The world of recruitment is an exciting yet unique space. It’s fast-paced, hugely competitive, people-focused and sales-driven. It’s energetic and dynamic. As such, recruitment companies need to retain a competitive advantage to survive.

Leveraging advanced technological solutions can be a game-changer. But how? In what way can IT enhance recruitment services and equip recruiters like you with the best tools to power client delivery? In an industry focused on matchmaking people, could an IT managed service provider be the perfect partner for a recruitment company?

We’ll explore this concept in detail in this blog. Plus, we speak to Mirus’ Business Development Manager, Peter Hack who worked in the recruitment industry for over 11 years before transitioning to IT. By his own admission, Peter “lives and breathes recruitment.” He’s run his own recruitment desk, recruited recruiters, and remains fascinated by this dynamic sector.

Unique challenges facing recruitment companies

The UK recruitment industry is worth around £141 billion. Recruiters play an important role in matching ideal candidates with job vacancies. With over 30,000 recruitment agencies in the UK, it’s a highly competitive industry. And as more people turn to online solutions like social media to find candidates or roles, recruitment businesses need to adapt and evolve to survive. That’s where the right IT solutions can help you to innovate your recruitment business and find a competitive edge.

Recruitment’s a particularly transient sector. People are constantly moving from one company to another. The data held by a recruitment company is highly valuable. It’s your prized asset. As such it needs to be super secure and hard to access by the wrong people.

On top of that, recruiters are typically very demanding users. Due to the fast-paced nature of the business, you need results fast. Anything that hinders that efficiency and speed will be deemed unacceptable. And there are plenty of other recruitment agencies ready to swoop in if you leave an opportunity open.

5 reasons a managed IT service provider makes an ideal partner for recruitment companies

1. Data protection
Protecting your prized asset is a key priority as a recruiter. Your competitors would love to access your list of client details. People within your own business would love to download it all to a USB or their personal email when they move to another role or set up on their own.

Securing that sensitive client data is paramount. Handling people’s information in a safe, compliant and professional manner is central to your business. Ensuring it can only be accessed by the appropriate people is vital. That requires robust IT security systems with controlled access restrictions in place. That needs to be managed and enhanced regularly by a trusted expert.

2. Reliable IT systems
As a recruiter, you’re working at a million miles an hour. You’re likely to be incredibly irritated and impatient if something makes that harder. Say you’re working remotely – be that from home or a client site – and you need to access essential information. If your system isn’t available or working correctly, you could lose business. Understandably, system errors can be a major source of friction and frustration. You need efficient IT systems to ensure you can work effectively.

3. Advice on advanced technology solutions
AI and recruitment automation is being used by 11% of agencies. But, how do you know if that new technology is worth investing in? Will it provide cost savings, efficiencies and a decent ROI? Having a knowledgeable, trusted partner working with you can make sure that you’re making informed decisions that will benefit your business. Googling the solution won’t give you a tailored response for your business, but an IT expert who understands how you work can provide relevant insights and suggestions that are personal to you. Finding that right technology can be a game-changer, but you need to make sure that it won’t cause major disruptions to your business during its implementation. The right IT service provider can manage that effectively for you.

4. Efficient processes
With streamlined processes and effective technical solutions in place, you can be more efficient. Tedious tasks can be automated. AI can help to create sales pitches, engaging presentations and proposals, and even compose tricky emails. You can focus on your core business of finding and placing candidates, leaving technology to deal with the dull stuff. Making sure that you’re on the right platforms, with the best set up to make life easier for you and your team, can boost productivity and efficiency.

5. Specialist expertise
You may be a great recruiter or even a successful business owner or leader, but that doesn’t mean that you’re the best person to make IT decisions. Often, recruitment companies don’t have a dedicated IT manager. There isn’t someone with the knowledge or headspace to make all the decisions about technology.

Outsourcing this to a managed IT services provider can be a cost-effective solution. You don’t have the ongoing cost of an internal resource, but you get an expert working with you to make informed decisions. That can be on the best technology to invest in, the systems to adopt to maximise efficiency, and the processes to implement to ensure you optimise security and remain compliant for example. Having a VCIO on your board means that discussions around technical solutions to your business needs remain on the table.

How to choose your provider

Having worked in recruitment businesses and as an IT managed services provider, Peter Hack is perfectly placed to share insights on this.

Understanding the industry: this is absolutely key. Knowledge of the way you work and the demands that you face daily is essential. It’s hard to provide technical solutions without a good appreciation of how the recruitment sector works.

Adequate response rates: you need answers quickly. If there’s an issue, it needs to be resolved fast. It’s not unheard of for us to get a call on a Friday about a new recruiter starting on a Monday and they need to be set up on the system, with the right hardware and access to information and emails. You need someone to contact who’ll react immediately to your requests.

Agility and adaptability: rising to challenges and providing support for your ever-changing needs is par for the course. Experienced IT professionals who thrive on finding the best solutions for their clients will do this well.

Proven experience: you need to trust your service provider. You’re asking them to ensure the safety of your valuable data after all. It’s crucial that you feel comfortable with that person or team, and trust that they’ll secure your data and provide a complete and reliable service ongoing. A managed service provider should give you peace of mind, and the headspace to focus on your business priorities.

Mirus’ recruitment sector expertise

For our clients, we are that trusted expert. We provide them with exceptional customer service, allowing them to do their jobs better. We’ve worked with many recruitment companies, and we truly understand your priorities and business needs. Let us work with you to find solutions to your challenges and equip your team with the best tools.

Let’s chat about how we can work together to drive your business forward.