Best Recruitment Agency in Cork
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The 11 Best Recruitment Agencies in Cork

Calling employers and job seekers! Our selections for the best recruitment agencies in Cork have got you covered, be it to fill in your company’s vacancies or to land your newest job.

Still unconvinced as to how you can benefit from using a recruitment agency? This article will try to answer that in the FAQs we’ve included.

We also gave some tips that’ll help you better choose the right recruitment agency.

Recruitment Agency Service Costs in Ireland

How much will a recruitment agency cost you? As explained by RECRUITERS, job seekers do not have to pay recruitment agencies.

For a recruitment agency to hold an agency licence, they can only charge clients, that is, the companies that hire them to find employees.

Usually, the fees that clients have to pay are a percentage of a candidate or a job seeker’s salary.

In a survey conducted by Social Talent on a selection of Irish recruitment agencies, the results showed that on average, employers will be charged between 17.5% to 20% for a permanent contract and 10% to 20% for a temporary contract.

Don’t worry, though. This doesn’t mean that this fee will be taken off of your salary once you land a job with a recruitment agency. It’s only how the fee is calculated, which the employer directly pays the recruitment agency.

The Best Recruitment Agencies in Cork

Ready to see our top choices? Here are Cork’s best recruitment agencies!

1. Ward Personnel

WEBSITEhttps://wardpersonnel.com/
ADDRESSDublin Office:
Ward Personnel
Damastown Way
Damastown Industrial Park
Dublin 15 D15 E8NX

Cork Office:
Ward Personnel
Unit 4 Portside
Marina Commercial Park
Centre Park Road Cork T12 AE98

Athlone Office:
Ward Personnel
Unit 23 Irishtown Central
Golden Island
Athlone Co Westmeath

Poland Office:
Ward Personnel
Galeria Parada
Ul. Nałęczowska 30/203
20-701 Lublin
CONTACT DETAILSDublin Office:
01 539 0600
[email protected]

Cork Office:
021 233 9120
[email protected]

Athlone Office:
01 539 0600
[email protected]

Poland Office:
(+48) 81 884 7158
OPERATING HOURSN/A

Established in 2010, Ward Personnel is one of Ireland’s leading recruitment services providers, specialising in the Construction and Industrial sectors. The company is led by David Ward, who has over 25 years of recruitment experience.

They recruit across the broad range of construction roles in Ireland, including labour and trades and Management and Technical positions.

The company now has a staff of over 35 professionals dedicated to serving their clients and candidates on a day to day basis.

Ward Personnel works to give every customer and recruitment candidate the utmost respect and care at all times. The team does their best to review their client’s needs to ensure they receive the best service possible.

Pros

  • Excellent customer service
  • Multiple offices
  • Transparent transactions

Cons

  • Specializes more on only the construction and industrial sector

Customer Reviews

Here are some reviews from their clients:

“Ward Personnel have been one of our preferred providers for labour & trades for over ten years now.  During that time, we have done a significant amount of business with them and we have found them to be one of the most reliable providers of labour & trades in the marketplace. They provide us with a very good service and on the vast majority of occasions, the men they supply to us are of a high quality and have the required skills and expertise to do the job. The Ward Personnel office staff are always very courteous and professional to deal with and they are helpful and proactive if there is any issue.” – John Sisk & Son

“Ward Personnel are a pleasure to deal with. They understand our industry which means they have built up a deep knowledge for the type of candidates and skillsets that we need on an ongoing basis.  In the last two years, we have hired dozens of workers from them.  We mainly deal with Matt who manages their Industrial Division.  He sources these workers for us in Poland because we cannot find them here in Ireland.  Ward Personnel have been our partner of choice for the last two years, they have never let us down, and their overall service level is always very professional.” – Davenham Switchgear

2. Access Healthcare

WEBSITEhttps://accesshealthcare.ie/
ADDRESSAccess Healthcare, 2 Westland Square, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, D02 V960
CONTACT DETAILS01 901 5270
[email protected]
OPERATING HOURS8:30 am to 6:00 pm (Monday – Thursday)
8:30 am to 5:00 pm (Friday)

Access Healthcare is now a leading provider of registered nursing & care staff to both the HSE and private clients. Their network of experienced, registered, fully vetted critical care, midwifery, and general nurses, as well as healthcare assistants, has grown rapidly in the short time since they opened in 2016.

Their island-wide coverage is increasing, with locally and internationally located nurses allowing us to provide the best service possible to their healthcare partners. Their company was founded on a simple principle that they could offer a superior service by focusing on building deeper relationships, giving them an up-to-date view of your staffing needs.

Part of the Archer Recruitment group of companies, they have a thorough understanding of the Irish healthcare recruitment market. Their clients include HSE trusts (general, regional, and teaching hospitals) and a wide array of private healthcare providers, colleges and universities and even international social media companies.

Currently, they are working with over 300 active clients on a daily bases across the country. These clients vary in services and requirements, and their dedicated in-house compliance system ensures that only their nurses & HCAs have the right experience and qualifications for you.

Their team brings a wealth of experience, collectively combining backgrounds in healthcare, recruitment, and customer care to provide a superior service.

For information about Access Healthcare, what they do, and what nursing and healthcare opportunities they have to offer, you may visit their website https://www.accesshealthcare.ie/ or call one of their team members.

Pros

  • Specializes in healthcare and nursing recruitment
  • Professional and helpful team
  • High quality service delivery

Cons

  • Closed on weekends

Customer Reviews

The best agency there is! Great staff who are always trying to accomodate requested shifts. Definitely recommended! 10/10

“I work for Access Nursing since 2021 and the company is really good, also my consult is amazing (Ciara Lewis – Recruitment Executive). She is very nice and a lot good skills to resolve everything.”

3. CSA Personnel Consultants

CSA Personnel Consultants' Homepage
WEBSITEhttps://csapersonnel.com/
ADDRESS65 St Patrick’s St, Centre, Cork
CONTACT DETAILS+353 21 427 5155
[email protected]
OPERATING HOURS9:00 am to 5:30 pm (Monday – Friday)

CSA Personnel Consultants is no newbie to recruitment as they’ve been in the industry since 1967.

Located in the centre of Cork City, they’re a recruitment agency that posts job openings from multiple sectors, so different types of job seekers may find them helpful. Some of these sectors are finance, sales, healthcare, software, fashion, and so forth.

Registering with them is simple. You just have to email your CV and include details such as your desired role, expected salary, etc.

Or, you can respond directly to one of their job postings if you found one you like.

For employers, CSA Personnel Consultants can fill in your vacancies, be it permanent, temporary, or contractual. Moreover, if you need a remote worker, they have a team of virtual assistants who provide 24/7 support.

Meanwhile, one notable characteristic of CSA Personnel Consultants is their referral scheme that’ll benefit both job seekers and employers. If you meet their requirements, you may earn €200 or a €200 voucher.

Pros

  • Offers permanent, contract, virtual and temporary roles
  • Offers referral benefits
  • Offers virtual assistant services

Cons

  • Job listings are limited to Cork
  • No other branch aside from Cork
  • Closed on weekends

Customer Reviews

The following clients were all praises for Sam Nicholson, CSA Personnel Consultants’s recruitment manager:

“Sam has been a pleasure to deal with. He went above and beyond to secure me a great job. Communication was excellent and very helpful in giving feedback. I would highly recommend CSA personnel.” -Marguerite Mckenzie

“Sam is a true professional and was excellent in keeping me informed throughout the whole process which is invaluable. I would highly recommend.” -Trad Routes

“Sam is an absolute gent who I’d happily recommend to anyone for their recruitment needs.” -James Kelly

4. FRS Recruitment

FRS Recruitment's Homepage
WEBSITEhttps://www.frsrecruitment.com/
ADDRESS12A, South Mall, Cork, T12 RD43
CONTACT DETAILS+353 (0)21-4634732
[email protected]
OPERATING HOURS9:00 am to 5:00 pm (Monday – Friday)

Are you open to job openings outside of Cork? FRS Recruitment posts vacancies from across the country, so check them out.

Additionally, this recruiter has a large presence in the country, operating in 9 other counties aside from Cork, including Tipperary (their head office), Dublin, Cavan, Galway, Kerry, Offaly, and more.

You can quickly find your preferred job listing in a few clicks using FRS’s search engine. Or, you can also opt to browse by sector or by location.

They offer employment for a lot of industries. Particularly in Cork, some of FRS’s supported industries are healthcare and medical, information technology, construction, life science and engineering, agriculture, and accounting and finance.

As for employers, FRS’s website contains info on its consultants, so you’ll have an idea of who you’ll be working with to acquire needed employees. In particular, you’ll know the positions a consultant is currently recruiting for.

Pros

  • Has multiple branches
  • Nationwide jobs available
  • Has services for Irish expatriates 
  • Offers full-time and part-time work

Cons

  • Closed on weekends
  • No mention of referral benefits
  • Doesn’t offer international jobs

Customer Reviews

Lyndsay Hughes particularly complements an FRS team member in her feedback:

“I had the pleasure of having Felicity Farrell from FRS Recruitment help me through every step from applying for a position right through to the interview phase and also when I was offered the job. She was a fantastic help especially with tips on interviews and questions and also checked in to see how I got on and making sure that I was well prepared. Would recommend to a friend.” -Lyndsay Hughes

Are you an expatriate? Charmaine Fenech is a client who landed her first job in Ireland through FRS. See what she had to say:

“They found me my first Job in Ireland as an Expat! As soon as I sent in my CV they contacted me and set me up for an interview within a week!! Super responsive and very helpful with location and individuals who are re-locating from other countries! Also provided a pack about the area where I was moving to with all the details for hotels/accomodation/health centers/ solicitors etc… !!. . .” -Charmaine Fenech

5. Osborne

Osborne's Homepage
WEBSITEhttps://www.osborne.ie/
ADDRESSUnit 1B, Penrose Wharf, Penrose Quay, Cork City
CONTACT DETAILS+353 21 2427234
[email protected]
OPERATING HOURS8:00 am to 5:30 pm (Monday – Friday)

Osborne’s Cork office was opened in 2019 and is just one of their 7 offices in Ireland. This recruitment agency also has an international office located in Canada.

Another multi-industry recruiter, their specialist sectors include sales and marketing, technical and engineering, accounting and finance, office, secretarial and customer service, IT, executive, and HR and legal appointments.

Speaking of executive, if your company needs to fill in senior and leadership roles, Osborne has an executive search team that can help you find professionals across multiple industry groups.

On top of this, if your company is restructuring or dealing with a redundancy situation, they also provide outplacement services.

In addition, Osborne’s website contains a salary guide employers might find worth checking out. And for job seekers, there are job opportunities from all over the country, which you can apply to in a few clicks.

Moreover, Osborne also offers international recruitment, benefiting both job seekers and employers.

Pros

  • Wide service coverage
  • 1 international office
  • Nationwide jobs available
  • Offers international recruitment
  • Offers outplacement services

Cons

  • No mention of referral benefits
  • Closed on Sundays

Customer Reviews

Take a look at Sharon Thomas and Diarmuid Gillingham’s positive feedback concerning Osborne Cork’s staff:

“I recently was helped by an Osborne Recruitment Cork employee named Aoife O Driscoll. Over a three month job search, I worked with many recruiters. I found Aoife and Osborne to be one of the best. Aoife was very responsive to all my questions and was always willing to help. . .” -Diarmuid Gillingham

“I had the pleasure of dealing with Meaghann Murphy in Osborne recruitment in Cork. She was professional, efficient and very friendly, the customer service was excellent and I would highly recommend Osborne recruitment for all of your recruiting needs. Excellent service. I also dealt with aoife and she was also very professional and efficient.” -Sharon Thomas

6. HERO Recruitment

WEBSITEhttps://www.hero.ie/
ADDRESSPenrose House,
Penrose Quay,
Cork, Ireland, T23 V38E
CONTACT DETAILS+353 91 730022
Ph +021 2066287
linkedin.com/herorecruitment
OPERATING HOURSContact for information

HERO Recruitment only finds the best is people in Ireland. What’s recommendable about them is how hard they work to promote a partnership of trust and respect with each employer and career seeker.

Whether you are a recruiter or looking for a job, they are the perfect company to go to. In comparison to other recruitment companies, they have a wide range of talent solutions and talent attractions tailored just for you.

They have recruitment Process Outsourcing, On-Site Recruitment Teams, FDI Start-Ups, Graduate Programs, and Project Scale-Ups for their talent solutions. While for talent attractions they have Employer Branding, Career Websites, and Talent Attraction Campaigns.

We think they are one of the best recruitment companies because they only choose the most appropriate candidate that would fit the job description.

They have numerous business sectors. Some of these are Engineering & Technical, IT & Software, Quality, HR/Training/Recruitment, Supply Chain & Materials, Environment, Health, & Safety, Science, Pharmaceutical, & Food, Executive & Management, Production & Manufacturing, and Finance/Banking, & Insurance. So if you see your area of expertise in this list, visiting their website may be the best choice for you.

Pros

  • 21-member team
  • Easy website interface
  • Multiple locations
  • Award winning

Cons

  • Operating hours are not mentioned

Customer Reviews

Here are some testimonials from their clients:

“I have found it very easy to work with Karl in HERO Recruitment – he has a very positive approach, is always supportive and very knowledgeable and experienced in recruitment. He has such a pleasant personality and has the insight and expertise to match the person to the job. Always ready with advice and encouragement – meeting Karl has allowed me to take a completely different career path with confidence and ease. Thank you Karl.” – Aelmuire Mullaney, Fraud and Breach Coordinator – CyberScout Ventures

“HERO Recruitment’s dedicated and knowledgeable staff presented me with numerous suitable graduate jobs. When I chose my ideal job they helped me with interview techniques and tips, which allowed me to give the best account of myself on the day of the interview. I would recommend HERO recruitment to any job seeker, particularly graduates.” – Andrew Waters, Mechanical Technician – Sempre Technology, Netherlands

7. Sigmar Recruitment

Sigmar Recruitment's Homepage
WEBSITEhttps://www.sigmarrecruitment.com/
ADDRESS1 Georges Quay, Cork City, Cork, T12 X0DX
CONTACT DETAILS+353 21 431 5770
[email protected]
OPERATING HOURS9:00 am to 5:30 pm (Monday – Friday)

Heads up, IT job hunters! If you want to build or continue your career outside of the country, Sigmar Recruitment offers IT job listings in Europe such as Germany and Sweden.

Some of the IT areas you can choose from are web development, data science and business intelligence, software development, and so on.

This doesn’t mean Sigmar only focuses on the IT industry. You can find jobs from sectors such as construction, accountancy and finance, marketing, science and pharmaceutical, multilingual, remote working, and so on from all over Ireland.

And if you’re after a non-permanent job offer, you can register with Sigmar for a variety of temporary, contract, part-time, and flexible hours jobs.

Moreover, Sigmar operates more than 150 recruitment specialists in 5 branches, namely, Dublin, Athlone, Galway, and Tralee, including Cork.

Pros

  • Nationwide jobs available
  • Wide service coverage
  • International jobs available
  • Has salary guide on website

Cons

  • International jobs limited to IT industry
  • No mention of referral benefits
  • Closed on Sundays

Customer Reviews

Sigmar Recruitment has over a hundred 5-star reviews online. Find out what some clients think about them in more detail by reading the comments below:

“Marcel was 100% committed to finding the right role for my skill set. We were not content just to get a job but had to be the right fit for future development. Always throughout the process would be there if needed. If anyone needs career advice or thinking of a new challenge just do not hesitate to contact Marcel.” -Steve Johnson

“I found Sigmar extremely helpful and easy to work with. They were thorough, friendly and they offered me great advise and guidance for the interviews. I had several prep calls which were specific to the company and the role rather than it being generic. I would highly recommend them!” -Julie Browne

8. Collins McNicholas Recruitment & HR Services Group

Collins McNicholas Recruitment & HR Services Group's Homepage
WEBSITEhttps://www.collinsmcnicholas.ie/
ADDRESSBallycurreen House, Ballycurreen Cross, Airport Road, Cork, T12 P4AY
CONTACT DETAILS(021) 4809118
[email protected]
OPERATING HOURS9:00 am to 5:30 pm (Monday – Friday)

Established in 1990, Collins McNicholas Recruitment & HR Services Group’s most noteworthy feature is that it doesn’t just provide workers for companies.

To start with, they also recruit professionals for the life sciences sector worldwide, specialising in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, and commercial solutions.

Furthermore, they offer interviewer training (delivered by their HR Services team) and help both employers and employees facing redundancy through their Outplacement Plus programmes.

Meanwhile, for job seekers, you’ll find plenty of jobs from all over the country, be it a permanent, fixed-term contract, temporary, or part-time role. Plus, there are also job postings from mainland Europe.

What’s more, if you’re a foreigner who’s thinking of landing a job here in the Emerald Isle, Collins McNicholas can assist you.

Finding accommodation, booking a flight, visa application, applying for social security/PPS number—-these are some of the things they can help you with as regards the relocation process. 

Pros

  • Has multiple branches
  • Nationwide jobs available
  • International jobs available
  • Helps foreigners find employment
  • Offers other services aside from recruitment

Cons

  • Need to fill out form to download salary guide on website
  • Closed on Sundays

Customer Reviews

Collins McNicholas’s positive reviews from its clients are proof of the quality of its services. Here are some of them:

“Very professional from start to finish. Michael O Brien made me feel important and comfortable and always made time to alleviate any concerns I had. The advice was invaluable and the follow through even after I secured the job, was a lovely gesture. Couldnt fault them at all…they really look after you.” -Avril Wallace

“They are professional and  it was amazing dealing with them, very respectful, and very caring.” -William Al menim

“I would highly recommend Collins McNicholas as a recruitment agency to work with very professional to deal with who offer excellent support to candidates in all areas of the process.” -Colin Mullin

9. Servisource

WEBSITEhttps://servisource.ie/
ADDRESSIreland
CONTACT DETAILSFreephone: +1 800 603 604
E-mail: [email protected]
OPERATING HOURSMo, Tu, We, Th, Fr: 7:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sat: 7:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 7:00 am – 11:00 pm
Open 365 days per year

Servisource can absolutely help you achieve your dreams. they are a leading provider of high-quality and innovative recruitment and managed solutions across a number of sector specialties.

What’s great about them is that they both provide local and personal service with a national and international reach. This can give you even more opportunities than you could ever imagine.

Another thing we like about them is that they support clients to solve capacity or skills challenges through the provision of a bespoke managed staffing service or a managed facilities and staffing service that supplement or increase capacity, clear waiting lists and deliver results.

Regarding their staffing, they offer a great number of sectors. They have Healthcare, Business Support, Construction, Engineering, Pharma, Food Production, Manufacturing, and Facilities Management.

In addition to this, they also have international recruitment, temporary placement, pre-employment screening, contractors, and permanent placement.

Pros

  • Has branches in UK and India
  • Over 20 years of experience

Cons

  • Services may be improved

10. Hartley People

WEBSITEhttps://www.hartleypeople.com/
ADDRESSWaterford Office:
Unit 1B Cleaboy Business Park,
Old Kilmeaden Road,
Waterford.
X91 DVY8.
CONTACT DETAILSWaterford Office:
+353 (0)51 878 813
+353 (0)51 878 827
[email protected]

Wexford Office:
+353 (0)53 910 0029
[email protected]

Cork Office:
+353 (0)51 878 813
+353 (0)51 878 827
[email protected]
OPERATING HOURSContact for more information

Hartley People, founded in 2001, is South East’s leading talent acquisition firm, and they provide recruitment, career and training services to our candidates and clients.

What makes them one of the best at what they do is their unparalleled local and regional knowledge.

One of their services is recruitment wherein you can choose whether to get hired or get talent. You may even choose temporary recruitment.

They have other career services like career coaching and outplacement as well as training services.

What we like about them is how they’ve helped a number of people get jobs. We found that they’ve helped various individuals establish their strengths and qualifications, and they also know at which jobs to place their clients.

Their knowledge of how to match a candidate’s skill sets to the perfect job is something we find very impressive.

However, we’d like to warn you that there have been complaints from past clients that they never heard back from Hartley People despite initially receiving quick response and having good interviews.

All in all, we still think that Hartley People is a good option and they’ve received more favorable feedback than unfavorable ones.

Pros

  • Multiple offices
  • Many years in the industry
  • Matches skill sets to job
  • Excellent service

Cons

  • Complaints from a few clients that they never heard back from them after their interviews

Customer Reviews

Here are some reviews from their clients:

Excellent agency, I have experience of finding a role though Hartley People and also have used them to fill open roles. They are very professional and really good at placing the people in the right jobs. The people i have dealt with take the time to identify individual’s skill sets and values and match them accordingly” —Michael Healy

“Hartley People were efficient, friendly and professional. I was impressed with their customer service and they were particularly good at getting back to you with feedback and next steps. I would definitely recommend them.” – katy kiely

11. Wallace Myers International

WEBSITEhttps://www.wallacemyers.ie/
ADDRESSDublin office, 26 Windsor Place,
Lower Pembroke Street,
Dublin DO2 NR25
CONTACT DETAILST: 01 440 8351
E: [email protected]
OPERATING HOURSContact for more information

Wallace Myers International is one of the best recruitment agencies for organisations looking for staffing solutions of the highest calibre, and has been so since 2010.

They’re the market leaders in professional recruitment and also lead the way in staffing disciplines like Accountancy, HR, Business Support, Sales, Business Development, Business Support, Multilingual, Financial Services, Construction, Life Science Engineering, Technology, and Executive Search.

We find that they’re one of the most efficient and professional individuals we’ve dealt with when it comes to recruitment. We think that their staff definitely knows what they’re doing.

From our experience, they stay in contact throughout the entire process and were very helpful through it all.

Although others can’t say the same. We’ve also heard of instances wherein they didn’t respond and were unhelpful with recruitment, so this might be something to watch out for.

On the whole, we’ve done extra research on others’ experiences and we can say we’ve come across more individuals that have had great experiences with them.

Pros

  • Global award winning agency
  • Helpful, knowledgeable and professionsal staff

Cons

  • Complaints from a few clients of not hearing from them

Customer Reviews

Here are some reviews from their clients:

“Had a chance to deal with Ken and can only give absolutely best review! Extremely happy with the level of service and communication provided.
Very professional and helpful. Would recommend to anyone that are looking for job and looking for a vacancy to be filled. 10/10″

“Exceptional. I had the pleasure of dealing with Alanna Mulcair. My experience was very professional, efficient with the personal touch. Can’t recommend highly enough.

How to Choose a Recruitment Agency for Jobseekers

Here are a few tips to further help you in your search:

1. Ask around

Ask relatives and friends who’ve utilised a recruitment agency to land their current job. They’ll be able to tell you about their experiences, how the recruitment agency helped them (or not), and so on.

It can also be helpful to ask those who belong to the same industry as you are. Who knows, you might even get a referral that can fast track your job search.

2. Research about the recruitment agency

Although not a guarantee, one way you can gauge the quality of a recruitment agency is by researching them online.

A good recruitment agency should have a Linkedin profile—see what it says about them. Are the job postings on their website updated? How new is their latest job advertisement? 

Look up online reviews from previous clients. How did the recruitment agency benefit them? Check the recruitment company’s credentials such as agency licence, awards, etc.

3. International recruitment

Are you specifically looking for job opportunities abroad? Not all recruitment agencies post international jobs, just so you know.

Moreover, inquire about how they can help you throughout the whole process of applying for a job outside the country, such as in terms of visa application, immigration laws, among others.

FAQs about the Best Recruitment Agencies in Cork


And that’s a wrap for our list featuring the best recruitment agencies in Cork! Hopefully, you find the talent your company needs or the job you’ve been waiting for via our choices.

If you believe there are other recruitment agencies that should have made it on our list, just ring us up! We’ll check them out right away!

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