When I was starting a recruiting agency |
| family members (mine is dogs and grandchildren). You | | | | of my own, I wanted American Engineering Corp to |
| will need at least enough space for a laptop but if | | | | be the name of my company, and indeed, that is |
| you can setup a space with a regular and a | | | | what I go by in my email and dealings with my |
| comfortable chair, that is even better. Remember, | | | | clients. However, when I went to register myself as |
| the more you enjoy your work space and the more | | | | an LLC with my state, I was told the name was |
| comfortable you are spending time in it, the easier it | | | | already taken (by a Japanese company of all things!), |
| is to discipline yourself to put in the hours you will | | | | so I ended up having to add USA to the beginning of |
| need to be successful working at home on a | | | | my name to get registered. |
| computer. This is great advice for anything you | | | | Another thing to consider when starting a recruiting |
| choose to do online, not just recruiting. | | | | agency is whether you can use certain words in your |
| Next, let's go over some of the very basics you will | | | | name. I found out later that there are many states |
| need as far as equipment. | | | | (fortunately not mine) that require you to have a |
| The 'Must Have' Equipment List | | | | licensed PE (professional engineer) working for the |
| Working desktop or laptop computer with internet | | | | company to be able to have the word "engineering" |
| access and email. For the computer, the "faster the | | | | in the name. |
| better" of course but don't feel like you have to go | | | | If you don't want to go with engineering at all, some |
| buy a new computer when starting a recruiting | | | | common add-on names include; associates, staffing, |
| agency. Honestly, my wife normally gets the new | | | | enterprises, solutions, group, etc. |
| computers in my home (and I use the ones she gets | | | | Once you have your office setup, you are ready to |
| rid of). Internet connection is another thing however, | | | | get started. 95% of what I do is online and through |
| and while a dial-up connection will work to start with, | | | | email. If you can cut & paste and have at least a |
| high-speed internet is highly recommended. Also, I | | | | basic understanding of the internet and using email |
| use Microsoft Word for almost every document (and | | | | and programs like Word, starting a recruiting agency |
| resume) I send out and I use Outlook for my email | | | | should not be difficult or even cost much money to |
| client. While neither is necessarily required for starting | | | | get started. |
| your own recruiting agency, I very much recommend | | | | |