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Today’s review covers the best recruitment agencies in Toronto for jobseekers and employers. Read on so you can hit the bull’s eye of your employment (or recruitment!) goals.
The Cost of Recruitment Agency Services in Toronto
On average, a recruitment agency charges a one-time 15% to 25% based on the annual salary of the hired candidate for a direct hire. Fees may also depend on the recruitment services included per project, the timeline, and the target number of talent.
For instance, if the job pays an annual of $100k, the payment ranges from $15,000 – $25,000. However, some employers may pay a fixed rate depending on the payment structure available to them.
If the job involves temporary work, employers pay for the employees’ hourly rate plus other costs. This may include a 25% to 100% markup paid directly to the agency.
Most agencies don’t charge job seekers, they charge the companies that hire candidates. You may have to pay a small fee for registration but it’s quite rare, especially in big recruitment agencies.
Top Recruitment Agencies in Toronto
Let’s get right into the agencies that made our list based on our set criteria. Here are factors we considered to make this selection:
- Number of successful placements
- Industries served
- Staffing solutions (for employers)
- Reputation in the industry
1. Pure Staffing Solutions Inc.
| SERVICES | Recruitment agency for skilled trades, engineering, and operations jobs; direct-hire, temporary or contract hire, payroll services, onsite recruiting |
| WEBSITE | https://www.purestaffing.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 391 Keele St, Toronto, ON M6P 2K9, Canada |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +1 416-760-8001 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
Pure Staffing Solutions is an employment agency focused on skilled trades, engineering, and operations. Since 2003, it has helped 382 clients with successful placements in Canada.
Job seekers can easily make their profile through manual registration or by uploading a resume. With an account, they can apply directly on the site for available jobs.
Browsing jobs is also easy as you can filter openings based on location. The only thing we didn’t like was how little information is added per posting – you’ll only see the job title, shift, location, and reference number.
But then again, the job hunting process here isn’t purely online. As many of the past job seekers here said, the agency helped them every step of the way, from resume creation to interview preparations.
For employers, they offer four major hiring solutions. Let’s take a quick look at each of them to give you an idea.
The first is Direct Hire which is meant for long-term employment. They also have Contract or Temporary, which is better for temporary shortages or seasonal workload.
Payroll Services allows clients to have payroll technology for smooth payments and record keeping. And Onsite Recruiting is for medium or large-scale recruiting initiatives.
Pros
- Online account creation for jobseekers
- Direct application via the website
- Assists with resume creation and interview preparations
- Offers four different solutions for employers
- Helped 382 clients with placements in Canada
- 124 years of combined recruitment experience
Cons
- No online appointments
- Job postings online are on the sparse side with details
Customer Reviews
Stress-free job search
My experience with Pure Staffing Solutions was very positive. Firstly, I would like to thank Ryan McCallen for all his help. He was there every step of the way during my job search and kept me informed during the entire process. I would also like to thank everyone that called me with job opportunities and setting up interviews. They were very professional, efficient, and always available if I had any questions. Pure Staffing Solutions really made looking for a job stress free and I would encourage anyone looking for a job to give them a call, especially Ryan. – Tertuis Coetzee
Provides highly qualified candidates for various roles
We have been using the recruitment services of Pure Staffing Solutions Inc. since 2012 and are highly satisfied with the talent that they continue to deliver. They listen to our needs, source candidates quickly, and always act professionally. They have provided us with highly qualified candidates for various roles within our company including difficult-to-fill engineering, skilled-trades and operations employees. I would highly recommend utilizing Pure Staffing Solutions Inc. to supplement your recruiting efforts. – HR Manager, Burlington
2. Sales Talent Agency
| SERVICES | Sales talent acquisition |
| WEBSITE | https://www.salestalentagency.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 96 Spadina Ave. #310, Toronto, ON M5V 2J6, Canada |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +1 416-304-9823 1-888-355-0544 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Sales Talent Agency is in the business of finding salespeople across various industries. Since 200, they’ve already made 5,700 successful sales hires in the country.
One thing that we liked about them was how easy it is to sort through jobs through various filters. Job seekers can also apply directly online or refer the job to a friend.
In line with these job postings, we also like that they give a lot of information about the company and what they’re looking for. They also disclose your potential annual salary, which is a definite plus.
On the employers’ side of things, they have a straightforward approach to acquiring talents. They use a special analysis tool to assess candidates and can present candidates within three to six business days.
Clients can also enjoy a wide selection of services and fee structures. For example, their Pay per Hire Service allows you to pay for only the ones you hire.
Employers can also get services based on the volume of candidates they need or the employment timeline. Of course, they can also customize a recruitment plan for you depending on your needs.
Pros
- 5,700 successful sales hire
- Has various programs for job seekers to land a job faster
- Well-detailed job descriptions on the website
- Presents candidates in three to six days
- Wide range of services and fee structures
- Customized project recruitment for employment
- Covered 11,000 projects in 14 years
- One of Canada’s fastest-growing companies for six consecutive years
Cons
- Issues with follow-ups after sending application
Customer Reviews
Excellent support to help you land a role
Ashley & Jordan were able to connect me with numerous companies, and provided excellent support and insight to make sure I was fully prepared for my interviews. I was able to land a role at an incredible company. I would highly recommend the STA Next Program to anyone looking for a position in sales. Thank you again for all your support! – Brandon Reeve
Satisfactory results with successful hires
We made a successful hire just a few short weeks after engaging with Sales Talent Agency and couldn’t be happier with the results. The Sales Talent Agency’s team brought experience and urgency to our search and we are grateful for their help. We look forward to continuing to work with Sales Talent Agency and recommend that prospective employers engage with them early in their recruitment process. – Head of Sales
3. Motion Recruitment
| SERVICES | IT staffing solutions; direct contact and vendor-neutral engagement models; permanent FTE hiring solutions, VP-level or C-suite tech executive hiring solutions |
| WEBSITE | https://motionrecruitment.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 151 Yonge St Suite #602, Toronto, ON M5C 2W7, Canada |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +1 647-499-8100 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM |
Motion Recruitment provides IT staffing solutions for employers and job seekers. They concentrate on highly specialized fields under tech from Software to Cybersecurity.
What makes job hunting more fun for job seekers is that the roles are highly categorized. They have seven major marketplaces, namely Software, Mobile, Data, Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, Product & UX, and Functional.
Under these categories, the website provides pertinent information that is helpful to job searchers. For example, they can view changes in market demand and the ratio of job openings per candidate.
Job postings are also well-detailed from job requirements to an expected annual salary. Online application is also super easy as job seekers only have to give basic details and attach a resume or CV.
For employers, they have four market intelligence programs for IT staffing. This includes Direct Contact and Vendor Neutral engagement models.
In addition, they also offer permanent hiring solutions and executive hiring solutions. They have a 92% candidate acceptance rate and a 95% contract completion rate, which is definitely on the top end for such services.
Pros
- Highly categorized job search
- Well-detailed job postings
- Provides important information per job category
- Easy online application process for job seekers
- Option for direct contact or vendor-neutral engagements
- 92% candidate acceptance rate
- 95% contract completion rate
- Expertise in 7 IT recruitment tracks
Cons
- Can be pushy when contacting jobseekers
Customer Reviews
Tailors opportunities based on your profile
A superb recruitment agency that puts you in touch with industry leading companies. They provided me with opportunities tailored to my profile and encouraged me throughout the interview process. They even checked in with me after I started the job to make sure everything was going well! All in all, I had an exemplary experience with them! – Jerry Wilson
Finds opportunities fast
The recruiting agency approached me for marketing my resume and they were able to find relevant opportunities for my profile very quickly. I worked with two consultants Krista and Paul throughout the process. within a span of a week, they were able to schedule three interviews for me. They were really good at following up both with the client and update me with everything. I was able to crack and interview and the offer release took just a day. Thanks for the manager, Krista and Paul for following up with the company and letting this happen in a short time. – Raja Sekhar
4. IQ PARTNERS Inc
| SERVICES | Recruitment services on various areas of expertise |
| WEBSITE | https://www.iqpartners.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 144 Front St W #600, Toronto, ON M5J 2L7, Canada |
| CONTACT DETAILS | 1 (855) 899-4700 +1 416-599-4700 |
IQ Partners is a recruiting agency that hires on the local, national, and global levels. They currently provide talent acquisition services in 16 different sections including accounting, technology, and media.
If you want to access their job postings, they have a couple posted publicly. But, you have to register with them to be a part of their confidential searches.
Fortunately, registering with them is one of the easiest processes we’ve come across. All you have to do is to upload your resume and you will be fully searchable to employers.
For recruiters, they offer recruitment services that we like for their flexibility. They have full service, a la carte, partner program, and contract placement.
By the way, this company is a direct-contact agency so they’re not purely on job advertisements alone. They proactively search for the talents employers are looking for.
To assess candidates, they use an assessment tool called smartFACTOR™. This involves evaluating candidates based on three core areas namely alignment with corporate values, general skills, and technical skills.
In addition to the service plans, they also offer three different payment structures. Employers can pay based on percentage, per project, or per hour if the project is unpredictable.
Pros
- Recruits in 16 different sectors
- Hires on the local, national, and global level
- Easy registering process for confidential searches
- Offers four different service plans to employers
- Uses a special assessment tool to evaluate candidates
- Three different payment structures are available
Cons
- Limited access to publicly posted jobs
- Customer service is difficult to contact at times
Customer Reviews
Provides great opportunities
I was contacted by Tanya from IQ Partners about an opportunity which ended up being a great opportunity. Tanya was very detailed about the job, process and communication. I did not face any delays in her responses I had three interviews within a period of a week and received an offer after 10 days from receiving her original email. Very impressive. Tanya and her team are awesome to work with. You will not be disappointed. – Colin Mackriss
Excellent experience in the recruitment process
I worked with Tanya Schwartz at IQ Partners and I must say it was an excellent experience. Tanya was attentive, knowledgeable and professional throughout the recruiting process. Tanya work with urgency to help me find a job at a great company. I highly recommend Tanya to anyone looking for a recruiter or change of career. – Azim Ali
5. Boost Agents
| SERVICES | Recruitment services |
| WEBSITE | https://boostagents.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 675 King St W #302, Toronto, ON M5V 1M9, Canada |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +1 416-900-6011 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM |
Boost Agents is an employment agency that focuses on seven types of markets. These include advertising, digital, marketing, creative, product, tech, and communications.
Job seekers can easily search for jobs on their website and create an online profile to apply. Each job posting also provides information on what qualifications you should have and what duties you’ll take per job.
On the flip side, job postings are fairly limited so you may not find a job that’s right for you. Fortunately, they allow general applications so your resume will be on record for future opportunities.
For employers, they offer permanent recruitment services and executive recruitment services. For the costs of either service, employers have to request a quote.
One of the major reasons they made it to our list is the results they deliver. They have a 98% retention rate and about 92% of the candidates they presented landed interviews.
Their turnaround time to fill vacant job positions also falls within the global average of 42 to 59 days. It only takes them about six to nine weeks to fill job roles.
Pros
- Allows general application for future job opportunities
- Easily direct application on the website
- 98% retention rate
- 92% of presented candidates landed an interview
- Average turnaround time to fill job roles
Cons
- Limited jobs posted online
Customer Reviews
Always updated states of job application
Working with Boost as a candidate was a wonderful experience. Stephanie was so helpful and supportive throughout the entire interview process; she was responsive and works fast, communicating the status of my candidacy the entire time. I start my new job next week and could not be more grateful that Stephanie found me and recruited me for this new role. Boost Agents is fantastic. – Kaisey Arena
Highly recommended recruitment agency
This was my first time getting a job through a recruitment agency and I would highly recommend Boost Agents. Unlike many agencies, Trina wasn’t just looking for someone that is a good fit for the company and she really cared that the company is a good fit for the applicant as well. She spent a lot of time asking questions regarding my experience, skill set and personality. Also, she tried to support me as much as possible. Again, highly recommended. – Sina Sabouri
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Recruitment Agency
Recruitment agencies can provide the right recruitment solutions for those looking for jobs and those who generate them. Here are some factors to make it easier for you to choose a recruitment agency, whether you’re the employer or the job seeker:
Abreast with new recruitment trends.
Recruitment evolves over time and staffing solutions continue to develop. Find out if the recruitment agency is well-equipped with the right tech, connections, and consultants on the latest recruitment trends.
Number of successful placements.
Successful hires are a good gauge of how great a recruitment agency is. This also includes their retention rate and the ratio of candidates per available job.
If you’re an employer, make sure to look into how fast they can get you the employees you need. Faster is always better but do consider if the turnaround time is realistic enough to gather enough candidates.
Areas of expertise.
In areas of expertise, more doesn’t always mean better. Most recruitment agencies specialize in a specific industry only, which often means that they master the specifics of that field.
For example, an agency may only focus on IT and tech jobs. Some agencies may be broader and include all major sectors from business to engineering and skilled trades.
FAQs About Recruitment Agencies in Toronto
Now that you’re done reading our review about the best recruitment agencies, come read our other reviews related to work and employment in Toronto:
