Annual planning is officially underway. And, that means firms need to anticipate business impact and identify areas where they should focus in 2016. While you can’t predict the future, you can use industry trends to inform your decisions.
We’re thrilled to introduce the new Global Staffing Trends report, which reveals how the search and staffing landscape will evolve in 2016. In this fifth edition, we surveyed 1,600 of your peers from 19 countries on their top priorities, potential challenges and opportunities.
In this year’s results, recruitment firm leaders identified three key priorities for the year ahead – growing their client base, being a strategic client partner, and improving sourcing techniques.
Check out this infographic to learn more about the top three priorities, and how you can apply them to your firm.
Let’s dive deeper into these trends...
1. Securing new clients
According to search and staffing leaders worldwide, growing their firm’s client base is the most important priority going into 2016 (46%). As more firms compete with each other to win over new clients, making your firm stand out becomes a challenge.
The best way to get the attention of potential clients is to take a page out of brand marketing’s playbook. 72% of search and staffing leaders agree that brand has a significant impact on their ability to grow business. Investing time and/or resources in your firm’s brand will extend firm awareness even further, and ultimately grow clientele.
For example, work with marketing colleagues on a positioning statement or put more resources in relationship-driven online channels.
2. Being a strategic client partner
Competition for new business is fierce, but you don’t want other firms poaching your current clients. That’s why being a strategic client partner is the number two priority for staffing firms (40%). Fostering better, more valuable relationships with clients will increase satisfaction and ultimately prevent them from leaving.
The best way to be a strategic partner is with data. However, only 43% of search and staffing leaders feel confident in measuring data to understand recruiting effectiveness. Up your data game with Talent Pool reports and candidate trends and use them to counsel your clients on their hiring strategies.
3. Improving sourcing techniques
To execute on those hiring strategies and further client satisfaction, you have to place quality candidates quickly. That's why improving sourcing techniques is the third top priority for staffing firms (29%). Recruiters need to keep their skills sharp and source through the most efficient channels.
Since social professional networks were the number one source of quality hires as well as quantity of hires, firms should focus sourcing in this sweet spot.
These are just a few of the fascinating results from our Global Staffing Trends report. Download the global and country-specific reports, and use them to drive your strategies for 2016 and beyond.
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Topics: Staffing agencies
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