Agency Recruiters VS Internal Talent Acquisition:
From Frenemies to Besties? 

In the world of recruitment, there's a tension that everyone feels but no one talks about. A battle that plays out across LinkedIn, in Zoom calls, or the occasional side-eye during team meetings. 

It’s the silent battle between Agency VS Internal Talent acquisition. 

On one side, the Agency Recruiter - the hunters, the closers, the LinkedIn Premium champions who thrive on competition and the thrill of a placement. They’re known for finding talent fast and building pipelines like pros. They live for the chase, the pipeline, and the occasional brag worthy ‘unicorn’ hire (guilty!) 

And on the other side, the Internal Recruiter/ Talent Acquisition- the strategists, gatekeepers, the champions of ‘employer brand’. They’re in it for the long run, making sure every hire strengthens the company’s future. Internal Talent Acquisition teams are warriors who know the org chart (and the org gossip), speak in acronyms like ‘EVP’ and ‘D&I’, and have the power to greenlight, or reject, agency partnerships. 

We’re led to believe these two teams are supposed to be sworn enemies, like Batman vs. Joker or cats vs. cucumbers (the cat lovers will understand). But what if I told you that agency recruiters and internal TA aren’t rivals? Together, we make a killer team, unlocking recruiting success that neither can do alone. 

This isn’t a story of rivalry, it’s not a case of ‘us vs. them’. It’s a story of collaboration, joining forces and turning professional frenemies into recruiting allies. 

Step 1: Respect the Process: Don’t go Rogue! 
A shout out to my agency colleagues. You truly are the trailblazers of recruiting. The go-getters, rainmakers, ready to pounce on that hot lead. But, as tempting as it may be to bypass internal TA and charm the hiring manager, DON’T GO ROGUE! 

Sure, you might land a quick win, but you will be setting yourself up to be ghosted faster than you can say ‘InMail’. 

Internal TA know their hiring manager. They’ve spent months (or years) decoding their preferences, interpreting vague job specs, and adapting to the shifting goalposts of the hiring process. They know what makes that manager tick and can help shape a candidate profile that works. Skipping over them to hit up the hiring manager directly may seem efficient at first, but it erodes trust. 

That’s not to say you can’t build a relationship with the hiring manager, but don’t go over TA’s head. By respecting the process, including them and collaborating, you build a bridge to a long-term partnership. A win-win for everyone, especially the candidate. 

Step 2: The Benefits of a ‘Friendship’ (Don't Make It Weird!) 
So how do you win over your new internal TA friends? Don’t make it weird! 

A little transparency goes a long way. Keep internal TA in the loop with what’s happening with candidates. Work with them - don’t sneak around like a rebellious teenager breaking curfew. Show respect for their process, and even (dare I say) ask for their advice. You’d be surprised how quickly the dynamic changes when both teams see each other as collaborators rather than rivals. 

And to our internal TA’s colleagues, don’t forget the value agency recruiters can bring to the table. We have connections you don’t. We specialise in building strong candidate pipelines, and we move fast. When you bring an agency in, it’s not an admission of defeat; it’s like adding rocket fuel to your hiring strategy. Agency recruiters are there to make you look good by filling hard to fill roles and are as invested in your company’s success as you are. 

Step 3: Making the Partnership Work 
Here’s the big secret - when we do work together, we become an unstoppable force. We each bring something invaluable to the table and when agency recruiters and internal TA are in sync, share insights, and work towards a common goal, we can tap into the best possible talent, shaping the future by building the businesses and careers of tomorrow. 

So how do we make it work: 

Collaborate on Candidate Profiles: Agency recruiters bring fresh market data, diverse connections, and can tell if a candidate has more than the standard cookie-cutter resume, while internal TA brings knowledge of the company’s unique needs and culture. You have the inside scoop - share your knowledge with us and don’t be afraid to honest give feedback. 

Keep Communication Lines Open: Don’t go silent! Internal TA, let agency recruiters know when they’re on the right track or if there are areas that needs improvement. Agency recruiters, be honest about candidate pipelines and market challenges. Forget transactional - pick up the bloody phone and talk, or even better, (gulp) meet in person. 

Share Feedback: Feedback goes both ways. Debrief with each other. What’s working? What’s not? Were there surprise questions that threw the candidate off? Share insights, refine and improve the hiring process with each candidate 

Celebrate Wins Together: Guess what? When a role is filled, we both win and should celebrate this together. WE did it. we placed the hard to fill role, contributed to the company’s success and let’s not forget, we changed someone’s life. Go us! 

Calling a Truce: From Frenemies to Allies 

Ultimately, the ‘us VS them’ mentality is outdated. Agency Recruiters/ Internal Talent teams – we are industry colleagues and the only ‘fight’ we should be having is the fight to find the best talent. 

We each bring unique strengths, and it’s that diversity that drives better results. Dropping the rivalry and working together is where the magic happens. 

Time to call a worldwide truce and become the ultimate talent dream team. 

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In business since 2002 in Australia, NZ, and the United Kingdom, people2people is an award-winning recruitment agency with people at our heart. With over 12 offices, we specialise in accounting and finance, business support, education, executive, government, HR, legal, marketing and digital, property, sales, supply chain, and technology sectors. As the proud recipients of the 2024 Outstanding Large Agency and Excellence in Candidate Care Awards, we are dedicated to helping businesses achieve success through a people-first approach.