In today’s job market, attracting and retaining top-tier talent requires more than traditional recruitment methods for staffing firms to be competitive. It involves a comprehensive approach to candidate engagement that not only focuses on the hiring process but also nurtures a positive and fulfilling experience from first contact through onboarding and throughout their journey within the organization from the first connection.

At RK Management Consultants Inc. (RKMC), we believe in incorporating our core values — integrity, quality, accountability, teamwork, diversity and perseverance — into every aspect of our talent engagement strategy. We take this approach with contingent workers and employees alike because in our eyes, they are all RKMC employees and entitled to the same treatment.

Transparency, Integrity and Accountability

At the heart of our approach, and something we believe should be an industry standard, is a commitment to transparency and integrity. We ensure open communication with candidates from the initial conversation to the onboarding process and throughout their career with us. Providing clear expectations and information about RKMC’s core values and culture enables candidates to make informed decisions that align with their own principles. During interviews, we value honesty and openness, setting the foundation for a strong, trusting relationship. And that goes both ways.

From pay rates and assignment length to flexible work options and opportunities for eventual conversion to full-time employee status with the client, we are upfront about role expectations and do not make false promises. We also take the time to get to know job seekers and make clear about our role in the process. We explain why certain information is required for submission to clients — and what “submission to the client” means and what steps the candidate can expect. Taking the time to set such a strong foundation helps instill a sense of trust such that, should the original role we’re connecting with the candidate about not work out, the candidate wants to continue to work with us.

We also hold ourselves accountable. From the outset, make sure we deliver what we’ve told candidates they can expect from us. This is a part of our company culture and a key driver in ensuring their success. Regular communication is key. Candidates should never feel like they have been “ghosted” or are on their own — something that is far too common in our industry.

Setting clear expectations and having regular cadence check-ins help ensure the workers feel supported, valued and part of the team. We believe that when an employee — contingent or internal — feels this way, they also feel empowered to partner with us in decisions that affect them, from having conversations about raises, converting to perm or changing projects.

Teamwork

Emphasizing teamwork is a cornerstone of our employee participation strategy. We understand that a collaborative and supportive work environment contributes to the overall satisfaction and success of our employees. Our team-oriented culture encourages the exchange of ideas, continuous learning and a sense of belonging that extends to our contingent workforce. By fostering strong connections, we create a workplace where everyone feels accepted and included. We believe that multiple points of contact from our organization to the candidate makes the candidate feel embraced by our organization as a whole.

A Lived Experience

In our experience, providing a top-notch candidate experience comes from living and breathing our core values daily. It involves creating an environment where employees feel valued, supported and motivated to contribute their best work.

At RKMC, our commitment to integrity, quality, accountability, teamwork, diversity and perseverance shapes every facet of our talent engagement strategy. By exceeding industry standards and providing and cultivating an inclusive workplace where individuals thrive and succeed, we find we’ve been able to attract exemplary resources.

But these approaches should be the default. When the industry rises to the challenge and makes this level of service the industry standard, the industry will truly thrive.