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96% of respondents expect their staffing firms to grow this year, according to our 2023 State of Staffing survey.
At the same time, staffing leaders also recognize that operating more efficiently and productively than ever is going to be critical to reach those growth goals.
In a panel discussion with leaders from SIA’s recently announced “Best Staffing Firms to Work For”, we dug deeper into what specifically sets apart the best staffing firms and how they’re achieving efficient growth.
This article features insights from Candace Clow (Founder & CEO at Marvel Medical Staffing), Chris Sund (Chief Operating Officer at Uniti Med), and Jessica Wheeler (District Manager at Burnett Specialists). Here is a roundup of key takeaways from the session.
In an uncertain economy, staffing teams are leaner than ever. Recruiters just have too much on their plates. Within the past year, a staggering 89% of workers have reported experiencing burnout.
Creating a healthy organizational culture is critical to supporting internal teams and preventing burnout in a highly competitive recruitment market, according to Chris.
“One of our biggest initiatives is the ‘rehumanizing’ campaign that prioritizes the health of our employees. If they get too burned out, they will not be able to work at their optimal efficiency.”, shared Candace. As a part of this campaign, Marvel Medical Staffing provides mental health resources to their employees and ensures that the leadership is open to discussing mental health.
It’s important to lean into the mission statement and values when bringing in new hires, and examine if your core values ring true with your employees.
Burnett Specialists are proud of their ‘family-first ’culture. They offer flexibility with remote/hybrid working options and a healthy work-life balance. Adapting to changing staff needs, staying ahead of the technology curve, and offering remote work options have helped keep the company successful.
The industry has changed massively in the last three years. In our research of 1000+ job seekers, 32% cited 'career advancement/upskilling opportunities' as a non-negotiable when job hunting. Talent expectations have evolved, and staffing firms are adapting to the changing needs of their staff.
Create an environment where employees can thrive and become the best version of themselves, both professionally and personally. Uniti Med, for example, prioritizes employee training and development by providing weekly training and investing in outside resources for leadership, sales, and personal development.
Provide access to useful resources, encourage mentorship and networking, and chart out a career advancement plan for employees. Investing in your employees' professional growth will improve employee retention rates and ultimately, a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce will elevate your client service.
While there are certain nuances to supporting internal talent versus recruiting externally for clients, a first-class talent experience is a universal expectation.
“Our thematic goal of this year is to impact the customer experience at every level for our travelers, clients, and business partners,” says Chris. Uniti Med’s employees spend time every week sharing stories of colleagues who have gone above and beyond in living the company's core values. They also express appreciation to the healthcare travelers, clients, and business partners they work with.
Burnett Specialists communicates with internal and external talent through several channels, such as phone, text, email, and social media. Using Sense, they are able to reach employees and contractors through various channels and communicate consistently about the available benefits, such as the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) policy. Providing frequent and transparent communication to both internal and external talent is key to building trust in a shifting economy, says Jessica. They ensure transparency by sharing consistent communication about the company's financial position to educate and empower their employees.
For Marvel Medical Staffing, one of the biggest areas of focus is to create better alignments with talent in healthcare and the needs of healthcare facilities. Candace emphasized that consistent communication plays a big role in maintaining transparency with recruiters as well as travelers.
Today’s staffing firms are operating leaner than ever, and the right technology plays a critical role in helping you meet candidate expectations. According to our State of Staffing research, these are the top three automation capabilities staffing companies plan to invest in this year:
“We are not looking to create robots or have technology take any of our positions. Instead, I believe in using technology to transform our employees into superheroes,” says Chris. Technology allows recruiters to spend more time on the things that really matter and provide candidates with the information they need to be successful in their roles. “Sense has been particularly helpful in this regard, helping us remember and streamline the things that matter,” he adds.
Staffing technology, like Sense, enhances the personal touch by answering candidate questions instantly and ensuring that great candidates don’t fall through the cracks. Using technology frees up more time for recruiters to connect with clients and professionals and build deeper relationships.
These strategies set the ‘Best Staffing Firms’ apart, and there are some valuable lessons to be learned from their experiences. Earlier this year, we surveyed nearly 450 staffing leaders in over a dozen verticals to understand their challenges and priorities for 2023. Download the 2023 State of Staffing report here.
