Recruitment agencies match suitable candidates with job openings. They may also recommend workers to employers even though there may be no readily apparent vacancies. They can be privately operated or they may be publicly operated. The publicly operated organizations will usually receive funding from governmental bodies, while private agencies are usually owned by corporations or individuals.

The history of the recruitment agencies dates back to the 1600s when Henry Robinson, who was a member of the Parliament, proposed an office of Addresses and Encounters that should connect workers with employers. After his proposal was rejected, he went on to form his own company.

Recruitment agencies fill the needs of both employers and job searchers. Employers can save a lot of time and resources that are often directed to finding suitable employees, while the job searchers have access to all services, resources and information that can help in effective job searching. Many of the agencies may be focused in specific areas, and will provide a specific set of services.

When a specific skill in a particular area is required, many employers will enter into a contract with the agency, who assumes the responsibility of conducting the search to find candidates with the necessary skills. The agency also carefully screens all potential candidates before recommending them to the employer to be interviewed.

The arrangements that the employers make them with agencies will differ, and may be based primarily on the job or company requirements. The company may be charged a flat fee for finding the employee, or the arrangement can include compensation of a percentage of the proposed salary. The rationale often used for structuring compensation, is that the higher employment levels may be more difficult to fill, as finding suitable employees with the desired skills may be a bit more difficult.

If the vacancy is a senior-level position, the company will more than likely choose an executive search firm, or company that specializes in placing executives. Executive search firms are usually paid retainer fees, specifically for the purpose of finding executives to fill positions, in much the same manner that lawyers are paid retainers to perform legal tasks when they are required. This is seemed as a necessary expense for larger corporations.

The choice of a recruitment agency can be a wise one for both parties. To the job searcher, some important considerations are whether you should use a private or a public agency, or whether paying for assistance in your job search is necessary. The answers will depend on the level and type of service that is needed.

If you can find a suitable job without having to pay fees to the agency, then you should take full advantage of the opportunity, but in many instances, job seekers are required to pay for some of the services that the agency provides. The choices that you make will depend on your preferences and or circumstances.

You will perhaps get more benefits and advantages from dealing with a firm that specializes in area or industry, but it also highly possible that in the present era of high mobility, and high connectivity, to have skills that may be easily transferred or applied to other areas.