What to Look for in an RPO Partner: 7 Questions to Ask Before You Sign

With hundreds of applicants interested in the same job or multiple positions to fill quickly, it can prove overwhelming for your business to manage recruitment in-house. Seeking the help of a third-party Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) provider could be the answer to building an efficient recruitment journey. 

What Is an RPO?

RPO is a form of business process outsourcing where an external provider takes over some or all of a company’s recruitment processes. These may include posting job descriptions, screening resumes, shortlisting candidates, conducting interviews and making hiring decisions.

An RPO partner can manage your applicant management system and ensure legal compliance throughout the recruitment process. They also provide services such as diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) support; talent acquisition advisory services; and employer branding to establish your company as a reputable workplace.

Benefits of Appointing an RPO Partner

Instead of placing mounting pressures on your in-house recruitment team and making mistakes, an RPO partner mitigates the stress and worry associated with recruitment. Here are the essential benefits of bringing an RPO partner on board:

Reach a Wide and Diverse Talent Pool

RPOs have a wider network of contacts of relevant recruiters to reach, which will help you target more diverse candidates and underrepresented demographics. As well as making DEI a key factor in your recruitment process, an RPO provider can advise on your company’s DEI strategy. They may also help recognize internal talent to fill job opportunities and advise on upskilling to train existing employees.

Flexible Operations

In some cases, RPOs enable companies to work more flexibly, allowing them to engage with an RPO when needed. With this flexibility, you can tailor your recruitment processes based on demand. You can extend an RPO during busy recruitment bursts or put an RPO on pause during quiet periods.

Boost Your Employer Brand

An RPO can help improve your brand perception by establishing a reputation as a great workplace. Brand impression is more important than ever, as candidates increasingly recognize the importance of company values and a healthy work-life balance. Setting out a clear and beneficial employee value proposition (EVP) will steer you in the right direction for better retention rates and productivity.

Enhance Time to Hire

In a competitive job market where recruitment teams are endlessly sifting through applications, it is challenging to meet the required time metrics and hire candidates by deadlines. Screening each suitable candidate, arranging pre-interview tasks and organizing interview times are common issues.

Bringing an RPO partner on board will help you work toward a “time-to-hire” metric to make sure you hire the right candidates promptly.

Cut Hiring Costs

Handling all recruitment processes internally can prove costly. Investing more money in recruitment may help resolve the issue of finding suitable talent. However, from agency fees to advertising costs, spending a large amount of money still may not help solve the problem.

Partnering with an RPO provider aims to reduce hiring costs by delivering quicker, more efficient results. An RPO partnership that delivers faster outcomes means you will pay less compared to a traditional recruitment firm.

Gain a Better Candidate Experience

The efficiency and expertise of an RPO provider offer a better candidate experience for applicants. Timely responses and personalized communication are vital factors that improve a candidate’s recruitment experience.

Introducing digital assessments and AI-based screening helps determine a candidate’s soft and hard skills based on a job role’s requirements. In addition to possessing the relevant experience, these assessments evaluate whether a candidate is a good cultural fit.

Compliance Peace of Mind

Compliance is a crucial factor in the recruitment process. Yet staying up to date with the latest recruitment regulations is a minefield. Fortunately, an RPO provider can alleviate this stress. An RPO provider is aware of the relevant rules that apply to their operations.

Introducing components like in-depth background checks helps companies recognize the importance of compliance in limiting the risk of hiring unsuitable candidates.

7 Questions to Ask RPO Providers Before You Sign

Before you choose an RPO, address any concerns and feel fully confident that your candidate recruitment journey is in the best hands. Below are seven critical questions to ask an RPO provider:

1. How Do You Plan on Incorporating Our Brand Values?

Even if a candidate does not join your company, it is still important to leave a positive impression. Asking potential RPO providers about how they will approach brand representation is fundamental to choosing the right service.

Discuss any platforms you would like to promote and ask about highlighting your EVP package. Also, think about the content that is available to prospective candidates and whether it needs a refresh to align with your company’s goals.

2. Can Your RPO Services Be Tailored to Our Industry and Needs?

A cookie-cutter approach to recruitment will likely yield poor results and lead to hiring the wrong talent for your role. To find suitable candidates, ask RPO providers how they can tailor their services to meet your needs. Depending on the number of new staff members you need, ask whether they can adjust their services to meet targets. Industry knowledge is also helpful. If they do not have prior knowledge, discuss how they can rectify this.

3. What Metrics Are in Place to Assess the Quality of Candidates?

The promise of targeting suitable candidates is all well and good. However, it will help you understand how an RPO provider accomplishes this. Ensure you have a thorough understanding of the technology used and whether the criteria match what you are looking for. If necessary, ask about potential metric changes and how you will receive assessment results.

4. How Is Compliance Managed Throughout the Hiring Process?

Keeping up to date with current compliance requirements is essential for all recruitment processes. Because the RPO provider will ensure the correct compliance requirements are in place, make sure you understand what these measures are and the reasons for them.

For example, discuss how personal data is stored, what particular information is required and the process of a candidate background check.

5. What Technology Is in Place to Reduce Time to Hire?

The use of technology helps cut time and deliver an efficient process from start to finish. From analytic tracking systems to AI platforms for screening candidates, discuss why they have been introduced and their reliability. Ask the RPO providers if they can provide case studies that demonstrate the use of technology in the recruitment process.

It is also important to discuss whether candidates will have a point of contact to discuss any concerns about the role. Will this be with the provider, or will it be through your company?

6. How Do You Ensure DEI in Recruitment?

For any successful company to thrive in today’s world, DEI must be at the forefront of your brand. Ask RPO providers about their strategies for incorporating DEI into the recruitment process, including methods for attracting diverse candidates. Discuss how each stage of the recruitment process will prohibit conscious and unconscious bias.

Also, be sure to ask about the accessibility features and the language used in all recruitment materials.

7. Will I Have an Account Manager as a Point of Contact?

It is essential to maintain open communication with the provider to address any questions that may arise. Set your expectations by addressing any concerns you may have, including whether you will have a dedicated account manager to oversee your recruitment.

If not, discuss the account management process and whether you can request that an individual be assigned solely to look after your recruitment.

Source the Best Applicants for Your Roles

An RPO offers an efficient process for targeting top talent that matches your needs. Here at Emerge Talent, we provide tailored RPO services based on research and markets to fit your recruitment goals:

• Project RPO: Balance quality with quantity to meet your needs.

• Enterprise RPO: This all-in-one service saves you time and worry.

• Integrated RPO: Discover our customized and flexible solution that aligns with your values.

• High Volume RPO: Hire quality candidates at speed with this AI-powered solution.

Ready to build an effective recruitment strategy with our flexible, cutting-edge platform? Reach out to explore our efficient RPO solutions and welcome the right talent to your business.