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The More Things Change, The More Things Stay The Same

As a 20-plus-year veteran in the staffing business, I have been able to observe many changes that have affected the industry. Some have been game changers, while others have been dismissed pretty quickly. Technology, specifically the explosion of online search engines, has been the biggest driver of change. Every one of these sites claims that it can find that “diamond in the rough” the others can’t. One thing in the industry that has always remained the same is that people (job seekers) still have to interact with other people (employers) in order to ensure a match. Perhaps one day there will be an algorithm that takes even this integral piece out of the process, but I haven’t seen it so far.

 

Another major factor that drives the staffing industry is the supply and demand of skilled workers who are willing to leave their current position for another. In my experience, the average recruiter will unwittingly seek what we call “the best of the unemployed.” These are the candidates who post their resumes on various job boards looking for their next gig. However, a great staffing firm trains its recruiters to search for the best candidate out there, even if it means considering people who are currently employed. Recruiters should look under every rock for the best of the best. Referrals from others, having a comprehensive database, and having the ability to understand the actual role and the needs of the client are paramount to this process.

 

Don’t get me wrong—there are some excellent and qualified individuals in this limited pool of people. But if an employer is paying a staffing firm a fee, I believe that firm owes it to the client to go above and beyond what I consider to be a mediocre search.

 

Written by Marc S.Berman, President and CEO of  Vector Talent Resources. For more information about how Vector Talent Resources can help you, contact Marc at marc@vectortalent.com or call us at 703.639.2160.

 

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