In the UK there are currently over 30,000 recruitment companies and agencies, accounting for over 200,000 employees. Unsurprisingly, over half of the UK’s recruitment agency leaders cited ‘tight talent pools’ as their primary business concern.
In a sector that is so competitive, recruitment companies are looking to become more agile, responsive and dynamic. Whilst AI and automation may be part of the answer, recruitment remains a sector where real-life human interactions are fundamental; particularly if you are looking to create a recruitment brand that is valued by employers and candidates alike.
Here's how Paperclip is working with recruitment agencies to help them stay ahead of the competition
Paperclip works with recruitment agencies across the UK. Our service offer to recruitment agencies includes call answering, outbound calls and admin support; but, it is how we use and flex these services to the benefit of agencies that makes us an invaluable service delivery partner.
Here are just some of the ways we could work with your agency and the benefits this could deliver:
Call answering/reception desk
Paperclip can act as your agency’s reception desk. We can either answer all calls, or simply handle calls at peak periods when you are receiving more calls than you can handle. In such a competitive marketplace, ensuring you maintain customer service and respond to all incoming recruitment enquiries is very important. This is particularly true for agencies responding to high volume, short notice labour supply needs.
Monitoring and responding to other communications channels
Whilst digital technology makes our business lives easier in many ways, it has also led to the creation of multiple communication channels all of which need to be monitored and, when needed, responses sent. Such channels could include live chat, SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger, social media, email and more.
In addition to call answering, Paperclip can provide an omnichannel monitoring and response service, ensuring all communications are managed regardless of where they originated from.
Document and phone-based triage of candidates
Paperclip can undertake the initial triage of candidates based on the criteria you dictate in terms of experience, language skills, IT and so on. If specific information is required, availability or specific MS Office experience for example, Paperclip can call candidates and collect the required data.
Organising interviews
After agreeing the required permissions, data protection protocols, and NDAs, the Paperclip team could access your recruitment management software and arrange/manage candidate interviews.
This is an incredibly time-consuming process for recruitment agencies. As with all the services provided by Paperclip to recruitment agencies, one of the primary benefits is that the services enable the agency to retain a tight core of experienced and skilled staff. This approach allows the agency team to focus on value-added and expertise-based activities such as winning contracts, negotiating with clients, and final recruitment decisions. It also ensues the agency is able to keep fixed overheads under control.
Candidate communications
Your recruitment agency’s brand is enhanced if you develop a reputation for communicating effectively with candidates throughout the recruitment process; from initial triage through to final recruitment decisions.
Paperclip can make outbound calls informing candidates of recruitment decisions and next steps.
Having a database of live candidates looking for work can be important for recruitment agencies, particularly in scenarios where large numbers of staff are needed at short notice. Paperclip help agencies achieve this by calling previous candidates and checking whether (and when) they are available for work.
Client retention and filling the void
As with finding experienced and qualified staff to work in recruitment agencies, it can be challenging, in the short-term, to identify suitable candidates for reception and administration roles.
Paperclip can ‘fill the void’ in the short-term to maintain reception of admin service continuity for the recruitment agency’s client. This means the client’s problem is solved and provides breathing space for the agency to identify a candidate(s) they can recommend.
Resilience and coping with peaks in recruitment demand
Having access to Paperclip’s call answering, reception desk and admin teams provides your recruitment agency with an ancillary resource pool that gives you the agility and responsiveness to handle enquiries you may otherwise have to turn away.
Taking the first step...
If you empathise with the service support scenarios outlined in this article and feel you would like to take advantage of the help Paperclip can provide your agency, then please give me, Louise Bellwood, a call on 01246 418 181.
I’d be happy to talk through your specific requirements. I’ll be open and direct with you; if we are unable to help, I’ll say so.
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Hi, I’m Louise Bellwood, Director at Paperclip. I am responsible for delivering Paperclip’s customer service and growth strategies for 2024 and beyond, I am a crusader for the benefits call answering can deliver for organisations of all kinds; customer service, sales generation, customer retention and more. If you have a question about call answering – pricing, set-up, benefits – I would love to hear from you at louise@paperclip.co.uk or 01246 418 181.