Why Most Recruitment Agencies Struggle with Training (and How to Fix It for Free)

Most recruitment agencies face the same challenge when it comes to training their recruiters and it’s having a massive impact on their success.

The problem? Training often falls on the shoulders of the agency owner, and that’s where things start to break down.

Many agency owners haven’t had formal training themselves, and if they have, it was years ago. As a result, they struggle to create and deliver high-quality training programs that are relevant to today’s market. Instead, they end up relying on outdated methodologies and ineffective tactics that no longer work.

And here’s the kicker—bad training doesn’t just lead to underperforming recruiters. It slows down hiring, increases turnover, and ultimately stunts the agency’s growth.

So, what’s the solution?

Not only is it easy, but it’s also completely free.

The Best Training Resource Is Already in Your Business

If you want to improve the quality of training in your agency, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel or spend thousands on external trainers. Everything you need is already within your team.

Take a step back and assess the talent you already have in your business:

• Who is great at business development?

• Who consistently wins new clients?

• Who is a master at expanding accounts and maximizing revenue?

These top performers hold the key to better training.

How to Turn Your Team’s Expertise into a Training Program

1. Get Them in a Room – Gather your top-performing recruiters and start a structured discussion.

2. Extract Their Knowledge – Ask them to break down their process:

   • What do they do differently?

   • How do they approach business development?

   • What steps do they take to build strong client relationships?

3. Standardize the Process – Document these insights and turn them into clear, repeatable training modules.

4. Embed It into Your Culture – Training shouldn’t be a one-time event. Regularly revisit and update your training to ensure it evolves with the market.

Keeping Your Training Relevant

The recruitment industry is constantly changing. What worked last year may no longer be effective today. That’s why this exercise should be a continuous part of your agency’s learning and development strategy.

By leveraging the expertise of your own team and standardizing best practices, you can build a high-performing recruitment agency without relying on outdated or ineffective training methods.

So, when was the last time you updated your training? Is it time for a refresh?