Do You Know What Your Recruiters are Saying?
As the client, when’s the last time you tested your (outside) recruiters as to their knowledge of your business? Your revenue model? Your unique value proposition? The credentials of your management team? Well, guess what. Some of us are dying to answer these questions. 
More often than not, we are drilled on three issues: (1) our fee. How low can you get us? (2) our guarantee period. How high can you get that? (3) Our willingness to follow HR’s rules. Obviously, if you get into quality of resumes, sourcing capabilities, technical screening skills, etc., most agencies’ pitches will sound similar to each other. But, I cannot say we have ever been asked about the client’s business. And, we should.
Outside recruiters are sometimes the first a candidate has heard of your company and your opening. Should we give wrong information, shed less-than-positive light on your company, or not follow up with candidates in a timely manner, the candidate is likely to think poorly of your company (and us). With so much potential to harm the candidate pool, shouldn’t screening of recruiting partners include some basic expectations in this area as well?
