Should You Hire Direct or Use a Recruitment Agency?
If you're a business trying to grow your team whether it's plumbers, HVAC techs, electricians, or fitters you've likely asked yourself:
"Should I hire someone myself, or use a recruitment agency?"
Both methods have pros and cons. But when it comes to hiring tradespeople in Australia, the answer depends on your time, budget, risk tolerance, and hiring urgency.
This article breaks it all down so you can make the best decision for your business.
What Does It Mean to Hire Direct?
Hiring direct means managing the entire process yourself:
- Writing the job ad
- Posting it on Seek, Indeed, etc.
- Reviewing applications
- Conducting interviews
- Checking licences and references
- Making the offer and onboarding the hire
Pros of Hiring Direct
- More control over the process
- No recruitment fees
- Opportunity to build internal relationships from day one
Cons of Hiring Direct
- Time-consuming process
- Risk of hiring someone unlicensed or under qualified
- Longer time-to-hire
- No replacement guarantee if the hire doesn't work out
What Does a Recruitment Agency Do?
A recruitment agency like HJ Recruitment manages the hiring process on your behalf and delivers ready-to-work candidates with less risk and effort.
This includes:
- Advertising and sourcing candidates
- Interviewing and shortlisting
- Checking licences and references
- Confirming availability, job readiness, and fit
- Providing replacement guarantees
Pros of Using a Recruitment Agency
- Faster time-to-hire
- Vetted, licensed candidates
- Scalable hiring (great for bulk recruitment)
- Less admin, more accuracy
- Risk protection with replacement guarantees
Cons of Using an Agency
- Placement fee involved (typically 10–20% of the employee’s first-year salary)
However, when you factor in time saved, reduced vacancy costs, and hiring accuracy, it's often a more cost-effective choice overall.
When Should You Hire Direct?
Hiring direct may suit you if:
- You’re only hiring one or two roles and have the time
- You know a trusted tradesperson through referral
- You’re not in a rush and can wait several weeks
- You’re confident in screening and interviewing candidates
When Should You Use a Recruitment Agency?
Using an agency like HJ Recruitment is ideal when:
- You need skilled trades quickly
- You’ve already tried Seek or Indeed with limited results
- You don't have time to chase down qualifications and references
- You need to scale up fast or across multiple locations
- You want to reduce risk and improve candidate quality
Why Businesses Across Australia Use HJ Recruitment
At HJ Recruitment, we specialise in permanent trade recruitment for:
- HVAC technicians
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Boilermakers & fitters
- Civil operators
- And more
We recruit across Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, and regional Australia, delivering job-ready candidates in as little as 48 hours.
See the industries we serve
Get in touch with our team
Final Verdict: Direct Hire vs Recruitment Agency
CriteriaHire DirectUse AgencyCostLower upfront costPlacement fee appliesSpeedSlowerFasterRiskHigher risk of poor hireLower risk with replacement guaranteeEffortHigh time investmentLow effort, hands-off processScalabilityNot ideal for multiple rolesExcellent for multi-site or bulk hiringCandidate QualityInconsistentPre-vetted, compliant professionals
Ready to Hire Without the Stress?
Hiring direct might save you a fee but using a recruitment partner like HJ Recruitment can save you time, reduce costly errors, and deliver stronger hires.
Let us handle your next hire.
Contact HJ Recruitment today
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