How are staffing firms compensated?

[LakerGod]

This is kinda long...


I just had an interview with a company I hope will offer me a job. The job was presented to me after I went and talked to someone in a staffing firm. This firm was a bit different than a temp agency, since I was not told I would be paid through the agency.

Anyways, I had an interview today and afterwards I was immediately called by the person at the staffing firm. I told her that the person I interviewed with wanted me to call him back to set up a second interview. She told me not to and that I was working through her. She then asked me how much compensation I asked for on the application.


So here is my question....does this staffing firm get a base fee if i get the job or do they get a percentage of my salary? How should i be handling this? By the way, the person at the staffing firm was one of the nicest people I have interviewed with. I'm not sure I want to ask her because I really want this job. If OT can help, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks! :beer:

 

[JulesMaximus]

It doesn't affect you. Employer pays the fees...if they think you are worth it. I've acquired a few jobs through headhunters.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Uh, if the company contacted you and the staffing firm was not the firm that set up the interview you're almost always better off to use the company's internal system and not go through the staffing firm.

That said, the staffing firm gets a base fee that generally varries depending upon the pay grade at which you are hired, so they have an interest in getting you hired and in getting you as much money as possible if you go through them. I've never cared much for those kinds of companies though. Feels like a leech to me.

ZV

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
It doesn't affect you. Employer pays the fees...if they think you are worth it. I've acquired a few jobs through headhunters.

Yep.

If you get paid $10/hr, chances are the employer is paying your staffing firm/temp agency $18/hr for you.

$10/hr goes to you
$8/hr is the staffing firms fee

 

[LakerGod]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
It doesn't affect you. Employer pays the fees...if they think you are worth it. I've acquired a few jobs through headhunters.

Yep.

If you get paid $10/hr, chances are the employer is paying your staffing firm/temp agency $18/hr for you.

$10/hr goes to you
$8/hr is the staffing firms fee

Damn. Can the staffing agency negotiate to get a bigger cut of my salary? For example, I told her I was very open and looking for a job around 35k. If the job paid 40k, could she negotiate it so that she kept that extra 5K?


Also, in your example you said the 8/hr goes to the staffing firm. So that means for as long as I'm with the company, this staffing firm gets paid? Christ, I thought they got a flat fee.

 

[RossMAN]

Also some staffing firms charge a FEE if the employer offers you a permanent job.

Of course this varies between different staffing agencies but they have a lot of overhead to cover.

 

[JoeKing]

a little OT, but what are some good staffing firms out there?

 

[LakerGod]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Also some staffing firms charge a FEE if the employer offers you a permanent job.

Of course this varies between different staffing agencies but they have a lot of overhead to cover.

This was a permanent position I was interviewing for. From what the controller told me, he has always dealt with this staffing agency.

 

[Raincity]

I only pay a one time fee to a staffing agency, usually $300 to $5000 depending on salary requirements. Temp agencies, I set the wage and pay a pre negotiated per hour fee to the temp agency. .

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
It doesn't affect you. Employer pays the fees...if they think you are worth it. I've acquired a few jobs through headhunters.

Yep.

If you get paid $10/hr, chances are the employer is paying your staffing firm/temp agency $18/hr for you.

$10/hr goes to you
$8/hr is the staffing firms fee

This is how it works if you work for a temp agency. You are technically an employee of the temp agency, not the company where you are working. Your paycheck comes from the temp agency.

From the OP, it sounds like this might not be the same situation. In the case of headhunters, recruiters, etc., they just basically get a finders fee, then you never deal with them again. You don't work for them, and you don't get paid by them.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: JoeKing
a little OT, but what are some good staffing firms out there?

Adecco

Here's a list of 68 employment agencies near the Chico, CA area.