3 ways to stand out in a competitive recruitment market
The 2017 UK Recruitment Index reports that growth has slowed down for recruitment agencies, but at the same time, more agencies are opening their doors for business than ever before.
The two things are no coincidence. The recruitment market has always been competitive, but now more than ever, that competition is starting to show. It’s harder to get candidates into your meetings rooms, consultants are hoping from agency to agency in ways they never used to and for every client meeting you have, there’s six other agencies waiting to meet them the next day. Exclusive business has become a myth, so how do you keep your agency afloat and let people know just how different you are?
1. Be a maestro
If we say maestro, you automatically start thinking of music and conductors. You’re not going to think of piano manufactures or violinists, because it’s very obvious to everyone that’s not what a maestro does. Be your own maestro in your specific field. Find you niche, buckle down with it, be the best in the market for it and become known for your area of specialism. As tempting as it is to diversify, it will make it harder to compete and stand out when you’re grabbing at so many different industries. Stay in your lane has never been truer.
2. Build humanness
Of course you have to be known for the work you do, but you also need to build a human personality in your brand. One that can attract internal talent, candidates and most importantly, clients. People will listen to how you talk to them rather than what you said, so weave human stories into your branding constantly. Whether online, in office or in meetings, tell human stories about your business that make you more than just another generic recruitment business. You could tell the stories of your consultants or your clients. As a people’s business, the recruitment industry has so many stories to tell.
3. Be a destination employer
It’s hard to compete with other recruitment agencies if your talent keeps walking out the door, and you certainly won’t be able to stand out. Think about yourself as a destination, and work to attract customers, your consultants, to essentially holiday with you. They have to want to visit you, to engage with you and ultimately work for you. Currently recruitment agencies are behind the curve when it comes to being a destination employer, so there’s a huge opportunity to start building your own brand and employer proposition in the market. That includes looking at your culture, what you stand for, who you are, and what you believe in. In addition, how do you engage with them before they start, how do you onboard them to make them feel part of the team and what do you offer them that other agencies aren’t. Which is not to say perks, but the other stuff that really matters. Like inclusion and career progression and a voice that’s heard.
Give your recruitment agency the best chance of success, and of being heard in a very, very, noisy market.
