Is Your Recruitment Partner a Fiat or a Tesla?
Choosing your suppliers
I have just gone through the process of leasing a new electric car. After a little bit of research, I decided on a specialist Electric Vehicle leasing company that could not only get the car I wanted at a reasonable price but crucially, could deliver it in just over a week!
I could have sourced a cheaper car if it was all about price (and I didn’t mind waiting 3-months), but in the end, I think the company we chose offered the best value given our circumstances.
Going through the process got me thinking about the recruitment industry…
I understand the importance of ‘value for money’ when choosing which suppliers to partner with, and recruitment shouldn’t be any different, but I’ve lost track of the number of times clients have asked if we could match Agency X, who have offered to work at 10%, without any discussion about what’s included in the service or the value proposition.
This implies that all recruitment companies do the same job… and they do, in the sense that a Landrover Discovery, a Tesla, and a Fiat500 all do the same job. In the right environment, each of these cars perform well, but put them in the wrong environment and they will inevitably struggle!
You wouldn’t go into a Landrover dealership and offer them £15,775 for a top-of-the-range Discovery, just because you’ve been quoted the same price for a basic Fiat500.
So here is my advice…
When considering your next recruitment partner (or any other supplier), before jumping straight into a conversation about price, do your research. Look at their websites, read their blogs, look at their social media and how they engage with your target market. Look at the LinkedIn profiles of their consultants, and when it comes to speaking to them, instead of focusing solely on cost, ask extra questions about how they create value…
- How long have you worked in the industry?
- Do you have experience in our specific sector?
- Who else do you work with?
- How well do you know the local area?
- Do our brands/’tone of voice’ align?
- What tools and platforms will you be using?
- What sets you apart from the competition?
- What’s your reputation like in the area?
- Can you take me through your process?
- How does your technology compare to your competitors?
- How visible are you in the market?
- Where would this project be on your priority list?
Like cars, you will likely find some are offering a basic model that will fall apart the minute things get a bit shaky, while others include leather seats and heated steering wheels as standard to keep you comfortable throughout your journey!
The Burford Recruitment Company – helping businesses build great teams across the Cotswolds.
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