One of the most difficult situations in recruitment is working with businesses that have had poor experiences with agencies in the past.
This client, a fast-paced B2C telesales business, had worked with several recruiters previously and had become frustrated with the results.
Their existing approach focused heavily on cost. Recruitment agencies were expected to provide large volumes of CVs at low fees, with the client's internal HR team carrying out much of the screening and assessment themselves.
The result was significant time being spent reviewing applications while recruitment outcomes remained inconsistent.
Initially, Knight Temple declined the opportunity.
The proposed fee structure wasn't commercially viable, and there was little appetite from the client to adopt a more structured recruitment process.
Several weeks later, discussions resumed.
The client's recruitment requirements had increased, while existing recruitment suppliers were beginning to provide fewer candidates and less support.
At this point, a different approach was proposed.
Rather than forwarding batches of CVs, Knight Temple would thoroughly assess and prepare every candidate before introduction.
Candidates would arrive at interviews with a clear understanding of:
The client agreed to trial the process.
The difference was immediate.
Hiring managers spent less time interviewing unsuitable candidates and more time speaking with people who were genuinely interested in the opportunity and properly prepared for the process.
The partnership continued for more than five years.
During that time, Knight Temple supported recruitment across a wide range of positions, including:
In total, more than 50 successful placements were made before the relationship eventually ended following a private equity acquisition and a change in recruitment strategy.
Importantly, the relationship itself remained strong, with the former owner continuing to work with Knight Temple across other businesses and ventures.
This project demonstrates how the right recruitment process can transform hiring outcomes and build business relationships that last for years.
If you've worked with recruiters before and been disappointed by the results, it may be time for a different approach.