Upcoming Opportunities and Challenges in Offshore RPO in 2019

by | Feb 15, 2019 | Offshore RPO

A new year is here and we are all full of hopes. The year 2018 was a good year for the global recruitment process outsourcing industry. And the year ahead is full of promises.

The global recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) market was valued at US$ 5.01 Bn in 2017 and is estimated to expand with a CAGR of 14.4% from 2017 – 2025. While we hope for the promise of the future, the path ahead isn’t one without challenges.

As new megatrends emerge, organizations around the world grapple with the challenges and opportunities that come with these recruiting megatrends.

Recap: Recruiting Trends to Expect in 2019

While the unknown or the new may seem scary, these new trends will not only provide a direction to your recruitment strategies this year, but will also help you figure out how to attract top talent.

Let’s quickly review the biggest recruiting trends we are expecting to see this year!

Recruitment Marketing

We hear a lot of marketing buzzwords associated with recruitment. It’s a surprise for a lot of people that marketing is now associated with recruitment. But it is. Today you hear social hiring and content hiring among the top marketing buzzwords out there. And there’s a good reason for this. It’s simple: Because there was a dire need for it.

Today, companies and recruitment firms employ various marketing strategies to attract talent. As the labor market becomes more and more candidate-driven, marketing is going to be an essential part of the hiring process and is considered to be an excellent approach for choosing the right fit.

Employer Branding

It is a known fact that candidates DO check a company’s reputation before applying or considering a job offer. A good employer brand is necessary, indeed.

Employer branding basically answer one simple question: What are you like as an employer? Your image should focus on answering that question and effectively communicating that image to the public.

Inbound Recruiting

Both social hiring and content hiring are considered inbound recruiting. You basically attract talent instead of actively pushing your brand to them. Attract. Convert. Engage. That’s the inbound way.

Candidate Experience

Experience matters. Today, where candidates have many touchpoints with your brand, a total brand experience becomes significant. If a candidate is unhappy with the application process, they will leave your website. Worst: They will leave unsightly reviews. This is true. This happens. And it’s bad when you have lots of negative reviews. If they are not getting proper communication about the interview process, they will get a negative impression of your company.

Conversely, happy candidates are likely to engage you and will likely accept your offer. And they refer, too!

Social Recruiting

Gone are the days when leaving classified ads on newspapers and job boards suffice. Today, even social media matters. With social media giants rolling out job features, like Facebook Jobs, searching candidates on social channels like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, forums, personal blogs, etc. is what social recruiting is all about.

Recruitment Automation Tools

Automation and artificial intelligence is here. The competition is using it. Perhaps you should use, too. Automation makes the recruitment job easier and faster. Examples of automation tools are chatbots and resume parsers. Parsers extract candidate data from resumes and save the details in data fields. Chatbots handle queries and basic interview questions. These are good tools to use when streamlining your recruitment process.

Data-driven Recruiting

Knowledge is power they say. Well, data is the fundamental element of knowledge. So, collect data when you can. For using data in recruitment will give you insights on which are the areas in hiring you should focus upon and where you can improve.

Structured Interviews

Structured interviews is the latest form of interview. With a structured interview, the interviewer has already prepared a set of questions to evaluate a candidate’s answers. These are fair and effective as compared to other interviews.

Employee Referrals

Referrals are the best way of sourcing candidates – internal or otherwise. It is the shortest way to hire candidates. And it is really effective. This approach has been here since the dawn of time perhaps. In sales even, referrals are effective. So, even if it’s 2019, creative referral programs still make scene.

 

Top Challenges in 2019 (According to RPO Experts)

Change is ever present. In the talent acquisition scene, we’ve seen a lot of major challenges over the last few years.

A lot of these changes were brought about by fast changes in technology. Some are due to changing socioeconomic landscapes – rising and falling economies and the consequent rise or fall in needs for jobs and talents.

Undeniably, the contest for top talent is not easier. This year, talent acquisition experts predict that these are the top challenges recruiters will face in 2019, in developed economies.

From Offshoring and Outsourcing to In-House Recruiting

Nothing is wrong with recruiting in-house. That is not a problem at all. The problem lies in doing it without the right nor sufficient knowledge and expertise. Doing so renders the effort ineffective.

Joe Marino, Senior VP at Hueman in an article by the RPO Association, notes that many businesses in the US build these in-house teams ‘under the advice from consulting firms that are not actually providing optimal recruiting strategies’.

“They often provide suggestions to talent acquisition leaders which would not be a best practice for an RPO provider or a best-in-class talent acquisition department,” Marino adds.

Some recruitment experts think that doing this is shortsighted. Paul Meyer, Vice President of RPO at Alluvion, says we can attribute this to a ‘few bad experiences with inexperienced RPOs’. Because of bad experience with other RPO providers, it has become for more experienced, highly-effective RPOs to make their case.

Of course, government’s’ economic policies matter as well. In a 2018 Trends report from Bullhorn, a significant number of employers said they are anxious about US President Trump’s thrust of repatriating jobs to the US. This sentiment shared by other populist leaders in the world.

Turnover

Job turnover has always been a concern. In the US, where this data is closely watched, job turnover rate neared five million workers per month. That’s a damn lot.

This is a perennial issue that will carry over into 2019, and probably, for many years to come. Meyer of Aluvion also notes that ‘a major reason turnover will stay in the crosshairs for recruiters is because so many other recruiting challenges are tied to turnover’.

As the labor market tightens more, organizations tend to compete for talent that are already working. This is what we call the passive candidates – an elusive, yet highly-qualified pool of talent. Nonetheless, while they aren’t actively seeking new positions, they are open to a strong or enticing opportunity if provided.

Because they are entrenched to a job, passive candidates aren’t easily won over. Organizations must and are, indeed, working hard to get these talent. Posting on job boards along won’t definitely work. Extra creativity is needed.

Recruitment experts agree: There isn’t a job role suffering from scarcity today.

The perennial problem of identifying the right talent

Job-hopping is not a problem in itself. But the number of job-hoppers has greatly increased in recent years. As of 2017, 42 percent of job-hoppers changed jobs between every 1 and 5 years, a rise from 34 percent in 2016. Millennials tend to change jobs even more often, with 46% of employed millennials changing jobs every 1 to 3 years.

With this, identifying and retaining candidates that are truly exceptional and skilled is becoming more and more elusive. Often times, resumes have become ‘too open ended and flexible’ that it is becoming harder to ‘properly identify the skill set and depth of experience of a given candidate’, Meyer said.

Why is this so? Well, a candidate may have tons of experience, here, there, and everywhere… but if it’s job hopping, it might not be what you are looking for. Driving a conclusive insight as to what is the candidate’s core skills and experiences might be difficult.

Again, there’s nothing wrong with “job hoppers,” or employees who frequently change jobs, often every two or three years, but such candidates might not necessarily have the depth of experience you need for a role.

There’s also the question of longevity: Would it be true that ‘once a job hopper, always a job hopper’?

Using analytics and managing data

With a lot of these changes coming in and the varied strategies we employ to attract and retain talent, effective analytics and data management needs to be in your arsenal. Why? The reason is simple: For organizations to be effective recruiters.

Metrics are important. They tell you what to look out for because they measure how you are doing. It’s an indispensable part of the recruiting process and a vital element of process improvement. But that’s not all. With a tighter candidate pool, candidate-driven talent scene, growing importance of branding, and the need for outreach and talent communities, there are a lot of information that you need to collect for you to improve.

In other words, aside from metrics by which you measure how well you do. You need to collect information about the candidates you seek. Strong and accurate data is a necessary backbone when crafting strategies and will also fuel other technological advances like automation and artificial intelligence, for example.

Final Thoughts

Recruitment is challenging as it is. But with megatrends here and there, it’s becoming a lot more challenging over time. From advances in technology, changing talent landscape, and rising and falling economies, these megatrends influence how we recruit and how we do business in general. Challenges are not insurmountable as long as we are well-informed. That is why data is a formidable ally.

Stay tuned as we monitor these challenges and opportunities. Subscribe to our blog!

 

Source

Dashiell, S. (2019). 2019 Recruiting Outlook: Upcoming Challenges and Opportunities. [online] Blog.rpoassociation.org. Available at: https://blog.rpoassociation.org/blog/2019-recruiting-outlook-upcoming-challenges-and-opportunities   [Accessed 8 Jan. 2019].

Profitbyrpo.com. (2019). Top 4 Recruitment Challenges | Profit By RPO. [online] Available at: https://www.profitbyrpo.com/top-4-recruitment-challenges.php [Accessed 8 Jan. 2019].

Martic, K. (2018). 15 New Recruiting Trends You Should Implement in 2019 [UPDATED]. [online] Blog. Available at: https://www.talentlyft.com/en/blog/article/87/15-new-recruiting-trends-you-should-implement-in-2019-updated [Accessed 8 Jan. 2019].

Hrtechnologist.com. (2019). 5 Ways Candidates Will Influence Recruitment in 2019. [online] Available at: https://www.hrtechnologist.com/articles/recruitment-onboarding/5-ways-candidates-will-influence-2019-trends-in-recruitment/ [Accessed 8 Jan. 2019].

Erienewsnow.com. (2019). Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) Global Market Analysis, Market Trends, Upcoming Scope, Top Key Players and Forecast to 2025. [online] Available at: http://www.erienewsnow.com/story/39745096/recruitment-process-outsourcing-rpo-global-market-analysis-market-trends-upcoming-scope-top-key-players-and-forecast-to-2025  [Accessed 8 Jan. 2019].

Dewar, J. (2019). Top 5 Recruiting Challenges to Solve in 2019. [online] Lever.co. Available at: https://www.lever.co/blog/top-recruiting-challenges-2019 [Accessed 8 Jan. 2019].

Abourahma, L. (2019). 2018 Rising RPO Disruptors: The Changing Landscape of Recruitment Process Outsourcing. [online] Blog.rpoassociation.org. Available at: https://blog.rpoassociation.org/rpo-market-report/2018-rising-rpo-disruptors-the-changing-landscape-of-recruitment-process-outsourcing [Accessed 8 Jan. 2019].

Dashiell, S. (2019). A Look Ahead: What Talent Acquisition Leaders are Expecting from the 2019 Job Market. [online] Blog.rpoassociation.org. Available at: https://blog.rpoassociation.org/blog/a-look-ahead-what-talent-acquisition-leaders-are-expecting-from-the-2019-job-market [Accessed 8 Jan. 2019].

Dashiell, S. (2019). Recruiting Technology to Watch in 2019. [online] Blog.rpoassociation.org. Available at: https://blog.rpoassociation.org/blog/recruiting-technology-to-watch-in-2019 [Accessed 8 Jan. 2019].

Abourahma, L. (2019). Industry Report: 2018 Talent Acquisition and RPO Trends. [online] Blog.rpoassociation.org. Available at: https://blog.rpoassociation.org/rpo-market-report/industry-report-2018-talent-acquisition-and-rpo-trends  [Accessed 8 Jan. 2019].

Jo Rebustillo

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Jo started her recruitment career in 2007. Since then, she has worked with several RPO and BPO companies in different capacities. She has worked as a Recruiter covering requisitions in US, AU, EU and APAC handling volume, non-IT and IT. She has led several teams as a Recruitment Manager, Account Manager, Service Delivery and Business Development. She has also led teams in different industries such as Media and Advertising, IT, Outsourcing, BPO, Manufacturing, Military, Healthcare and Sciences. She has built teams based on their strengths and developed leaders with strong ethical values as well as aiming to beat the average. She strongly believes in integrity, strive for growth, persistence and kindness as hallmarks of a successful person and company.

Nikita Magpantay

CLIENT RELATIONS MANAGER

Niki is a dynamic human resource professional with a focus on talent acquisition and HR business partnership, bringing her extensive expertise gained over 6 years. She is a versatile Recruiter specializing in diverse sectors including technical, banking and finance, logistics, sales, healthcare, and volume hiring. Niki, as an experienced HR Business Partner has proven success in aligning HR initiatives with business objectives, contributing to organizational growth. She seeks to foster positive employee relations and implementing effective engagement initiatives and business strategies while ensuring adherence to labor policies. Adept at combining a friendly demeanor with a dedicated result-oriented approach helps her bring a unique blend of empathy and strategic acumen to the workplace.

Intejar “Ram” Julkiram

CLIENT RELATIONS MANAGER

With 9 years of background in RPO, Ram is adept at managing and optimizing the recruitment process for clients, ensuring a seamless and efficient experience. His skills include a deep understanding of both the IT and non-IT industries, enabling him to provide tailored recruitment solutions for the team.

Shara Jane Bonifacio

CLIENT RELATIONS MANAGER

Shara Bonifacio boasts a rich and diverse career spanning more than 10 years within various industries in recruitment. As a highly skilled and effective communicator adept at engaging with people across multiple platforms, her passion lies in building lasting relationships. She excels not only in connecting with candidates but also in fostering strong ties with clients and stakeholders.

Throughout her career in industries such as Financial Services, Insurance Brokerage, Information Technology, Pharmaceutical, and Healthcare, Shara has showcased her results-driven mindset. Her penchant for challenges motivates her to continuously strive for excellence and growth.

Shara's leadership experience is a testament to her ability to guide and inspire teams, ensuring collective success and achieving organizational goals.

Evangeline “Gigi” Tilaon

CLIENT RELATIONS MANAGER

Gigi, an inspiring leader, possesses nearly 5 years of expertise in the art of Talent Acquisition and boasts a distinguished 15-year legacy of visionary leadership. She is renowned for her unwavering dependability and boundless supportiveness, qualities that radiate through every endeavor she undertakes. Gigi's leadership style is characterized by remarkable transparency and hands-on engagement, underlined by a profound trust in her team's exceptional talents. She confronts challenges with fearless determination, inspiring her team to achieve greatness. As a passionate outdoor enthusiast and a nurturing fur parent, Gigi advocates for a work-life equilibrium with extraordinary grace and enthusiasm.

Randy Owen Roman

CLIENT RELATIONS MANAGER

Randy brings extensive experience in the recruitment industry, spanning over 5 years. During his tenure, he has successfully managed a diverse portfolio of clients across multiple sectors, including IT, Financial, Retail, Light Industrial, BPO, Market Intelligence, and Healthcare. Randy is passionate about the outdoors and finds joy in activities like hiking and exploring nature. Equally, he appreciates the arts, indulging in music, movies, and series. As a leader, Randy exemplifies fairness and empowerment, consistently guiding and inspiring his team to surpass expectations.

Avielle Bernardino

CLIENT RELATIONS MANAGER

Avielle, with 7 years of Healthcare Recruitment, is not just a leader. She is a mentor and an architect of streamlined offshore program planning. She has an innate ability to optimize processes, ensuring they align seamlessly with our clients' and program-defined standards. She empowers her peers, nurturing exceptional performance and maintaining a high level of service quality. This dedication to efficiency has set a new benchmark within our organization. She actively participates in strategic planning initiatives, driving a culture of continuous improvement. This proactive approach ensures we stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.

Kris Florblanco

CLIENT RELATIONS MANAGER

Kris, with over six years in IT Recruitment and three years of team leadership, is known for dependability and supportiveness. Transparent and hands-on, she places trust in her team. An outdoor enthusiast, Kris faces challenges head-on to keep her team up and running.

Grace Marasigan

CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGER

Grace, an empowering leader with six years in Talent Acquisition, is passionate about innovation and improvement. Balancing work quality and agility across various industries, her compassionate approach extends to her personal life as a committed vegan.

Ly Poticar

MANAGING DIRECTOR - OFFSHORE STAFFING

Ly brings 2 decades of expertise in the Recruitment and Staffing industry, covering various business verticals in both local and global recruitment. He has successfully led growth projects for SMBs and offshore expansion initiatives for Shared Services and other global enterprises. He seeks to continuously evolve his recruitment practices and client partnership agenda to provide innovative solutions and be a step ahead of the market trends. Ly has recruitment experience in the talent market for the following majors, as well as emerging industries: Tech – hardware/software/mobile/consulting/Web3, Online Gaming & Media, Digital Marketing, Finance – corporate/banking and fintech, Construction & Engineering, Energy, BPO, Manufacturing & Logistics.

Lara Belo

MANAGING DIRECTOR - ONSHORE RPO

Lara brings a decade of invaluable experience in the field of IT recruitment, catering to diverse and niche IT roles. With adeptness in team management, she has led successful recruitment teams. She guides her team in effectively sourcing, tailoring recruitment strategies, and connecting top-tier IT professionals with optimal career opportunities nationwide.

Her extensive background in business development and client relations has not only led to the acquisition of new accounts that have expanded over time but also positioned her as a trusted partner for numerous clients.

Ezalyn Caberto

MANAGING DIRECTOR - OFFSHORE RPO

Eza is an accomplished RPO leader. She has a proven experience in building and leading high-performance recruitment teams.

Eza is also experienced and active in offshore RPO's management, recruiting, and consulting aspects. She has implemented several successful offshore recruiting accounts that have grown over time.

Eza is also a successful mentor who has produced budding leaders in her field. As a mentor, she has a strong focus on supporting emerging millennial team players.

Candy Poblete

HR MANAGER

Candy has been an HR Practitioner for 10 years. Her extensive experience in managing end-to-end HR facets came from various industries. She’s a champion in handling employee relations and labor relations. As a strategic thinker, she is adept at aligning HR policies and practices with the company’s goals and objectives, safeguarding the organization from legal complications, and providing employees with a secure and fair environment.

Anna Katrina Roa

VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING

Katrina, a De La Salle University graduate with a BSC in Accounting, plays a vital role in maintaining the company's financial health. She generates reports, manages budgets, and oversees the accounting department.

With over two (2) decades of experience in the recruitment industry, she is well-versed in its financial dynamics. Her expertise allows her to adeptly address the unique financial needs of recruitment businesses, making her an invaluable asset to the organization.

Jimmy P. Roa

CEO AND CHIEF RECRUITMENT OFFICER

Jimmy is a business executive in the field of BPO, RPO, IT Staffing, Technical Recruiting, Virtual Recruiting, Remote Staffing, and CAD Outsourcing. Having been involved in these industries for the past 30 years, Jimmy knows what works and what doesn’t. Aside from being the CEO of Sysgen RPO, he is also CEO of Sysgen – an IT Staffing firm which he founded in 1991.

Keen to working with clients who are willing to practice the “One-team Concept”, Jimmy has been mainly responsible in growing the Sysgen Group to what it is now.

He believes that clients are partners and that a true alliance is essential in achieving overall goals of cost savings and process improvement.