Phone Scripts
Phone Script Templates for Staffing Agencies (2026)
In staffing, speed wins. When you miss a call, that client often calls the next agency and you lose the req. These scripts help you qualify roles fast, set expectations on markups and fees, and keep candidates moving—without sounding pushy or vague.
1) New Client Inquiry (General Staffing Request)
Use when a new company calls asking if you can help fill a role.
“Thanks for calling—this is [Name] with [Agency]. Are you calling about temp, temp-to-hire, or direct hire? What role are you hiring for, and what shift and start date are we working with? What pay rate or salary range are you targeting, and what’s the location and work type—on-site, hybrid, or remote? How many openings, and is this an urgent fill or part of a planned ramp-up? If you’re open to it, I can send a quick intake email and we can have your first 2–3 candidates submitted within [timeframe], once I confirm the details.”
Tips for this scenario
- -Ask for the “must-haves” vs “nice-to-haves” (certs, years of experience, software like SAP/QuickBooks, forklift, CDL, etc.) so you don’t waste submissions.
- -Confirm the decision-maker and the interview process: “Who approves, and how many interview steps?”
- -End with a clear next step: intake form + timeline for first submit (e.g., “by end of day” for temp, “48 hours” for direct hire).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
!You don’t ask whether the client needs temp, temp-to-hire, direct hire, or executive search—so you quote the wrong fee model and lose credibility.
!You accept a job order without confirming pay rate, shift, location, and start date—then you can’t recruit fast and you miss the submit window.
!You dodge pricing questions instead of giving clear ranges (temp 20–50% markup; direct hire 15–25%; exec search 25–33%), which makes the caller assume you’re expensive.
!You don’t confirm the interview process and decision-maker, so candidates sit with no feedback and you lose them to another agency.
!You rely on voicemail after hours—most hiring managers with an urgent req won’t leave a message; they’ll call the next staffing firm.
