A corporate recruiter speaks
If you are a strong recruiter within a corporation, the need to use TPR's should be minimal. However, sometimes our cup runneth over with req's so there is the occasion where you need to call out to an industry expert to support or enhance your own corporate recruiting efforts.
And when I do pick up the phone, I expect a Third Party Recruiter to be a Recruiting Industry Expert. Perhaps that's my problem. Are my expectations too high? $10K to $25K on a placement to a TPR is a lotta loot!. So is it too much to ask that I receive a certain level of customer service? I'm not asking for a foot massage but please, please acknowledge that you've received my req at the very least!
I recently heard from a recruiter on our team that two of the TPR's she's been dealing with appeared to be "too busy to squeeze us in". When she called the TPR to ask why she'd heard nothing back from them on her request for assistance, she got five minutes of whinging that they were so busy dealing with other clients they didn't even have time to acknowledge receipt of our requirements, let alone work on them!
Another Account Manager that we've spoken to within a very well known agency let us know when we called in a need, that he was out on vacation and it wouldn't be touched for a week! (At least he set expectations!).
Bottom line:
(1) Understand the company. This is obviously Sales 101. If you're using that approach to target and acquire business, why wouldn't you carry it on once you've done so?
(2) Pick up the phone! You were expecting a req but havent received it. don't just shoot an email to your client. Pick up the phone, "Hi there, we're waiting for your requirement, have things changed?" Then, at least acknowledge the receipt of the req and give us a call to confirm!
From my personal experience, I have found the communication style from the smaller, more boutique/niche firms best fit my needs as opposed to the big TPR's.
With the larger firms you may be dealing with a different Account Manager or Recruiter over the next week/month as staff turn over is typically high and you have to repeat yourself all over again.
I also think that the structure within a larger agency tends to be sales driven and around "volume over quality" with a focus on commission based sales as opposed to understanding corporate recruitment needs.
Again, it's really a matter of getting back to basics. You've received the honor of doing business with a large corporation. So, don't be lazy. Move forward each day and gain our trust and respect. What does this result in? Repeat business, obviously!
By Sonya Morath (adapted from a comment on ERE)
