What’s the value of a specialized staffing provider?

Specialized staffing is a term thrown around by many staffing companies. Like many other industries, staffing companies like to be seen as specialists to secure one-on-one relationships with hiring managers, retain exclusive business with clients or simply as a strategy to charge more.

First, what am I talking about when I say, “specialized staffing?” This is staffing and recruiting services that focus on a specific skill set, industry, department or category (although category is a little broad). Examples are things like gaming, entertainment, clinical research, agile development, creative, occupational health care, per diem nurses, and legal staffing.

So, do you really need a specialized staffing agency? The answer is: “it depends,” however, in some cases, there are some very valid reasons for turning to more of a specialized staffing company, at least one who understands your industry or your business. The value is in the focus and expertise they bring.

The easy analogy would be a doctor; sometimes you need a specialist in a certain medical area. But that’s almost too specialized for staffing. I would relate it more to a plumber. There are thousands of plumbers out there, but most are residential. If you are in a commercial environment, or work with high-end, custom fixtures, you probably aren’t going to call the local plumber. You would want someone who has worked with your type of building, environment or equipment.

Specialists are sometimes more expensive, but don’t forget to figure in the value of hiring the right people when you need them. In the long run, would it cost your company more to go to a specialist or have a job sitting open for six months? Are there penalties or missed opportunities if you miss project deadlines?

If you are thinking about this (or trying to convince procurement that it’s worth it), here are a few of the reasons you would want to turn to a specialized staffing company:

• They have a better understanding of your needs – Also known as, “they speak your language.” A staffing company who is familiar with the skill sets, environments, working conditions and unique nature of your hiring requirements can shorten the recruiting cycle, find better fits (culturally) and generally make the process (and specifically communication) easier.

• They have an established network – If you work in a particular industry, you begin to know the players, the range of talent available (both quantity and quality) and can quickly locate the right people or advise you if they’re in short supply. This network doesn’t get built overnight. A company that has been working in a specific area for years will likely be able to tap into this network quickly, while a generalist staffing company might have to work harder to find those candidates.

• They bring a focused recruiting effort – One of the keys to recruiting is knowing where to find the right candidates. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it – especially in specialized areas. While it may be true that in some cases you will pay more for specialized staffing services, the value is in the recruiting expertise they bring in your specific field.

The important thing to remember is that staffing is a general term. No one staffing company can cover everything. As you choose a staffing provider, or multiple staffing providers, the value proposition that a specialized staffing provider can bring is important to remember. What is the value of increased customer satisfaction for your hiring managers if the specialized provider can find the right people, quickly and at competitive rates? Right now, I’d say for some industries that’s pretty valuable.