The Top 6 Staffing Agencies in Ottawa
Joblessness is never a good place to be stuck in, that is why we’re reviewing some of the top staffing agencies in Ottawa today.
Having an agency do the job search for you will cost you money, though. That’s something we’ll investigate in the next section.
There are also staffing agency-related FAQs at the end of this listicle so make sure to read all the way through.
How Much Do Staffing Agencies Charge in Ottawa?
Most staffing agencies in Ottawa usually have tiered pricing matrices to accommodate different placement circumstances.
For instance, more competitive jobs could have a price markup that’s anywhere between 40% and 60% of job seekers’ salaries in their first year. Those who get into less competitive jobs might get 15% to 50% garnished from their first year’s salary.
They could also charge by the hour of use a flat rate if it’s a contractual or project-based placement. Another important factor is whether you’re looking for a temporary job or transitioning to a more permanent position.
To give you an idea of national averages, here’s a table of some current rates.
Of course, different staffing agencies will have different specializations, placement methods and techniques, and other systems to consider. It’s best to get in touch with them first to ensure you’re on the same page as far as fees and pricing go.
The Top Staffing Agencies in Ottawa
Now that you’re ready to be gainfully employed, it’s time to look at the top staffing agencies in Ottawa.
The ones reviewed today were selected with the following factors in mind:
1. Keynote Search
Right off the bat, what made us notice Keynote Search is its post-placement integration and support program. It’s a unique one that others don’t usually have.
The agency begins the staffing process using proprietary predictive psychometrics but doesn’t stop after it places candidates in jobs. Instead, it follows their careers closely so it can improve its recruitment system and ensure better success rates for other candidates.
It’s a people-centric system that wants to do away with traditional hiring practices. Feedback from executives of companies who found staffing via Keynote Search consistently mentions its efficiency and effective methods, too.
Keynote Search represents a wide range of industries including aerospace, defence and security, engineering, construction, technology, healthcare, retail, and more.
It also provides resources for those looking for new executive hiring opportunities. These listings come at no cost, though there are no express services for them, either.
Perhaps the only thing missing with Keynote Search is a price guide for its executive search solutions. But sending the agency a message should remedy that.
Pros
- Has a post-placement integration program
- Uses predictive psychometrics to find candidates
- Lists current placement opportunities
- Represents a wide range of industries
Cons
- Doesn’t provide an executive search price guide
- Open on weekdays only
- No BBB accreditation
Customer Reviews
Professional, knowledgeable, understanding of the market
“It is so easy to get lost in the business, to the point where working on the business is sacrificed. Our experience with Keynote allowed us to achieve our goals without sacrifice. Their professionalism, knowledge and understanding of the market combined with the time taken to understand our objectives, made our expansion seamless. Their process took all of the guesswork out of our hands which gave us the ability to move forward efficiently and effortlessly.” – Matt Carr
Went above and beyond, did an in-depth screening
“Keynote took a keen interest in all facets of our organization to ensure they had a grasp on how a potential candidate could provide executive leadership, value and fit within our culture. They went above and beyond to market the opportunity to a targeted group of individuals that they had screened in-depth to ensure that an extremely impressive short-list of candidates was presented for review by the Board’s Executive Search Committee.” – Ian Sherman
2. Staffmax Staffing and Recruiting
Staffmax Staffing and Recruiting can cater to job seekers who are either looking for contract-based assignments or a permanent career change. It also does executive search and HR concierge services for companies that need them.
The company’s services are open for a wide range of industries including labour and skilled trades, hospitality and retail, physicians and healthcare professionals, and customer services.
It continues to expand its other list of specialty recruitment to provide new job opportunities. But what would add further value to all of these offerings would be posting the fees associated with its placement services.
For added convenience, there’s an app that’s available to download for both iOS and Android users. The app features regular career postings and a Staffmax Recruitment Consultant chat service that allows candidates to connect with the right kind of employers.
It’s also closed on weekends, but using the app at any time should be able to make up for that.
Pros
- Can do senior management and executive role placements
- Apps available for both iOS and Android devices
- Represents a wide range of industries
- Continues to expand to other job specialties
Cons
- No information on service fees
- Open on weekdays only
- No BBB accreditation
Customer Reviews
Helpful and knowledgeable
“Fantastic company that was helpful and knowledgeable for assisting both parties in the employment process.” – Alexa Gray
Excellent company, anyone looking for work should sign up
“Excellent company helping to reduce the poverty level in the province..anyone looking for work should sign up with Staffmax.” – Norm Delongchamp
3. Local Staffing
We’ve included Local Staffing for this post because it’s a true Ottawa-focused staffing agency. This means job seekers who want specific employment within the National Capital can try to find employment here.
With its over 15 years in the recruitment industry, Local Staffing has gotten consistently good feedback from job seekers. It also gives employers client consultations and resources for temporary to permanent placements for their employees, as well as direct hire solutions.
The downside is that the agency primarily focuses on administrative support, customer service, construction, light industrial, and manufacturing. However, job listings are available to browse through on its website to widen the scope.
It would also be good to indicate fees related to both on-site client consultations and candidate applications (if any). Or, in lieu of a fee matrix, a customer support service or a hotline would suffice rather than just providing a couple of application forms.
Pros
- Ottawa-centric staffing solutions
- Over 15 years in the recruitment industry
- Offers on-site client consultation
- Offers job listings on the website
Cons
- Focused on specific industries only
- Open on weekdays only
- No BBB accreditation
Customer Reviews
Dedicated and devoted
“Dedicated and devoted! Local Staffing hasn’t done anything but favours for me…
I brag about them to anyone that’ll listen! Thank you Sameer and Sheh!” – Joel Cunningham
Fantastic to work with, quick with responding
“When working with local staffing I had Sheh, and honestly, he was fantastic to work with. He was quick with responding, he was kind and understanding.
All in all, it was a pleasure to work with him, and I definitely suggest working with local staffing!” – Ryan Pettit
4. Actalent
Actalent is a staffing agency that specializes in IT, engineering, clinical, and scientific industries. Those looking for jobs in construction management, healthcare, laboratory sciences, clinical research, architecture, or manufacturing can try out Actalent’s placement process.
It has an inclusion and diversity policy that gives career opportunities even to the most underrepresented populations. And as its name implies, Acatalent takes on a talent-first approach that ensures passionate and well-suited employees for any business.
Its managed talent solutions involve consultant care. It utilizes data transformation, performance management, and coaching for successful and optimal talent engagement.
There’s also a handy employee resources page that lets candidates access their benefits and payroll information and connect with the Actalent team. There’s a database of jobs to refer to, as well.
These solutions don’t have a price tag (at least on the website) so it’s best to inquire about them first. Actalent operates on a strictly by appointment basis as there are no fixed operating hours or customer support service available.
Pros
- Inclusion and diversity policies
- Uses a talent-first approach
- Jobs database available at employee page
Cons
- Focused on engineering and science-related jobs only
- No BBB accreditation
- No fixed operating hours
Customer Reviews
Goor personal contact
“Good personal contact. Recruiter stays in touch.” – Patricia G.
The account representative was very engaged from the very beginning
“My account representative was very engaged with me from the very beginning. She has always gone above and beyond to answer my questions.” – Silvia H.
5. Stevenson & White Recruitment
Established in 2000, Stevenson & White Recruitment believes “it’s all about the fit”. It’s a Canadian-owned and operated firm that specializes in finance, accounting, and payroll professional recruitment.
It’s simplified its placement process to several simple but thorough steps. First, there’s a face-to-face meeting with the client, then a position posting, followed by a candidate search, shortlist, presentation of interviews, scheduling, offer, placement, and follow-up.
Job seekers can use the job listings page to see if any positions are available. The listings are complete with job descriptions, qualifications, salary range, and application steps.
The agency also has additional services to give clients peace of mind. It partners with Triton Pre-Employment Screening to conduct criminal background checks make thorough reference screenings.
There’s also a candidate referral program that can earn you $500 for every successfully placed candidate!
However, it would be good to have some of the service rates indicated anywhere on the website to give clients an idea.
Pros
- Candidate referral program
- Simplified placement process
- Canadian owned and operated firm
Cons
- Focused on financial and accounting recruitment
- Open on weekdays only
- No BBB accreditation
Customer Reviews
Really values employees
“Stevenson and White is a great company to work for. They really value their employees and recognize their contributions and allow for a great work-life balance. The work we do is a collaborative effort and I am proud to be a part of assisting others in finding a great fit workwise. I would definitely put my trust in them if I were looking for a position in the finance field!” – Anonymous employee
Provided great advice and helped throughout the process
“I contacted Stevenson & White to help me with my job search since I was getting frustrated with the lack of response I was getting from companies. They provided me with some great advice and helped me through the process. Their recruiters really listened to me and helped me to figure out what types of roles I most wanted to pursue. In the end, they found me a great one – the next step in my career at a great company with great perks! I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking to make a move.” – Anonymous job candidate
6. CreativeNiche
| SERVICES | Hire Talent Freelance & Contract Full-Time Search Talent Flex Force Executive Search RaaS |
| ADDRESS | Ottawa, ON, Canada |
| CONTACT NUMBER | Contact them via their website |
| WEBSITE | https://www.creativeniche.com/ |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday to Friday 7.30 AM – 5 PM Closed on Saturdays and Sundays By appointment basis |
We recently collaborated with Creative Agencies to find talented professionals for our growing business, and their services were exceptional. From the start, their team understood our specific staffing needs, providing us with a tailored and effective recruitment strategy.
Moreover, the efficiency of Creative Agencies is truly impressive. They quickly identified and presented a shortlist of highly qualified candidates, significantly reducing the time we typically spend on the hiring process.
Additionally, the affordability of their services was a pleasant surprise. Despite their comprehensive and personalized approach, the costs were competitive, offering excellent value for the high-quality results delivered.
Furthermore, Creative Agencies’ facilities and resources are outstanding. Their advanced recruitment tools and extensive network of professionals ensured that we had access to top-tier talent that perfectly matched our requirements.
To add, their communication throughout the process was exemplary. We received regular updates and feedback, keeping us informed and involved at every step, which greatly enhanced our hiring experience.
Besides that, the professionalism of the team at Creative Agencies stood out. They handled every aspect of the recruitment process with precision and care, from initial screenings to final interviews, ensuring a seamless experience.
Moreover, the quality of the candidates we hired through Creative Agencies has been exceptional. Each individual has proven to be a valuable asset to our team, contributing significantly to our projects and overall success.
Lastly, our experience with Creative Agencies was made even better by their approachable and supportive staff. Their dedication to understanding and fulfilling our needs made the entire process smooth and efficient, reinforcing our trust in their expertise.
Pros
- Reasonable pricing
- Responsive staff
Cons
- No promos at the present
7. Fuze HR Solutions Inc.
Fuze HR Solutions goes out the gate impressing us by stating they prioritize long-term relationships. This company has both the expertise and the international resources to match you to the perfect job in your chosen field.
What we like about Fuze HR Solutions is that they care for all of their clients, job seekers or employers. They currently have services that go beyond job seeking.
Not sure what industry you belong in? No problem!
Fuze HR Solutions gives you the tools to assess the jobs best suited for your skills. They also give you the tools to ace the opportunities they find for you.
The industries that they cater to are geared toward the Accounting, Marketing, Engineering, Tech and Industrial-related fields. Another thing that we like is that they also offer outsourcing payroll services for employers who seek to find everything they need under one roof.
All in all, Fuze HR Solutions is what we call a swiss-army knife in the staffing agency circuit. They offer all-around services and utmost care to their clients.
Pros
- Culturally diverse, women-empowered company
- Speaks a variety of different languages
- Employer solutions available on their website
- Resources for Job seekers available on their website
Cons
- Niches focused more on the Tech and Industrial niches
- Open on weekdays only
- No BBB accreditation
Customer Reviews
Fuze worked with me to find a job that I had the skills for that could be done remotely.
“When I was let go as a result of the pandemic I didn’t know what would happen to me or my family. The thought of living off of government assistance for an entire year made my stomach turn. Maybe some people are ok with doing that, but I’m not that kind of person. I submitted my information to several staffing agencies thinking it was a long shot at best. Only a handful of them even got back to me. But Fuze worked with me to find a job that I had the skills for that could be done remotely. Even in the very middle of the pandemic this company hired me on and I can’t tell you how relieved I was! It felt like an honest to God miracle. I have no idea what anyone else’s experience has been with Fuze, but I’ll tell you that mine has been nothing short of miraculous.” – Anonymous employee
That’s a company that cares.
“I bombed the first interview the company got me, so they gave me resources to help me prepare for the next one and learn some tricks that would make me feel more relaxed. The very next one they sent me to I aced it and got the job. Now that’s a company that cares..” – Anonymous job candidate
FAQs About Staffing Agencies in Ottawa
The top staffing agencies in Ottawa can help you land a job that’s perfectly suited for your skills and background. You can recommend other staffing agencies to us and we’ll be glad to review them.
We also have other published posts that can broaden your job search scope: