Recruitment Outsourcing Key Terms

Outsourcing can be an efficient way to find new employees

In today's competitive job-search marketplace, it can be difficult for businesses to determine which candidates are the most suited for the available positions within their companies. For some companies, the best solution is to hire someone else to narrow down the field for them. If you are familiar with some of the common terms related to recruitment outsourcing, it's easier to decide which option is the right choice for your business.

 

Outsourcing and offshoring

Outsourcing refers to the shift of any usual office function or service to an independent company. A contract is required to outline the expectations and responsibilities of each company in the arrangement, as well as the level of involvement each business has in the outsourced component. Offshoring refers to outsourcing to another country.
Try: Offshoring Times focuses mainly on overseas outsourcing, but they do have some basic information on the history of outsourcing and how current trends in the industry affect the business dynamic.

Recruitment

Recruitment is the active process through which a company or organization finds qualified individuals to meet their staffing needs. It is this process that is outsourced by many Human Resources departments to individuals and companies that specialize in developing leads, asking the right questions, and determining the most appropriate candidates for the companies they serve.
Try: Columbia University Recruitment Manual provides a great overview of the recruitment process. The Corporation for National & Community Service Resource Center focuses on the same process with the end goal of hiring volunteers.

Headhunter

Formally known as an executive search consultant, a headhunter is a third-party recruiter who has a specialized focus on finding talented employees for management and executive positions.
Try: Business Week magazine has several articles on headhunters.

Branding

Branding refers to the way a company develops its reputation and markets itself in the business world. It is often one of the services provided by recruiters, as it has become part of the process recruiters use to entice prospective hires.
Try: For a comprehensive overview of modern corporate branding and corporate identity, visit Brand Identity Guru.

Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)

Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) companies serve as the de facto Human Resources departments for the businesses that hire them. Because recruiting is their entire business, they are able to devote more time and resources to the process. RPOs also offer significantly more expertise and discernment in the hiring process.
Try: Members of the Recruitment Process Outsourcing Association are high-ranking executives for RPO companies.

Staffing solutions

The concept of staffing solutions refers to the specific needs of a company with regard to filling open jobs as well as the long-term expectations of the parent company's relationship with their outsourced recruiters.
Try: Staffing Solutions Enterprises is one example of a recruitment business that has expanded their scope of services to provide long-term support for the companies that outsource to them.

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