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Should you consider Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)?

Are you tired of managing the time-consuming and resource-intensive task of recruitment on your own? Are you looking for a way to streamline your recruitment process and improve the quality of your hires? If so, Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) may be the solution you've been looking for!

As an RPO provider, we specialize in managing the full lifecycle of the recruitment process for our clients. From identifying and sourcing top talent to onboarding new hires, we handle it all. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at RPO and explain how it can benefit your company.

What is an RPO?

Recruitment Process Outsourcing involves outsourcing the recruitment and hiring process to an external provider like Rocket. RPO providers specialize in managing the full lifecycle of the recruitment process, from identifying and sourcing candidates to onboarding new hires. RPO can be used by companies of all sizes and industries, and can be customized to meet the specific needs and goals of the organization.

How does an RPO work?

When you partner with an RPO provider, we work closely with you to understand your company's unique recruitment needs and goals. We then develop a customized recruitment strategy that is tailored to your specific requirements. This may include identifying the most effective sourcing channels, implementing automated applicant tracking systems, and developing customized assessment tools.

Once the recruitment strategy is in place, we take over the management of the recruitment process, sourcing and screening candidates and managing the interview and selection process. We also handle the onboarding process for new hires, ensuring that they are properly integrated into your company and have access to the resources and support they need to succeed in their new role.

In summary - you should think of it as outsourcing the entire recruiting and talent management function end to end.

What are the different type of RPO models?

There are several different types of RPO models available, including full RPO, project-based RPO, and hybrid RPO. Full RPO involves outsourcing the entire recruitment process to the RPO provider, while project-based RPO involves outsourcing a specific recruitment project or initiative. Hybrid RPO combines elements of both full and project-based RPO, allowing companies to customize the scope of services to meet their specific needs.

One of the key benefits of RPO is the ability to customize and tailor the service to meet the specific needs and goals of your company. This flexibility allows you to optimize your recruitment process and ensure that you are targeting the right candidates for your open positions.

So how does an RPO differ from using a recruiting agency?

RPO differs from traditional recruiting agencies or contingency hiring in that it involves a more comprehensive and strategic approach to recruitment.

While recruiting agencies and contingency firms generally focus on filling specific job openings on a per-position basis, RPO providers take a more holistic view of the recruitment process and work with companies to develop customized recruitment strategies.

Additionally, RPO providers often have the ability to manage the full lifecycle of the recruitment process, from sourcing and screening candidates to onboarding new hires, whereas traditional agencies may only be involved in certain aspects of the process.

What are the benefits of RPO?

One of the main benefits of RPO is that it allows companies to focus on their core competencies while outsourcing the time-consuming and resource-intensive task of recruitment to a team of professionals. This can free up internal resources and allow companies to be more efficient and cost-effective in their hiring process.

Another advantage of RPO is that it can provide companies with access to a larger pool of talent and a wider range of recruiting expertise. RPO providers often have extensive networks of industry contacts and can use advanced sourcing techniques to identify and attract top candidates.

In addition, RPO can help to improve the overall quality of hires by allowing companies to take a more strategic approach to recruitment. RPO providers can work with companies to develop customized recruitment strategies that are tailored to their specific needs and goals. This can help to ensure that the right candidates are being targeted and that the hiring process is as efficient and effective as possible.

That being said, there are also potential drawbacks to consider, such as the potential for a loss of control over the recruitment process and the need to carefully manage the relationship with the RPO provider.

How are RPOs priced?

The cost of RPO can vary widely depending on the scope of services being provided and the specific needs of the company.

Some RPO providers charge a flat fee for their services, while others may charge on a per-hire basis, or per hour basis or offer a combination of pricing models. In general, companies can expect to pay less for RPO services than they would for traditional recruiting agencies or contingency firms as a result of the more comprehensive and strategic approach to recruitment provided by RPO.

Rocket's RPO pricing model is hourly based with an additional small charge on a per-hire basis. This keeps our client's costs as low as possible while aligning incentives for us to deliver top notch quality hiring at high throughput.

What is the industry landscape for RPOs?

The RPO industry has grown significantly in recent years, with a number of large, global RPO providers as well as many smaller, specialized firms. RPO is used by companies in a variety of industries, with the financial services, healthcare, and technology sectors among the most common users of RPO services. Here are some of the larger RPO companies in the market:

  1. ManpowerGroup Solutions:

ManpowerGroup Solutions is a global RPO provider that was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company has over 38,000 employees and serves customers in a variety of industries, including financial services, healthcare, and technology. ManpowerGroup Solutions offers a range of services including talent sourcing, recruitment process optimization, and candidate assessment. Some example customers of ManpowerGroup Solutions include JPMorgan Chase, American Express, and Intel.

  1. Alexander Mann Solutions:

Alexander Mann Solutions is a global RPO provider that was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The company has over 6,000 employees and serves customers in a variety of industries, including financial services, healthcare, and technology. Alexander Mann Solutions offers a range of services including talent acquisition, recruitment process outsourcing, and managed service provider (MSP) solutions. Some example customers of Alexander Mann Solutions include HSBC, AstraZeneca, and BT.

  1. Kelly Services:

Kelly Services is a global RPO provider that was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Troy, Michigan. The company has over 75,000 employees and serves customers in a variety of industries, including financial services, healthcare, and technology. Kelly Services offers a range of services including talent sourcing, recruitment process optimization, and talent management. Some example customers of Kelly Services include Bank of America, Pfizer, and Microsoft.

  1. HCL Technologies:

HCL Technologies is a global RPO provider that was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Noida, India. The company has over 1,000,000 employees and serves customers in a variety of industries, including financial services, healthcare, and technology. HCL Technologies offers a range of services including talent acquisition, recruitment process outsourcing, and talent management. Some example customers of HCL Technologies include Citigroup, Johnson & Johnson, and IBM.

  1. Adecco:

Adecco is a global RPO provider that was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Glattbrugg, Switzerland. The company has over 31,000 employees and serves customers in a variety of industries, including financial services, healthcare, and technology. Adecco offers a range of services including talent sourcing, recruitment process optimization, and talent management. Some example customers of Adecco include Credit Suisse, Novartis, and Procter & Gamble.

There are also a variety of niche RPO companies like Rocket who serve clients in specific verticals and functions. For example, Rocket specializes in working with VC backed startups.

How to manage RPOs:

To get the most out of your RPO relationship, it is important to follow best practices for managing the relationship. This includes setting clear goals and expectations, effectively communicating with your RPO provider, and regularly reviewing the performance of the relationship. More specifically:

  • Clearly defining the scope of services being provided by the RPO provider
  • Setting clear goals and expectations for the RPO relationship
  • Establishing open lines of communication with the RPO provider
  • Regularly reviewing the performance of the RPO provider and making any necessary adjustments
  • Ensuring that there is alignment between the goals of the company and those of the RPO provider
  • Establishing a process for managing and resolving any issues that may arise during the course of the RPO relationship.

It is also important to choose an RPO provider that has a proven track record of success and is committed to delivering high-quality services in your industry and company size. Asking for examples of past customers is especially important - for example Rocket has completed dozens of RPOs with clients like P0Security, Blend, Alma, Coinbase, Carta and more.

Conclusion

Recruitment Process Outsourcing can be a valuable solution for companies looking to streamline their recruitment process and improve the quality of their hires. By outsourcing the recruitment process to an experienced RPO provider, companies can access a wider pool of talent, take a more strategic approach to recruitment, and save time and resources. By following best practices for managing the RPO relationship, companies can maximize the benefits of this service and achieve their recruitment goals.

About Rocket

Rocket pairs talented recruiters with advanced AI to help companies hit their hiring goals and knows technology recruiting inside out. Rocket is headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley but has recruiters all over the US & Canada serving the needs of our growing client base across engineering, product management, data science and more through a variety of offerings and solutions.

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