Press Release
Consultant Reputation Paramount to Success
Tuesday 11 March 2008
People place consultant reputation at the top of their list when selecting a recruitment company according to a poll by listed recruitment company Hamilton James & Bruce (HJB).
In the recent poll, 40% of respondents said that consultant reputation was the most important factor when selecting a recruitment company. This was followed by referral at 22% and client list at 20%. Company brand and office location were seen as the least important factors at 10% and 9% respectively.
Is this surprising? Not really, according to Alison Sherry who manages HJB’s Brisbane office.
“Clients want to deal with people they know and can trust to deliver quality candidates. Candidates want to deal with people they know will treat them with respect and find them the best job. So when you put the two together, I’m not surprised at the result.”
Sherry also said that the results were a timely reminder to her recruitment consultants that it pays to have a reputation for good client or candidate care as it will make their lives easier.
“Easier as it will lead to more repeat business and less business development activity; easier as candidates will come to them first when looking to change roles; and easier as it will result in more referrals from satisfied clients and candidates,” she added.
But building a good reputation as a consultant takes time according to Sherry.
“Our reputation is ultimately decided by other people’s observations of the way we behave.
“Building a track record of success in the delivery of consistent, high quality results and a true partnership with the client that is built on trust relies on many observations and does not happen overnight.
“But the more time a recruitment consultant invests in gaining a full understanding of their client’s culture and their requirements – even if it’s at the start of a relationship – the more chance they have of developing that good reputation and the positive referrals that come with it,” said Sherry.
Established in 1979, Hamilton James & Bruce is an acknowledged leader in the Australian recruitment industry and has a proven track record in finding the right people for permanent, temporary and contracting roles. Hamilton James & Bruce has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Parramatta, Chatswood and the Gold Coast, and can build a national or local solution to meet any recruitment need.