Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) agencies can help take the pressure off an overwhelmed or underprepared HR department by handling as little as one or two recruiting activities or taking over the entire operation.
A successful RPO agency can develop strategic solutions that add real value to recruiting and employment marketing by taking the time to learn the needs of the company, give the proper attention for successful operations, and provide definitive metrics to evaluate its strategies.
Here are 5 tips to help pick out the best RPO provider from the rest of the pack.
Understand Your Process
Research has shown that companies who make use of RPO providers are around 40% more likely to establish an effective talent pipeline for the company’s open positions.
The first step in telling if an RPO provider is the right fit for your company is by seeing how active and hands-on they are in immersing themselves in their client’s business operations and learning the company’s procedural processes inside and out. The right RPO should know your industry so well that they can use the insight to attract passive talent.
Identify the Reasons for Selecting RPO
To be successful, employers need to always be on top of the hottest trends in the recruiting industry and continuously establish industry best practices within the company’s hierarchy that are proven to either optimize current recruitment strategies or give it a complete facelift.
The worst thing an employer can say is that the company’s hiring strategies are “good enough.” Your competition, who do realize the importance of staying up to date on outsource recruiting practices, will pounce on your inaction, and damage your organization’s ability to successfully attract and keep high-end talent.
If the company’s outsource recruiting strategies are floundering, then it is time to swallow your pride and call in the experts. A skilled RPO provider will give you a fresh set of eyes on your hiring strategies by identifying the gaps you may be missing out due to bias or complete ignorance. It helps to pay for a service that will not hesitate to point out the flaws in the system, even if it is uncomfortable to hear.
Tactical Questions to Ask Regarding how A Provider Will Accomplish the Goals You Have
Giving an RPO the keys to filling out your staffing needs is a scary proposition. After all, the right workers are the foundation of a company’s success, and if that foundation is shaky than the entire operation can easily collapse like a house of cards.
So before choosing an RPO make sure to ask these critical questions beforehand:
Can You Successfully Meet Expectations for All My Recruiting Needs?
If the RPO provider eagerly replies “yes” then watch out. What separates a good RPO provider from the rest is one that can honestly assess your expectations and explain how they can either successfully meet, not meet, or adjust them. An RPO that feels confident about leveling expectations and not promising anything that in its expertise cannot be done, is a provider that will always have your back.
How Will You Learn About Our Company Before Proceeding?
If the RPO provider tells you that its recruitment outsourcing practices are a “one-size-fits-all” than cut the meeting short and find another provider that will take the necessary time to properly learn about your company, your industry, and your goals.
An RPO Solution Is a Collaborative Process that Requires a Commitment
The barometer to knowing if a partnership with an RPO provider is successful is by seeing if it leads to a long-term relationship. Like a marriage, the more one gets to know a spouse the easier it is to identify the unique needs and vulnerabilities the relationship may be hiding. Any RPO that can pick up on these nuances, without having them being pointed out, is a partner to keep for life.
Create Clear and Achievable Goals and Track/measure (RPO Reporting Capabilities)
When choosing an RPO agency, make sure its clients are provided with effective recruitment assessment metrics and reporting practices. Hire a reputable RPO that can provide and analyze these metrics competently even if it costs a bit more money. These evaluation tools are proven to provide invaluable insight into the recruitment strategies in use and ensures the company’s brand remains untarnished during the process.