Tried and tested benefits of outsourcing recruitment

An organisation is nothing but its people. And it is the recruitment function that brings the people. However, this vital function has always had its fair share of challenges. Some common in-house hiring challenges are timely hiring with quality, candidate no-shows during evaluation or joining, meeting Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) hiring needs, process latency, etc. These issues have a negative impact on the morale of the recruitment team as they see their efforts not yielding the desired results. Thankfully, the industry already has a proven and capable solution like Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) to overcome these challenges.

RPO is an effective hiring solution that creates a win-win situation for all stakeholders. Globally, the RPO market was worth USD 5.48 billion in 2019, with an expected growth of 18.5 per cent CAGR from 2020 to 2027. India is an integral part of this journey, thanks to the expansion of multinational companies and the availability of a large population of young professionals. This low-cost, skilled professional pool, along with other tried and tested benefits listed below, is propelling the growth of RPO in India.

1. 1. Smoother hiring: With the many challenges playing spoilsport, most recruitment teams struggle with chaos and delays. Smooth hiring makes for great candidate experiences and helps the recruitment team stay focussed and motivated. A few talent solution providers like Careernet have credible industry expertise and understanding to take over the entire recruitment process and streamline it to achieve the desired results. Their approach is more holistic and goes much beyond mere recruitment outsourcing. Their commitment to SLAs and knowledge ensure much smoother hiring than in-house recruitment teams. Besides, RPO providers take complete ownership along with risk management to ensure better conversion rates. They nullify the chances of a wrong hire and no-shows through efficient candidate engagement and creating a strong employer brand.
   2. Reduced time and cost: Hiring is a laborious process that involves multiple activities across lengthy timeframes. Drafting suitable JDs, identifying a marketing plan, sourcing, screening, etc., are all time-taking. All these efforts are rendered futile if people do not join as expected! Apart from the time and cost involved in redoing the whole jig, it is clearly worrying that the team’s morale and productivity will take a hit. There is a need to ensure the right hires at the right time. Outsourcing recruitment not only saves time as RPO providers have a well-oiled system but also saves money. Industry reports suggest reducing recruitment costs as one of the main drivers for RPO market growth. For example, in-house personnel time, travel and ad costs, etc., will now get passed to the RPO providers. The best part is the peace of mind that comes with knowing that candidates will join as planned. Besides, recruitment process outsourcing business models are highly flexible, with hiring cycle time reduction assured through SLAs.
   3. Better scalability and flexibility: Increasingly, organisations are opting for outsourced recruitment to counter dynamic scenarios. Unplanned scaling up of customer projects or servicing projects not part of the core business areas for a better Return of Investment(ROI)  requires professional help from an RPO service provider. They can hire at scale with speed, efficiency and quality. RPO is the best bet for niche hiring needs such as DEI and volume-hiring for a specific skill set. Thus, RPO helps organisational scalability and flexibility to ensure business continuity in uncertain times.
   4. Enhanced access to quality talent pools: RPO providers have established industry networks and quality databases, giving them access to good quality talent pools. They have access to large talent pools across the country, making it possible to find the best professionals for open positions. They also have the correct means to tap the passive candidates and engage with them to ensure they get convinced to make that move.
   5. Enhanced employer branding: One of the reasons why RPO providers succeed better with candidates, especially the passive ones, is employer branding. They know what it takes and help build your brand to make just the right impact on the candidates. They work like professional marketing agencies to ensure your branding succeeds across all hiring activities to appeal to the vast candidate community with whom they engage constantly. That is a huge plus to ensure conversions.
   
   6. Additional benefits of automation and analytics: Many RPO providers are tuned in to the times and trends and use tools and technology to create great candidate experiences. Some have proprietary tools to source, filter, engage, evaluate and interview. These tools, backed by state-of-the-art technologies such as AI, come with the added benefits of analytics. Automation improves operational efficiency, timelines and overall hiring experiences. Analytics improves various aspects through actionable insights, facilitating better decision-making.

These are some of the tried and tested benefits of outsourcing recruitment and selection processes that are trackable and measurable. Increased morale of the HR team, enhanced employee engagement and retention are some intangible benefits that add to its appeal. However, the key is to ensure you pick the right outsourcing partner for your recruitment. If you choose the wrong partner, rather than help you it will only add to your woes.