ADDRESSING THE REAL COST OF RECRUITMENT

The current climate in games – and in the wider economy – means that business leaders are looking at saving costs where they can. Understandably and rightly so.

At times like these, a service provider like Amiqus can sometimes be filed under ‘nice to have’ rather than ‘need to have’, with some studio leaders believing that it’s more cost-effective to do it themselves.

Of course, I’m going to tell you why it’s beneficial to use a recruitment agency – after all, it’s what I do! But there are genuine disadvantages to doing it yourself, so please hear me out…

When it comes to hiring senior talent, the stakes are high. The games industry is experiencing a dynamic yet challenging period. While we’re still creating incredible entertainment experiences, and although consumer demand for games is still high, there are undoubtedly economic pressures on studios which is forcing leaders to look at their outsourcing costs.

But a poor hiring decision at the senior level can have a ripple effect throughout an organisation, influencing company culture, project delivery, and even financial stability.

On the surface, recruiting in-house may seem like the cost-effective choice. But dig a little deeper, and the hidden costs quickly stack up.

Consider the man hours involved. From advertising the role, sifting through and reviewing potentially hundreds of CVs, scheduling interviews, conducting initial screening as well as your usual more detailed assessments, and managing all the communications with candidates is no small feat. According to some estimates, filling a senior role can take around 100 hours of internal time for a medium sized candidate pool, time that’s often from you or your most valuable team members. When you calculate the cost of this time, it’s clear that in-house recruitment can drain resources from your business.

That’s where a specialist like Amiqus comes in – not just as a support tool but as a strategic partner that can genuinely make a difference. We can significantly streamline this process and save you so much time. With access to a deep talent pool and advanced search tools, we can present a shortlist of qualified candidates quickly. We handle all of the legwork, allowing your internal teams to focus on what they do best – creating incredible games and driving business growth.

The best senior candidates are not always available, responding to adverts or even looking elsewhere for new roles. Many are currently thriving in roles at other studios but could be open to the right opportunity. We specialise in tapping into this hidden talent market. We leverage our extensive networks, maintain relationships, and we have the insights needed to approach the right people at the right time, and in an elegant and discreet way. We also have a deep understanding of the specific challenges in hiring for the various roles within games, and can match studios with candidates who not only meet technical requirements but also align with creative visions and company culture.

Every hiring decision matters, but during times of economic and market uncertainty, these decisions matter more than ever. Studios need to avoid the costly mistake of a bad hire, which can lead to not only financial losses but also disrupted projects and team morale issues.

We can reduce this risk through robust vetting processes – assessing skills and experience of candidates, and ensuring that we only provide candidate shortlists that suit your studio and working environment.

Partnering with an agency like Amiqus is not about outsourcing recruitment – it’s about enhancing your studio’s ability to attract and retain the best talent. It’s a smart investment that pays off through improved efficiency, better candidate quality, and the strategic use of your internal resources.

Ultimately, I would say that a successful hire is an investment in your studio’s future, not just an expense.

And don’t just take my word for it… here’s what Avid Games CEO Paul Mayze had to say following our successful placement of two senior candidates at the studio: “We were reticent about going down the executive search route because of the costs involved. Having gone through the process with Amiqus, I only wish we'd started sooner. Value was demonstrated at every step: requirements?gathering, constructive advice and guidance in drafting the roles, a long-list for refinement and then subsequently a string of interviews with impeccable candidates. While the time commitment was substantial, this was easily the most enjoyable and satisfying recruitment process I been through - and the results are already more than worth it.”

Photo by?Towfiqu barbhuiya?on?Unsplash