How a True Staffing Partnership Raises the Quality of Your Workforce
There’s a difference between a staffing partner who becomes a strategic long-term partner and a transactional service provider. A true partnership with a professional staffing firm will look and feel different in the daily conversations as it generates additional strategic value that ripples across your organization.
When a staffing relationship is collaborative and formed around shared values and goals, it can level up productivity, influence your ability to seize opportunities, and help you build and retain your vital workforce faster and more efficiently than otherwise. Let’s dive into how a well-paired staffing partner can be a formidable asset in your workforce initiatives.
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Mutual Core Values and Shared Commitment to Long Term Success
Successful partnerships arise from shared values and mutual respect. To forge a true collaboration, companies should look for a staffing partner who can deliver the right talent and is willing to invest time in understanding the company’s strategic goals, culture, and approach to taking care of people. This involves open, honest, and regular communication. “Successful partnerships require staying on the same page. It includes weekly conversations, joint planning sessions, and a shared commitment to the company’s long-term success,” Wes Pheifer, Vice President of Staffing, Equiliem.
“The greatest success for us is when a client brings us to the table to solve challenges,” said Pheifer. “When we join with clients in reaching a workforce opportunity and bring solutions that can expedite a bulk hire, or help a company build out teams in alignment with growth, or respond to a change in the business environment, we are collaborating in step with our clients, and even anticipating next steps,” Pheifer said that the groundwork of understanding a partner’s business model and people philosophies is a crucial prerequisite when the time comes for delivering results.
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Agility and Responsiveness
Enhanced business agility is one of the foremost advantages of a long-term partnership with a staffing firm. When businesses engage with a staffing partner on a long-term basis, the partner gains a deep understanding of the company’s culture, needs, and the specific skill sets required.
Pheifer said, “We build a depth of knowledge with our partners, hiring manager by hiring manager, and department by department. By sharing in your corporate collective consciousness, we can act as an extension of your organization and react swiftly, for example, providing a white-glove onboarding during a merger or reducing downtime during a project transition.”
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Economies of Scale and Efficiency
Working with a primary staffing partner also brings about economies of scale. The more a company utilizes a staffing firm’s services, the more cost-effective those services become. Negotiating bulk rates or bundled services is often possible with a long-term partner but impractical with ad hoc, short-term relationships. Pheifer said, “Administrative efficiency is greatly enhanced when working with one provider instead of managing multiple contracts and contacts.”
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Sustained Competitive Advantage
Engaging with a single staffing partner over a long period allows businesses to develop a strategic edge. A staffing firm that understands the nuances of a company’s industry can better strategize to meet its evolving needs. This can include offering insights into the latest industry trends, competitor activities, and innovations in talent management. “We invest in ongoing education and staying on top of what’s going so we can advise our partners,” said Pheifer. He explained that insights and guidance get diluted for employers when they work with multiple, less-involved partners. “Taking pride in supporting our clients requires commitment and focus, and we believe it distinguishes a true partner.”
The Long-Term Advantage
Like any good relationship, a true staffing partnership takes time to establish a foundation of trust and mutual understanding. Pheifer said, “The investment in building a partnership may feel initially intangible, but it’s like sowing seeds. When the results begin to show, they grow exponentially.”
The impact of agility, responsiveness, and the ability to scale efficiently creates a strategic advantage that creates significant bottom-line results.