The RPO model in recruitment is used when a company decides to transfer all or part of its recruitment to an external provider. This is known as a Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) provider. An RPO provider acts as a permanent extension of a company’s HR department or Talent Acquisition team. They become embedded into a business to provide a fully integrated hiring solution.
In this article, we delve a little deeper into the RPO model. Wondering whether this is the right move for your company? The Curve Group are here to help you decide.
How Does The RPO Model Work?
The RPO model works by utilising a third-party Recruitment Process Outsourcing provider to manage all or part of your recruitment. How much or how little will depend on your business needs. The RPO model differs from the traditional recruitment agency model. Whilst the latter typically supports businesses on more of an ad-hoc basis to fill one or two vacancies when required, the RPO model is a much more comprehensive and long-term solution for your recruitment needs.
Your RPO provider becomes an extension of your team. They integrate seamlessly into your business – to the point where they will use your email addresses, your recruitment collateral and existing recruitment technology if applicable. All contact they have with candidates is via your own brand, so candidates have a truly seamless recruitment experience.
Which Businesses Might Need An RPO Model?
You may be reading this and wondering if the RPO model is right for your business. Do you have the internal capabilities for the level of recruitment you have in the pipeline? Is recruitment regularly popping up on the to-do list or needed in large volumes at short notice? It can be hard to keep up with hiring needs – especially with the many other commitments of running a business.
Sometimes, a company simply wants to reduce their overheads when it comes to recruitment by streamlining and optimising its recruitment processes.
In these instances, the RPO model can be beneficial. Companies of all kinds utilise RPO. However, it’s traditionally used by larger companies that require high-volume hiring – around the 20+ hires a year mark.
RPO Model Benefits
The RPO model holds many benefits and when used in the right setting, can truly transform your recruitment. Firstly, it allows you to control your costs. It can be easy to lose track of recruitment spend when managing it internally and engaging multiple agencies. The scalable nature of outsourced recruitment means that any peaks in recruitment demand can be met without needing to increase your fixed costs. Check out our ‘7 Ways to Reduce Costs by Improving Your Recruitment Process’ to learn more.
Secondly, the RPO model can free up your staff’s time. Recruitment isn’t a quick process – and neither should it ever be treated as such. Outsourcing your recruitment to an RPO provider allows you to focus on driving the business forward in the knowledge that recruitment is being taken care of by experts.
RPO also allows you to stay compliant with any applicable legislation and best practice. Mistakes can become very costly for business – not to mention potentially damaging to your company’s reputation.. An RPO provider will keep you on the straight and narrow whilst enhancing and improving your employer brand.
Who doesn’t want access to a wider talent pool? The aim of the game is always to find the best people for the job. An RPO provider’s network of talent can be invaluable for any company to tap into. Not only can an RPO provider heighten your chances of finding new and exciting people to join your company, but they speed the whole hiring process up so you can get your vacancies filled and access the talent you need faster.
Lastly, an RPO provider will ultimately improve your recruitment process. Their role and responsibility go beyond simply recruiting talent onto your team. As a long-term partner integrated into your business, they will continue to work with you to provide an ongoing analysis of your recruitment process. This includes improving your time and cost to hire and retention rates, ultimately helping you to improve future hiring.
For more information on the benefits of the RPO model, read our blog on ‘The 8 Pivotal Benefits of Outsourcing Recruitment’.
Could the RPO model be right for you and your company? If so, we at The Curve Group would love to help. Whether you are ready to utilise our services or simply want to learn more about RPO and our other services, we’d love to chat with you.
If you’d like to learn a little more about RPO and how it could benefit your business, check out our recent webinar: RPO 101: Everything you need to know about Recruitment Process Outsourcing.
Get in touch with us today. Pick up the phone and give us a call at 01295 811 486, fill out our online enquiry form or drop us an email at [email protected].
