Do you have a shortlist of marketing recruitment agencies to select? Before you move ahead with an agency, it’s important to ensure that you are working with the right team. The best way to find out is to ask a handful of questions, as these will help you ascertain whether an agency is a good fit for your business and vice versa. Without wasting any time, let’s dive straight in.

Best Questions To Ask A Marketing Recruitment Agency

Marketing Recruitment Agency Selection Q1 – Are you a specialist marketing recruitment agency?

To source the best talent, a marketing recruitment agency must have a strong understanding of the marketing landscape. Make sure to ask whether the agency specialises in recruiting marketing professionals, and particularly in your industry. This will give you an indication of their knowledge and expertise. Ideally, you should look for agencies specialising in recruiting top-tier marketing talent in your region.

Their response should tell you a lot about their focus and commitment to marketing recruitment. For instance, a specialist recruiter may provide you with guidance on how to advertise a vacant position and whether anything could potentially put candidates off from applying. It’s these tidbits of insight that can make all the difference to your next hunt for marketers.

A specialist marketing recruitment agency can offer advice on salaries, job descriptions, and the skills required for each position. This support is invaluable as it can play a pivotal role in helping attract the best talent out there. A specialist marketing recruitment agency may already have access to a pool of marketing talent and a phonebook of contacts to help generate candidates.

Q2 – How would you attract marketing candidates for our jobs?

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With businesses of all sizes going on hiring sprees over the past year, the competition has heated up for marketing talent. Attracting candidates is not as easy as it used to be. And the best marketing recruitment agencies will have no shortage of fresh ideas up their sleeves. This is necessary to ensure your business has a competitive edge in the battle for talent.

Although, if the prospective recruiters start talking about job boards as a primary channel for candidate generation, investigate further. In general, when it comes to recruiting talent, job boards are less effective these days. The best marketing recruiters source candidates in many inventive and creative ways, including through podcasts and YouTube videos.

Marketing Recruitment Agency Selection Q3 – How would your marketing recruitment agency assess candidates?

B2B marketing is far more nuanced than it once was. To assess candidates effectively, a marketing recruitment agency must understand the many facets of B2B marketing. Even though two CVs may look similar, the marketers could have subtly different skill sets. The agency should also have a firm grasp of the latest marketing trends and how they relate to hiring.

You should ask the recruiters about the questions they intend to ask candidates. This is a useful way of measuring their level of understanding. In larger and more generalist recruitment agencies, the candidate assessment is often conducted by junior recruiters with limited on-the-job experience. And this can have a major impact on the quality of the candidates who are put forward.

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Marketing Recruitment Agency Selection Q4 – How would your marketing recruitment agency approach working with us?

The best marketing recruitment agencies are those that appreciate the unique culture of your organisation. This is essential to ensure a harmonious working relationship and the successful placement of candidates. The agency should also take a proactive approach to find the best talent. This means going far beyond posting on job boards and waiting for applications.

To get a sense of how an agency would work with you, ask them about their process for sourcing candidates. A large agency should assign a dedicated account manager to your business. This will allow for streamlined communication and rapport building. You should also ask the agency how they typically measure success when working with clients.

When working with a marketing recruitment agency, collaboration is essential. After all, you are entrusting them with a crucial function in your organisation. The best agencies will effortlessly integrate with your existing team and systems. And you should get an immediate sense from the agency of whether they are willing to work collaboratively with you.

Final Question – How quickly can your marketing recruitment agency provide candidates?

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Even though the time it takes for agencies to source candidates varies, they should come back to you with candidates within 48-72 hours. It may take slightly longer for niche B2B marketing positions. If the prospective marketing recruitment agency is talking about providing candidates within a week or so, this is a red flag and a clear sign they are not equipped to recruit marketing talent.

In some cases, agencies may have candidates ready at the drop of a hat. When an agency claims to have talent that meets the brief, consider challenging them on this and asking for evidence to back up their claim. If an agency is being evasive or unable to provide clear answers, it is best to look elsewhere. You need an agency with genuine access to top talent.

The speed at which an agency can provide candidates is important, but it should not be the only criteria you use to assess them. Quality should always come first. A fast turnaround time means nothing if the candidates are not aligned with your brief.

Final Thoughts

Selecting a marketing recruitment agency is a big decision. The agency you choose will have a direct impact on the quality of candidates you attract. By asking the right questions, you can find an agency that is truly aligned with your needs. Our B2B marketing recruitment agency is ready to partner with your business and provide a pool of candidates for your consideration.

Ready to hire? Dive straight in and book a call with our specialist B2B marketing recruiters – we focus on supporting B2B tech & SaaS companies.