recruitment process outsourcing for start-ups: five compelling benefits.

Innovation in the recruitment space is picking up speed as hiring volumes increase globally. Hackathons, social recruiting, networking events, etc. are emerging as the new ways companies are using to attract and hire talent. Of these, one of the most notable trends is the shift towards recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) wherein businesses are increasingly outsourcing their partial or complete recruitment function to specialist firms, in order to focus better on their core competencies. For start-up companies, RPOs make a particularly compelling offering as attracting talent is one of the key challenges, yet a top priority of any business in its initial stages.

Here are five benefits a start-up business can avail by partnering with a RPO provider:

1. Improved quality of hires:

Putting the right people in the right jobs is particularly critical for start-ups as they have much to lose if they don’t get the right talent to put plans into action. For a RPO provider, this is the primary metric, to achieve which they invest great time and energy. From drafting and refining job descriptions to leveraging innovative job distribution channels such as social media, events, etc. RPO providers go beyond skills and qualifications to source candidates having the essential attributes a start-up business looks for – self-driven, go-getter mindset, and multi-taskers. They also leverage their knowledge of people analytics to sift through applications and shortlist only the right candidates to fill the talent acquisition funnel.

2. On-demand scalability and speed:

Whether a start-up is experiencing rapid growth or seasonal spikes, they often need their recruitment capacity to scale as and when the need arises, in contrast to large organisations who often hire throughout the year. Engaging with a RPO provides a perfect solution to effectively handle fluctuating recruiting activity, at the speed the business requires, without letting it impact continuity in any way.

3. Improved employee value proposition (EVP):

A strong EVP is a company’s ticket to attract, hire, and retain top talent without having to pay compensation premiums. For a start-up, it is particularly important to invest in building the right EVP as it allows them to source candidates from a much deeper talent pool, besides improving the company’s attractiveness to job seekers, improving commitment among new hires, productivity, morale, and loyalty. By handling the recruitment process from start-to-finish, promoting a positive candidate experience, and using the right tools and practices, a RPO can help boost a company’s EVP significantly.

4. Improved compliance:

Start-ups often do not have enough internal resources to screen candidate profiles for their background, work experience and qualifications, and adhere to geo-specific hiring regulations. Engaging with a RPO ensures all candidates that pass through the recruitment funnel are adequately screened and that HR policies are in line with regulatory requirements, alleviating fears of reputational and legal damages that come with non-compliance.

5. Better cost-benefit advantage:

This is one of the top most benefits that makes a compelling case for start-ups to engage with a RPO provider. By leveraging their expertise in recruitment, using the right technologies, streamlining hiring processes, and introducing proven best practices, a RPO can help ensure a robust talent pipeline to fill open job positions quickly, with less time and money spent.

Easing the pain for start-ups

Start-up businesses are often constrained from all angles – budget, marketing, talent, logistics, competition, etc. Partnering with a RPO helps ease their talent stress to a large extent and once the right people are seated on the right seats in the bus, it is often a smooth ride from thereon.