Having worked through an economic boom and then a recession I have seen many recruiters come and go from the industry and yet, in 2016, recruitment firms are competing with each other more than ever. While this gives employers great choice when it comes to engaging recruitment services, it means we need to step up our game to win work and stand out from the crowd.

For example, at one eighty we recruit in commercial construction among other sectors. In Wellington alone we are up against seven serious recruitment players (as well as the not so serious), not to mention those that feature in the Auckland region. With the increase in recruitment firms available and now a talent shortage for many of our specialisations, there is a dire need to understand how to combat this extra competition.

As with any industry, knowing your competition is key. The more you know the more you can strategically place yourself ahead of the others in the market. In our industry, talking to clients and candidates can provide useful insights about other players. In our experience, understanding how we (and our competitors) are perceived in the market by those that matter have helped us capitalise on the areas we do well in and improve the areas in which our competitors may be doing better.

Personally, I’d like to see companies choose one recruitment firm to run with and then commit to that relationship. As we have seen time and time again, when our clients build a relationship with us and work exclusively, great things happen! For this reason we have really marketed the benefits of exclusivity to our clients.

So, what do your competitors do that is liked and appreciated by the clients YOU want? Take in all the information so you can to build a better business!