Filling In The Gaps: Unlocking Growth

Finding growth as a staffing or recruiting firm is not an exact science. For a long time, this has been something my company, Qwerkz, had to dig deep to unlock. When the work slows down, the expenses and overhead don’t seem to get the memo. This leaves your firm in a very difficult spot. What do you do? How long do you wait before making serious cuts? How do you fill in the gaps?

Obviously, most companies focus on client acquisition. However, when things are slow, finding new clients becomes a very tall order. In fact, this only adds to your pile of expenses. Some companies decide to pursue strategic partnerships, aligning themselves with other firms to fill in some of the gaps left by the lack of work. This is not a bad idea, but typically it’s simply not enough and is not the best long-term solution. These types of partnerships present several challenges. The biggest challenge is the lack of control over client communications. This isn't always a bad thing, but if the firm you've partnered with has poor communication and untimely responses, it becomes a significant problem.

The most important thing we did at Qwerkz was to view ourselves differently from other firms in the market. We recognized that there was a lot of market opportunity, especially when things were slow. So, our strategy was simple: Who needs the most help when things are slowing down? The answer was clear: staffing firms and companies that need top talent but also could use a break from high staffing fees.

We built a process around the idea of creating a centralized solution for companies needing talent and staffing firms needing work. The key for us was stepping outside the traditional mindset that most recruiting firms have. We wanted to see ourselves as a complete provider. It was this way of thinking that unlocked new market opportunities and provided new streams of revenue. This process was simple but not easy. We had to overcome quite a few challenges, but the journey was well worth it.

So, step outside yourself and look at things differently. Take the time to examine the situation from various perspectives. This means forgetting that you are a firm or adhering to industry norms. Just look for opportunities, and then start creating solutions that align with your company’s abilities and resources.

I hope you enjoyed reading this. Feel free to leave your thoughts. Thanks!

Corey J