Different take on recruitment - advice please

[sjb84]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a little bit of advice regarding essentially the start up of a online recruitment business - but with a slightly different take on the whole process.

I'm just looking for like minded people's views really, I realize the market is saturated but it is saturated with near enough identical agencies - sign up, upload your CV, apply for positions etc etc. I am hoping to provide a different approach and forgive me for not going into to much ( hardly any) detail I am just slightly sceptical of forums as such ( No offence meant)

Any views would be much appreciated

Thanks

 

[Richie N]

How are people meant to give their views if you aren't willing to share what exactly you are going to do?
What exactly is it that will make yours different from other job sites?

 

[EstherG]

Hello

I know about recruitment and business but like Richie says it's hard to comment without more details.

The sector is saturated but it doesn't meant that employer's don't still use the services of new recruiters. In my opinion it's people that make the difference not shiny websites and online gadgets (but then I don't know what online gadgets you've got up your sleeve!)

Esther

 

[sjb84]

OK given, talking from experience the nature of the sector has a 'hard sell' prospective, and from market research I have collected the vast majority of companies to use recruiters have been left dis-satisfied. This is mainly due to sub standard service, providing totally irrelevant applicants for positions etc, secondly the fee structure's used by many recruiters simply is in my opinion way to high for current times.

Simply, as ridiculous as it sounds, the concept I aiming for is a more morally and ethically sound alternative, providing solutions based more around the situation of the employer and building bridges on a sound business conduct.

Hope that helps

 

[Richie N]

OK given, talking from experience the nature of the sector has a 'hard sell' prospective, and from market research I have collected the vast majority of companies to use recruiters have been left dis-satisfied. This is mainly due to sub standard service, providing totally irrelevant applicants for positions etc, secondly the fee structure's used by many recruiters simply is in my opinion way to high for current times.

Simply, as ridiculous as it sounds, the concept I aiming for is a more morally and ethically sound alternative, providing solutions based more around the situation of the employer and building bridges on a sound business conduct.

Hope that helps

Don't think you are doing anything different.
There are your traditional agencies out there, there are the ones that offer a low fee.
Many job sites offer multiple postings, free postings.
What is your USP?

 

[Deleted member 138423]

OK given, talking from experience the nature of the sector has a 'hard sell' prospective, and from market research I have collected the vast majority of companies to use recruiters have been left dis-satisfied. This is mainly due to sub standard service, providing totally irrelevant applicants for positions etc, secondly the fee structure's used by many recruiters simply is in my opinion way to high for current times.

Simply, as ridiculous as it sounds, the concept I aiming for is a more morally and ethically sound alternative, providing solutions based more around the situation of the employer and building bridges on a sound business conduct.

Hope that helps

So, IT then?

 

[sjb84]

An option that I was toying with was incorporating the use of a small video clip (1.30 - 2 min), not to replace the CV or make it more time consuming to screen applicants but as an add when the CV has been screened. Dependent on the candidate would be the choice of how they use the video, as I say it's an idea but one with I believe quite an abundance of possibilities.

 

[Deleted member 138423]

In recruitment, there are many, many ways to skin the proverbial cat! Why not call and do some research with potential client companies and ask them. A favourite question to ask is 'what currently do you dislike about recruitment agencies?' followed by, 'what in your opinion would you feel would be a much better way of recruiting for you?'

 

[thelegalstop]

I did not really quite catch the difference, so at the first place, make sure to get your USP (unique selling point) sending a clearer message. I like the video idea, but many people might be reluctant to upload a video of themselves, so it can be an extra to the services you offer. however, have you thought that these video messages might take the wrong message to the employer or even cause discrimination. How would you avoid this?

 

[NicholasTaylor]

I don't know much about this side of things - but I can tell you what i've experienced from being 'headhunted' quite a few times for a whole plethora of digital marketing jobs.

Firstly, I've experienced the good recruiter and the bad one.

The good recruiter was 100% honest with me, personable, listened to my queries and responded with facts - not assumptions.

The bad recruiter was a chancer. He said 'Give it a go.' He had no concerns that I potentially wasn't the right man for the position offered - even when I voiced this to him, he persisted to give a shot. I did, it went badly.

I see you said about Video recordings - personally this would scare me off. Simply for the reason that I want to talk to people, not equipment. I can see the appeal for some - but for me...nada.

One thing I HATE about going through a recruitment agency is the absence of the personal approach you receive from the person actually hiring. Honestly I've felt like I'd been selected from a vending machine, dumped in their hands to prod about a bit and thrown in the trash if I wasn't their favourite. No response from them, often none from the recruitment agency itself.

Best of luck on your venture if you decide to go ahead

 

[Deleted member 138423]

One thing I HATE about going through a recruitment agency is the absence of the personal approach you receive from the person actually hiring. Honestly I've felt like I'd been selected from a vending machine, dumped in their hands to prod about a bit and thrown in the trash if I wasn't their favourite. No response from them, often none from the recruitment agency itself.

You've not had the pleasure of a highly experienced and professional recruiter or consultancy! If you had, you would have had a completely opposite view afterwards. It's a shame you haven't, and that's the reason the recruiting industry has a great deal to live up to.

 

[sjb84]

legalstop, I have considered the discrimination impact but do not all businesses need to be aware of the discrimination act? And if they are considered to have discriminated is that not their problem and not mine? ( If that sounds funny it really isn't meant to) Just have alot of questions

The main reason I thought of the video aspect, and yes it can be optional, was mainly due to the chaniging face of the way people are trying to make theirselvers standout, do you remember the guy who spent his last £500 on a bilboard? ( Ok, might not of been his last bit of cash but it worked).

Secondly, Nicholas, the video is not an attempt to replace the people aspect, it's merely a opportunity to show the recruiters more than text in a document.

The thing you HATE i totally agree with, having experienced it numerous occasions, both from the job seekers point of view and from the 'headhunted' view. Is it to much to ask for an
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']acknowlegment [/FONT]of applying for a position? This is what I aim to do, that personal touch and the video aspect as well as more
Thank you both for the replies and hope to hear more

 

[Richie N]

There are already sites doing videos, it's nothing new...

 

[sjb84]

Sorry about the typo's in the previous post, didn;t read it before posting

 

[sjb84]

I'm not saying that there isn't sites already doing it, but I just think there is alot more they can do with the concept

 

[aronpaul_martins]

Hi there,

I would like to add something from a personal point of view. Niche areas or fields which constantly needs skilled work force might be something to look into. They have come up a lot in the last decade and are making a decent amount of money as well. For instances A recruitment company that deals with employment of web design or development skilled people.

Recruitment as a market is really huge and provides a great deal of opportunity as well. All the very best

 

[SarahDinnage]

Just to add my two pennies because I have to..

You mentioned as a candidate you hate not being contacted/advised whats happening.

Can I ask, do you have a phone and email account because you should be asking them what is going on. As a recruiter I spend 50% of my time leaving answer messages for candidates never to come back to me. Mainly because they have found a job, or changed a mobile number.

Candidates put the onus on us to constantly be in communication with them. Our candidates are asked to call in once a week for a touch base because actually it works both ways and we are not mind readers, pick 2 agencies and build good communication with them.

 

[NicholasTaylor]

Just to add my two pennies because I have to..

You mentioned as a candidate you hate not being contacted/advised whats happening.

Can I ask, do you have a phone and email account because you should be asking them what is going on. As a recruiter I spend 50% of my time leaving answer messages for candidates never to come back to me. Mainly because they have found a job, or changed a mobile number.

Candidates put the onus on us to constantly be in communication with them. Our candidates are asked to call in once a week for a touch base because actually it works both ways and we are not mind readers, pick 2 agencies and build good communication with them.

I'm assuming this was directed at me?

Of course I follow up on goings-on. I'm very keen to chase up my hard work and see what people thought - even if it's bad news. Never had any recruiter come back to me...

 

[10032012]

OP, as Richie said... video CVs are nothing new, but they wont take off, they haven't took off. Sites been experimenting this that get million of uniques each month... its not their main business, its stalled.

Recruitment is about prejudice on the first ten seconds or less... no one is going to shoot themselves in the foot with a video CV. But this isn't the main reason... a video CV is like a virtual pre-recorded preliminary interview... the problem being that recruiters do not have the 5 minutes or so to watch videos from each job candidate, and make a judgement on it. Rarely will companies spend more than 30 seconds (that is very rare) skimming through CVs and reading details.

Digitally, focus is on keywords matching... a computer can easily in micro seconds determine a CV if it has the right skills, qualifications and even the right university. This is overtaking the only fashioned manual CV reading... this is where the money is... replacing this newish method that saves time (I argue it doesn't normally equate to the best candidates) with one which takes longer than the manual CV reading is plain stupid.

Sarah, this is because most recruiters at many agencies are dishonest salespeople (not suggesting you are)... promising the earth... the candidate registers for the agency expecting the contract is that the agency will contact them with suitable vacancies... and then being expected to touch-based twice a week to ask if suitable vacancies exist... then being told no.

Having job candidates calling often is a bad expense for having telephones manned just to fob people off... after all, if you have the ideal candidate for a client, you contact them! You don't wait for them to call you to ask for vacancies... this is the best way, for BOTH parties.

I appreciate that people not returning your call/message is frustrating and rude. Many people do not have courtesy.

OP, I cannot advise you as I have a conflict of interest.

 

[SarahDinnage]

Nicolas Taylor: "I'm assuming this was directed at me?

Of course I follow up on goings-on. I'm very keen to chase up my hard work and see what people thought - even if it's bad news. Never had any recruiter come back to me..."

If you have (never) had a recruiter return a call then there is an issue somewhere, assuming you had applied for multiple roles that sounds like a lot of recruiters and they cant all be the same. So either thats an over exageration or you need to be looking at the reputation of the agencies you are registering with more closely.

On linked in there are several threads from candidates, saying similar (so its an established issue) and defensive recruiters who are proud of what they do and for the most do a great job, there is no easy solution to it, other then for individual recruiters to continue to build good relationships and for candidates to use reporting tools like hirescores.

From the other side of the coin - I had 3 candidates booked in for interviews call in with "sickness" on the Tues after bank holiday..sadly its just as easy come easy go there. Without being tied into a contract people will do as they please.

If candidates paid to register with an agent (which is illegal in the UK) then no doubt you'd get swift responses/regular updates and a lot of coaching, however the money comes from the client so the onus is clientside. Sad - but true.

 

[Deleted member 138423]

I guess Sarah that's the nature of your industry; but in terms of references (I bet they were all still bevied up from the BH Monday!!) on these potential interviewees, did they come back as reliable people, good to their word, or does this happen a lot with you?

 

[SarahDinnage]

Well we usually have a few who change minds along the way or they get job offers which is fine of course. We usually build up a good enough relationship to be able to tell and anyone flakey wont have got far enough to go clientside.

I normally make a point not to book interviews in after a bank holiday, because you always always get the "vomit" calls. Generally when the weather has been kind. I think I would almost rather they said "Look had a cracking bank holiday, just not really up for gearing myself up for an interview - can we re-arrange it.

One of my clients said to me on Tuesday "you are dealing with people - what do you expect..commitment". Well..yes if I am representing you, and telling people how good you are..I do. I dont like it when the candidates dont return calls/emails or let us down, then they pout when we dont call them (because we have a crystal ball and know they need us right then x that by 19000 candidates we have registered and you will get an idea of the scale.

 

[Deleted member 138423]

Ah recruitment, would you have it any other way

It still astounds me how so many so called recruitment companies can get it so wrong!

 

[sjb84]

10032012 why do you have a conflict of interest?

I wasn't saying that the idea is on sole use of a video CV - i get the whole 30 second to make an impression thing.

I was simply asking advice/opinions on what people thought about the viability of starting a web-based recruitment business??

In medical terms I was simply looking for a second opinion

 

[10032012]

10032012 why do you have a conflict of interest?

I wasn't saying that the idea is on sole use of a video CV - i get the whole 30 second to make an impression thing.

I was simply asking advice/opinions on what people thought about the viability of starting a web-based recruitment business??

In medical terms I was simply looking for a second opinion

I have a recruitment business ticking over - waiting for the "recession agencies" (the "I cannot get a job I should start a business..." all good and proactive... "in the recruitment sector as so many people are unemployed, so must mean money" types) to collapse before making a move.

I am keeping my cards to my chest quite firmly. I would rather keep quiet than give biased advice.

What I will add is... Its not a be-all-and-end-all but web-based agencies normally fail easily, you could really do with that high street location. People use 1 of about 7 major job boards to seek work online, they do not really search for agencies. Proactive job seekers do the whole agency crawl thing once in a while. its also about building the brand and brand awareness.

This said, please have a web presence... so many small agencies have the mandatory website but no details of current vacancies... wasted opportunity.

 

[sjb84]

Thanks for the reply, I can safley say Im not one of the 'recession agency types; but totally understand where you are coming from.