Most IT staffing pitches sound similar — fast fills, quality candidates, competitive rates. The differences that actually matter show up after you’ve signed, which is exactly why they’re worth evaluating upfront.
Start with specialization fit, not just size
A large generalist agency isn’t automatically better than a smaller specialized one. For technical roles, ask specifically how many similar roles they’ve filled in the last 12 months — not total placements across all industries.
Evaluate their sourcing process, not just their promises
Ask what happens between you submitting a req and receiving a shortlist. A partner with a documented, repeatable screening process (technical assessment, reference checks, culture-fit screen) will consistently outperform one relying on gut feel.
Check speed against your actual timeline needs
Ask for real, recent time-to-shortlist numbers for roles similar to yours — not an average across all role types, which can be misleading.
Understand their bench depth for your specific skill needs
A partner with an existing pipeline for your role type moves faster than one sourcing cold. Ask directly: “Do you have candidates ready now, or would you be starting from scratch?”
Confirm pricing transparency upfront
Get the full bill rate or placement fee breakdown, including what’s bundled (background checks, replacement guarantees) versus billed separately.
Ask about replacement guarantees
Most reputable partners offer a window (30–90 days is standard) to replace a placement that isn’t working out, at no extra cost. Get this in writing before signing.
Weigh communication style during the sales process itself
How responsive and specific a partner is before you’re a paying client is a strong predictor of how they’ll communicate once you are.
The decision framework
Rank potential partners on: specialization fit, documented process, real speed data, bench depth, and pricing transparency — in that order. Rate alone is rarely the deciding factor once you compare fill speed and candidate quality across a full hiring cycle.
Evaluating staffing partners for an upcoming IT hire? Talk to Scadea — ask us any of the questions above directly.