shiva

Because most people are idiots and or are too busy
Advertising here doesn't work very well anyone who has tried to hire staff via an advert here will tell you that they got hundreds if replies 99% of which weren't even in the same ballpark as the job the applied for.
Online searching as all well and good but how much time do you want to spend doing it?

Also it's a matter of investment, do you invest your time or your money in the search, which is more valuable to your business? If. It's time then use an outside supplier.

30% is the upper end for an executive search, would you spend that to hire a sales engineer no chance but to hire a regional director who could make your company millions then again it's a worthwhile investment.

Most multi nationals have preferred recruiters both at the bottom end and at the 30% end precisely because its easier , more cost effective and gets a better result than doing it themselves.

Don't get me wrong 90% of recruiters here or anywhere are pretty shit but if the industry as a whole didn't provide a function companies wanted and needed then they wouldn't exist.

Like most services you get what you pay for, pay 5% expect a bunch of rice farmers for your technical role, pay 30% get the best people from your competitors.

Millhouse

Well... I work in a very specialized field and we are looking for someone very specific - namely an Arabic speaking Female with 10 years experience. We will not find that person in the local market and need to search in London or Paris.

The rest of the waifs, strays and gays that we employ tend to be found through advertising in the economist, on our website, or word of mouth (the best route). For one role in Dubai, I've have to sift through almost 600 CVs, and undertake about 15 telephone interviews to come up with one candidate who actually doesn't meet our female arabic speaking preference.

Frankly, I think an agent is a good deal (if they can deliver on what we want).

shiva

600 cv's

I take it you have now lost all hope for humanity

Millhouse

In fairness - I did 375, HR did 225 of them. Still, it wasn't a lot of fun.

shiva

and your faith in mans future?

Millhouse

It's amazing, isn't it. We have come so far in the world with probably only about 10% of the population actually contributing. Just imagine what we could have achieved.

scrubbedexpat141

Someone has to pack the bags / fill the tank / collect the rubbish / suck the knobs of the 10%.

Brains1983

We use a reputable agency relative to the field we are in (for western management). 35% of total annual package, however after the 6month probabation period. Probably a bit heavy, but they don't send us CVs from nuggets.

scrubbedexpat141

**** me sideways.

People struggle to get 35% on a 3-stage basis for top level exec roles in Construction.

6 month probation is generous too. I hate working with anything above 3.

shiva

Anyone else get a span pm from a dan something ****nuts?

Brains1983

yup Dan Simon

scrubbedexpat141

Nope.

Millhouse

Lol. I thought it was just me getting a message from Dan.

scrubbedexpat141

I'm missing out.

shiva

Brilliant example of why people think recruiters are idiots and a perfect example of how not to do business development.

But hey it's ok he can get me cheap pinoys !