So, you've decided to partner with a recruitment agency to find the perfect team members for your company. Great choice! But how can you tell if you're in good hands or if it's time to be cautious? In this article, we'll point out the red flags to watch out for and the green flags that show you're working with the right agency.

Red flags — When to be cautious
They show no interest in your company
If an agency barely asks about your corporate culture, team, projects, or even candidate requirements, it's a red flag! A good recruiter should care not only about skills but also about how well a candidate will fit into your team. If the agency doesn’t dive into the specifics of your business, don’t be surprised if the candidates are "off-target."

Lack of transparency throughout the process
If you’re constantly in the dark about the candidate search — no updates on progress, no idea when to expect resumes, and you're always the one asking for information — that’s a bad sign. A good agency should keep you informed at every step, ensuring you’re never left wondering.

Pushing candidates who just don’t fit
If the agency is trying to convince you to hire someone who clearly doesn’t meet your requirements with lines like, “They’ll do for now” or “There’s no one else available,” it’s time to take a step back. This could mean they are more interested in closing the vacancy than in finding the best fit for your team. They might also ignore critical soft skills or team compatibility issues, pushing a candidate who technically meets the job specs but doesn’t actually fit well with your team.

New recruiter every week
If you’re always dealing with new recruiters because the old ones keep leaving, that’s a red flag. High turnover in the agency might show there are problems inside, which could hurt the quality of their work with you. Additionally, constantly changing who you talk to can mess up the recruitment process and hurt your company’s reputation, making it harder to attract good candidates and damaging how they see your brand.

Slowdowns in processes
If you find yourself spending more time dealing with issues like irrelevant candidates or inaccurate information than actually moving forward with your hiring, that’s a major red flag. A good agency should streamline the process, not complicate it.

Green flags — Signs you’ve found a great partner
Clear process and regular updates
A great agency will outline the entire hiring process from start to finish, setting clear timelines and keeping you in the loop at every stage. You’ll always know where things stand — how many candidates have been found, who’s in the interview process, and any challenges that might come up. With transparency like this, there are no surprises (and we all know surprises during hiring are rarely fun).

Realistic timeframes
A great agency won’t promise you the moon by saying they can fill your vacancy “by tomorrow” — because they know that’s just not how it works! Instead, they’ll give you a realistic timeline like, “We’ll have solid candidates in a month.” Trustworthy recruiters know the market and won’t overpromise.

They listen to candidate feedback
A great agency doesn’t just focus on you as the client — they care about what candidates think too. If someone turns down an offer, they will dig into why and use that info to improve the search. This kind of attention to detail shows they’re committed to finding the right fit, not just filling the role quickly.

They ask the right questions
Not just “What kind of candidate do you need?” but also “What kind of culture are you building?”, “What’s the vibe in the office?” and “What qualities would make someone thrive here?”. A great agency digs deep to understand your unique needs, which means they’ll find someone who fits both the role and your company culture. Now, that’s what we call a matchmaker!

Flexibility in their approach
A good recruitment agency understands that every company has its own unique processes and needs. Whether your team already has established hiring processes or you’re looking for new ideas, a great agency is flexible enough to adapt. They can seamlessly integrate into your existing workflows or adjust their own methods to better suit your needs. Flexibility is key in building a successful partnership.

Post-Hire engagement
A standout agency doesn’t just disappear once the hire is made. They stay in touch with both you and the new employee, ensuring everything is going smoothly even after the placement. This ongoing support helps address any issues that arise and shows a commitment to both the candidate’s and your company’s success.
Finding the right recruitment agency is like finding the right hire — it takes attention and patience. Keep an eye out for the red flags, but don’t forget to celebrate the green ones. With the right partner by your side, finding the perfect team members becomes a much smoother and enjoyable process.