For many recruiters, especially solopreneurs, there is an unspoken pressure to do everything ourselves.

We win the client, take the brief, source candidates, manage expectations and ultimately deliver the placement. It’s what we’re good at.

But what happens when a role becomes stubbornly difficult to fill?

The market has changed. Candidate shortages are commonplace in specialist sectors, and clients still expect exceptional results.

Too often, recruiters respond by simply working harder. More searches. More calls. More hours.

Work smarter

The problem? Working harder doesn’t always produce better outcomes. I have fallen victim of this myself at times. It always reminds me to try and work smarter – not necessarily longer.

In fact, one of the biggest mistakes recruiters can make is seeing every other recruiter as competition.

I see things differently and believe that recruitment should be a team sport.

Some of the most successful placements I’ve been involved in haven’t come from going it alone. They’ve come from collaboration.

Over many years, I’ve built strong networks and specialist expertise across sectors and increasingly I’ve found myself helping fellow recruitment partners who have a vacancy that’s proving difficult to fill.

Candidate pools

They have exhausted their immediate candidate pools and time is ticking. Perhaps the client is becoming impatient too.

Instead of losing the placement, they decide to collaborate.

At Macstaff, I regularly work alongside fellow TEAM members on split-fee opportunities, becoming an extension of their team rather than another competitor in the marketplace.

I often describe it as being a football team’s impact player or super sub.

I’m ‘Assist-Ant’ as it were!

Sometimes, all a business needs is a fresh perspective, access to a different network or specialist sector knowledge to unlock a placement that has stalled.

The beauty of the arrangement is that everybody wins.

• The recruiter strengthens their client relationship
• The client receives a successful outcome
• The candidate finds the right opportunity
• And the fee is shared rather than lost entirely

As solopreneurs and independent recruitment businesses, there is huge power in recognising that we don’t need to know everybody or have access to every market ourselves.

We simply need to know the right people to call when we need an assist.

Collaboration

I’ve always believed that collaboration is more powerful than competition.

I’d much rather help a fellow recruiter secure a placement than watch them struggle in isolation and potentially lose the opportunity altogether.

So, if you’re sitting on a role that just isn’t moving, there is an opportunity to strengthen your team.

Sometimes the smartest move you can make is to call in the cavalry.

That’s exactly what Macstaff are here for.

Need an assist? Call ‘Assist-Ant’ on 01275 331 307