Businesses of all sizes have made changes and sacrifices to endure the economic fallout experienced during the last 24 months. Cutting costs makes sense from a management perspective with corporate down-sizing, layoffs, and outsourcing of positions. Expectations have risen to do more with less, but “running lean” takes a toll on the human factor, the people talent.  Today’s economic climate forces businesses and organizations to make tough choices concerning its employees – which are both one of its greatest assets and its biggest expenses. 

Staggering unemployment rates have made for an employer’s market.  As a staffing firm representative, a common comment that I hear is, “Candidates are in abundance, why should I pay for your service fees?”  To some, today’s market seems to negate the consideration to use a staffing partner.  Candidate abundance is a reality, a shockingly overwhelming reality to hiring officials. Companies are inundated with a vast number of responses to job postings so that choice to screen and interview becomes time intensive. Choosing to partner with a staffing recruiter can prove to be a time saver. The dollar signs associated with paying a staffing firm is a reasonable business expense that more businesses are incorporating to annual budgets and strategic planning. 

As one local engineering client commented to me, “I have received more than 150 resumes for an administrative assistant role, so the need to bring on a temporary individual is necessary while we complete our full search process.” I had the right candidate, with impeccable skills, glowing references, and ironically who offered previous administrative experience in the field to fit the position. After a thorough search conducted on their own, with many advertising dollars spent, it was determined that Rachel, my temporary candidate currently working in the position, was the best match for the job.

Using recruiting resources should be a strategic consideration to your business plan. Employment costs such as insurance, healthcare, taxes, and benefits are soaring at the same time companies are under significant pressure to do more with less. The answer to managing these costs, maintaining productivity with fewer employees, and preparing for economic recovery is part of the strategic staffing agenda businesses face. 

A business that lacks an HR department or that has not used a staffing recruiter should consider the positives and values to a staffing partnership. The marketplace is much different now from recent years. The sheer number of people looking for employment at this time is a valid reason to invest in a staffing vendor relationship. These relationships will provide assistance in the search process for the best fit in addition to helping enhance bottom line profits so business plans get executed while keeping costly hiring mistakes to a minimum. 

Why companies use professional recruiters
Whether your company is looking for a candidate with a specialized need or skill set, or has a challenging position to fill that requires a great investment of your time, partnering with a professional can help you fill your positions faster.

Recruiters provide several value factors and eliminate time consuming tasks of the initial recruitment process. Staffing firms have the ability to advertise on specific and usually expensive job boards, eliminating your advertising costs, in addition to posting positions to its networking organizations and membership Web sites. Once a candidate is selected, a staffing firm will save you time by reviewing resumes, qualifying candidates, checking references, and screening backgrounds.

Respected, reputable, and well-networked recruiters know who to connect with to identify potential prospects. They have built rapport and have relationships with individuals from various industries to candidates’ motives and are able to determine what it will take for a candidate to consider a job or career change, thus eliminating candidates who are unsuitable and do not fit the profile.

Candidate connections and sources may be currently employed and wish to maintain confidentiality by working through a recruiter. Other candidate’s may not be actively searching for a job or responding to job postings. A professional recruiter will find these passive job seekers and work to recruit them for a new opportunity.

Businesses that plan to terminate existing employees often turn to recruiters to confidentiality start the search process and identify and bring in candidates so business operations remain uninterrupted. Recruiters will maintain your company’s confidentially and protect your company’s interest.

Companies that do not have HR departments or the resources on hand to conduct candidate searches should hire recruiters and staffing vendors. Recruiters provide expertise and guidance as a professional consultant to guide the interview process so that businesses devote time to interviewing only the most qualified candidates.

Recruiters handle the salary and benefit topic upfront with all parties involved. The negotiation process is set up to move the offer process forward eliminating chances of an offer decline. All parties involved with the hiring and interview process understand the dynamics of the position’s role, expectations, basic salary, and benefits information.

Using a professional recruiter is a big cost savings. If a hired candidate resigns within 30 – 90 days depending on the level of the position, a replacement guarantee is provided. The recruiter will continue to recruit and refer suitable candidates at no additional charge. 

Recruiters provide open and honest feedback and communication to hiring officials offering industry trends, current market demands, competition, and industry information.

An effective professional recruiter will work hard to gain your trust, establish a long-term relationship, and take the time to fully understand the company culture, organizational dynamics, and scope of the position to bring the right individual in ensuring a return on your investment and a long-term commitment by the new hire.

If you are involved in the hiring decisions of your organization either as a business owner, department manager, or human resources professional, working with a staffing recruiter can be a vital component to your organization’s strategic business plan and can aid in the hiring process by scouting talent and providing the best candidate match. 

A quality staffing vendor will provide trust, experience, and value. The recruiter’s ability and unique access to a vast range of candidates is one of the most essential benefits offered to business clients. By engaging in a staffing partnership, you can quickly fill a need with the assistance of using a staffing recruiter to search for the right candidate with the necessary skill set and experience. Those hard to find candidates can be used for specialized projects, seasonal needs, or hired on for a regular full-time position. This flexibility is another reason why smart businesses achieve a competitive advantage, keeping payroll and benefits expenses to a minimum.

Angie Smathers, Celebrity Staff Senior Account Manager

About Angie Smathers
Angie Smathers joined the team at Celebrity Staff in 1998 and has been in her current role as a senior account manager for the Lincoln branch since 2005. Angie has had great success cultivating and maintaing lasting business relationships with clients across all industries. She has worked with hundreds of businesses and made successful candidate placements that have resulted in long-term commitments and career paths. She enjoys identifying top talent and assisting clients to help make smart hiring decisions that meet business goals. In 2007 and 2008 Angie earned President Club, Celebrity Staff’s top sales award. She is a member of Lincoln Human Resource Management Association (LHRMA) and has served on the planning committee for the Nebraska Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) conference. She is currently studying to complete her Certified Staffing Professional designation and in her free time she enjoys time with her family and friends, traveling, exercising and looks forward to taking up a new hobby — golf!