Boutique Vs Behemoth

One of the candidates I was talking to last week described their current company as a behemoth. Firstly, this is a word I haven't heard in forever(!) and secondly, it really got me thinking.??

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His reasons for leaving really resonated with me and Ceto's position in the maritime recruitment market.?

Why should a client or candidate choose a small boutique recruitment company over a behemoth?!?

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As a small business owner, working alone, I set my working hours and my strategy. Every hour is carefully planned and every candidate call or client call/email is targeted, meaning I really want to work with you or represent you because I think I can make a difference to you and let’s be honest, make money by doing so.?

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I have no basic salary to fall back on if you don't take/get offered the job or choose to partner with me to fill your roles.??That means I have to work harder, and it also means I have to also work longer hours. I'll often work in the evening when my daughter goes to bed. I take calls on weekends and rarely do I take a full lunch break.??

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Before you feel sorry for me, this is what I chose to do. It's also hugely liberating. I'm proud of myself for working this hard and getting to this point in my career where I trust myself enough to have taken this risk.?

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Reputation is everything in the recruitment world, especially in a niche market. ?If I don't feel like I can help you I'll be upfront and honest with you.? In 16 years of recruiting, I must have done something right as I’ve won business quickly and I’ve worked hard to ensure I’m delivering on my word quickly.?People relate to and work with people – not businesses. It's rarely the recruitment business they stick with if that person leaves and invariably the recruiter.

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This is where large recruitment businesses fall down.??They tend to be generic (fingers in lots of sectors, some where they perform well, and some they just can’t crack).??They want to enter into new markets because the competition is doing it.??As such, they hire new recruiters to do constant business development calls in markets they don’t understand. ?I’ve been to a couple of client meetings in the last few weeks where clients tell me how put off they are by a never ending rota of new ‘consultants’ calling them with a hard sell and not having an understanding of the market they are looking to recruit within.??Of course, there are superstar recruiters within these organisations, those that work hard and get the job done. They exist, but they still have to conform to sales targets, growth strategies and constant rising expectations from greedy CFOs.???

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Small businesses in the recruitment world tend to be led by good recruiters and leaders within their sectors that have become disillusioned with large agency recruitment.??The constant micromanagement, the KPI’s, the lack of understanding from management of how differently their specific sector operates to others.??Trust me, that’s enough to make you want to break free.

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Partnering with a small boutique recruiter can offer personalised attention, a deeper understanding of your unique needs, and a more tailored approach to finding the right candidates. Small businesses can be more flexible in adapting their strategies and overall offer more competitive pricing too.??

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If you partner with one of these smaller agencies, you’re partnering with someone that has something to prove.??To their old employer, to the market and to themselves.??The work ethic is second to none and I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

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