In a market that is saturated with mediocre recruitment businesses, what differentiates one from the other? The simple answer is that you can’t. It is not the recruitment business that you are “transacting” with but the consultant.
The ethos that I have tried to promote with my teams in the past has been to let them use their own flare and style whilst dealing with customers, on the condition that they work ethically as well as treating candidates and clients with respect. This seems to be such a basic premise however it seems from clients and candidates alike that this simple practice is not followed. In allowing the team to be themselves, potential clients and candidates will generally warm to their personality.
So why does the recruitment industry have such a bad reputation? In my view the answer is simple! Consultants contact businesses at a point where they could be short staffed. Spending time speaking to 5 or 6 recruiters in a day is not an efficient use of already precious time. If you add to this consultant that is under pressure to attract and fill new business, it is not surprising that the devil in the detail is missed.
Switching to candidate experience gives a slightly different but related view of the recruitment industry. Consultants want to get candidates a job. If they do so then they are financially rewarded and keep their jobs. Not surprising then that a desperate consultant will shoehorn a candidate into the wrong job for the sake of a placement. This then results in a bad experience with candidate and client.
Able Bridge Recruitment is all about the basics and getting them right from the beginning. Understanding a job requirement, the candidate cultural fit within the team and wider company along with the reasons why the role has come to fruition and where it may be headed in the longer term are critical. All of this information proves vital to our success as we are able to add the narrative to potential new hires and paint a three dimensional picture. Obviously we are keen to place candidates but not to the detriment of a long term positive outcome and lasting client, candidate relationship. Going back to the original question, what differentiates one recruitment business to another – Surely it is about the day to day conversations that you have with your recruitment contact. If they are confident to give you good and bad feedback or observations about your image within the recruitment market then that is a good and healthy relationship.
If you want to have a conversation with one of the Able Bridge Recruitment team about this article or have a recruitment related query, please feel free to email us at info@ablebridge.co.uk or call 0131 202 3215 / 0141 739 7080.
