Learnings from a Recruitment Agency operating as a Social Enterprise
After 3 years in business we noticed something quite surprising.
When candidates became aware that our client was working with a social enterprise recruitment agency, it had a marked impact on their performance during the interview process. We found that candidates put more effort into interview preparation and had a much greater desire to be successful in securing the role. It turns our social enterprise model of recruitment provides a clear demonstration to candidates that the hiring organisation is socially conscious and community minded. This has pulling power, making the hiring organisation a highly desirable place to work. Thus, candidates put more time and effort into interview preparation and are highly engaged throughout the interview process.
Highly engaged candidates start their new roles as highly engaged new members of staff. Enthusiasm is contagious. When existing staff learn that you have utilised social enterprise recruitment services and are generating donations to help solve social issues of importance to the community, it has a positive impact on staff.
Utilising recruitment services from a social enterprise helps reduce cost as you increase and organisation’s CSR profile, enhancing social licence to operate as you generate community good will. Link this with the positive impact on staff engagement, you have an environment highly conducive to business growth, along with a recipe for competitive advantage.
Our findings align with the 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer Global Report specifically:
"Employee Expectations now include societal change"
Employees’ expectation that prospective employers will join them in taking action on societal issues (67%) is nearly as high as their expectations of personal empowerment (74%) and job opportunity (80%).
"A company can take specific actions that both increase profits and improve the economic and social conditions in the communities where it operates"
73% agreed that a company can take specific actions that both increase profits and improve the economic and social conditions in the communities where it operates—a nine-point increase from 2018.
Recruit for Good has been operating now for more than 4 years, placing people nationally into sectors including
financial services, health, aged care, technology, logistics and not for profit with expertise in technology, executive management, marketing, communications, human resources, financial services, fund raising and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance).
For more information, or to explore the benefits of recruiting staff via a recruitment agency that operates as a social enterprise , please contact Andrew McGarry, Director and Founder of Recruit for Good.