3 mistakes clients make when using contingency recruitment

  • Post published:21/10/2015
  • Reading time:5 mins read

If you are open to an argument about why it’s better to partner just one recruitment agency at a time, and not three or four, this article is for you and a must-read!

There are three good reasons why hiring companies multi-list their job orders and expect recruitment agencies to fight it out over the very same job vacancy. If the hiring managers just knew, this madness would end sooner rather than later. Here is why.

Mistake 1: 4704_pen_pencil_cup_color

Do you believe you are increasing your chances of filling the position by 300 to 400 percent if you engage and work with several recruiters at the same time? You may think that the three to four recruiters have different databases with their own unique candidates, and the recruitment agencies each press a magic button to unveil never-ever-to-be-seen candidates. The truth of the matter? (more…)

Why one million LinkedIn users in Thailand is irrelevant

  • Post published:14/09/2015
  • Reading time:8 mins read

PUBLISHED IN SEPTEMBER 2015

Congratulations to LinkedIn for just recently passing one million members in Thailand. Out of context, you too would agree that this is a significant achievement. But here is the but, and it’s a big but!

A few years ago, I asked in my blog if LinkedIn was killing the recruitment industry. They say that Curiosity Killed the Cat; a reference to the dangers of unnecessary experimentation and speculation.

Herein lies a possible answer to the question of whether LinkedIn is in the process of pushing the executive search and recruitment profession over the cliff. Dear reader: hold your speculation.

LinkedIn reports that they now have 380 million members in over 200 countries and territories.

  • 56% are male
  • 87% are 35 years of age or older
  • The US has 107 million users, while the UK has 17 million
  • 61 million users are registered in Asia
  • 10 million users are located in China and 7 million are in Australia
  • Thailand has 1 million users
(more…)

3 things recruitment agencies do not tell clients

  • Post published:21/08/2015
  • Reading time:6 mins read

If you think all situations are black and white, it is obviously a simplification of what happens in the real world. There are always exceptions to the generally accepted rule of how agency recruiters make their money. On the other hand, famous author Tom Peters said: “Perception is reality”. You be the judge this time.

1. Don’t use a recruiter who will not meet you

246_teamwork_colourRecruitment agencies typically charge a fee, which is based on the placed candidate’s compensation, somewhere around two to three months’ salary and allowances; but charged in full only after you have hired their candidate.

You can compare the recruitment agency’s work as playing a lottery. They are not paid if their client does not hire their candidate. The consultant does not receive any commission, if the client chooses a candidate from another agency.  As a client has no obligation to the agency whatsoever, except to pay if they hire a candidate, the client will often engage several agencies at the same time for the same position. They do so because it’s free, nothing to lose and because they think each agency has their own pool of candidates (which in fact they don’t; most candidates register their resume with many recruiters, so the pool is pretty identical no matter where you go).ChessSet copy (more…)

Candidates are getting lost

  • Post published:24/07/2015
  • Reading time:5 mins read

No sir, no madam, they are not getting lost because they cannot find your office. This is a lot more serious than that.4211_gps_color

According to a recent report from ERE Media on subjects of recruiting intelligence, employers are losing more candidates than ever before as time to fill vacant positions grows. If you are in the business of hiring people, either as a company hiring manager, HR Manager or a third party recruiter and headhunter, it should be no surprise that applicants and candidates are not exactly queueing up in front of your office. Well, perhaps except in Greece or Spain, or if you are lucky to work for Apple or Google.

The simple reason is that the unemployment rate in Thailand is almost non-existent and will likely stay so for a long time. A contracting labour market is something I have talked about for years. It will not go away. Deny or refuse to acknowledge that fact, which is blatantly obvious, is like putting your head in the sand like an ostrich. (more…)

How do you measure candidate intelligence?

  • Post published:27/03/2014
  • Reading time:3 mins read

It has been widely reported that Google’s number one search criteria for hiring is now the candidate’s learning ability or what is also called cognitive ability. Google’s senior vice president…

Are you using the same hiring strategy as ten years ago?

  • Post published:18/07/2013
  • Reading time:4 mins read

Passive candidates don’t look for a new job the same way active candidates do. The mistake made by many companies is they do not differentiate in their sourcing and hiring…

A demographic timebomb

  • Post published:03/05/2013
  • Reading time:5 mins read

If you think it’s increasingly difficult to find staff for your organization, I’m afraid you ain’t seen nothing yet. Let me just tell you that the “ain’t seen nothing yet”…

How to best hire sales people

  • Post published:10/04/2013
  • Reading time:6 mins read

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. If you find it challenging to find, assess and recruit sales people, ask…