CONTRACTING TIPS: STAYING UP IN A DOWN MARKET

Let’s be blunt. We are experiencing unprecedented economic times. Many of you reading this article may have been recently laid-off or you’re in-between assignments for longer than you’d like. And let’s not forget those of you who are still on assignment – working harder than ever, but worried that it might be ending soon. Even well-seasoned HR Consultants have confessed their dismay to us in recent months over the heavy number of hiring freezes, often including freezes on contract opportunities. Indeed, we all look forward to better days ahead! Read More.

CONTINUITI'S HR COMMUNITY HELPS LOCATE
CREOLE-SPEAKING HR GENERALIST

Networking.  You hear about it all the time.  At Continuiti, it’s the lifeblood of our business.  With a majority of our openings unadvertised, we regularly tap our reliable “HR Community”.  If we don’t immediately find the perfect fit, one of our community members (all of them savvy HR professionals) will inevitably lead us to someone who is!  This was certainly the case with our client, below.

ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGE: Our client is one of the largest suppliers in the U.S. of medical garment and linen rentals.  With 36 locations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, it is a rapidly-growing business that had always expanded their staff with relative ease.  They hit a wall, however, with one hard-to-fill opening at one of their plants.  Reflecting the local community, that site had a heavy proportion of Haitian employees.  The company desperately needed an HR Generalist, but one who could work part-time, flexing to cover a two-shift operation, and of course one who was fluent in Creole!  Referred to us by one of our HR Community members, the company gladly passed us this truly “super-niche” opening.  

CONTINUITI INTERIM SOLUTION: Continuiti recruiters immediately turned to our expert HR Community, scouring our network for Creole-speaking HR talent.  A current Continuiti Interim HR Professional was a good fit, but she was already on assignment.  She did, however, have a sister with a similar background who was subsequently hired and has been working for our delighted client since February 2009. 

Sounds fortuitous?  This kind of organic networking is how Continuiti fills most of our positions.  Further, it actually reflects how most people find work in the larger population – through an informal network of both professional and personal contacts.  
 

"Continuiti’s in-depth networking methods, the foundation of our “super-niche” business model, offers a distinct advantage to our clients.  Particularly in this challenging economy, passive recruiting methods such as posting to generic job boards elicit a flood of resumes, but not necessarily the right talent.   At Continuiti, we actively tap our HR Community around the country to quickly hone in on high-caliber candidates.   Networking is as critical to consultants as it is to clients.  The most successful consultants understand that a strong network must be nourished year-round.   It’s important to treat everyone in your professional network with courtesy and respect.  The old adage about “not burning bridges” is a pragmatic one!   The HR Professional who generously helps other colleagues and trusted recruiters, and regularly refers others to opportunities has built up a tremendous stockpile of goodwill.  In turn, that goodwill often leads directly to future opportunities."  

Debra Horowitz, Co-Founder & Partner

CONTINUITI WELCOMES NEW VP, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Continuiti continues to invest aggressively in the future to ensure that we continue to present the best Interim HR opportunities.  With that in mind, we recently welcomed Chris Willkins as VP, Business Development.  Chris spent the last 15 years of his career in manager- and director-level strategic staffing roles for blue-chip companies including PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ingersoll Rand. [click here for Chris’s bio]

When Chris needed interim HR help in a previous role, a colleague referred him to Continuiti.  He had never heard of an industry-specific firm that specialized only in temporary assignments.  Chris was quick to admit, "I was rather intrigued by their unique business model.  Continuiti did not disappoint either, as they rapidly filled a Contract Recruiter and a Contract Benefits Manager position with just the right talent”.   

In the partnership that followed, everyone soon realized that Chris would be an ideal fit for the Continuiti team. According to Regina McGuire, Co-Founder and Partner, "Chris brings vast practical experience in the corporate sector and understands the challenges of finding HR talent quickly.  Coupled with that, he also brings a natural consultative style that meshes well with our own business approach."

CONTINUITI NAMED TO LIST OF 5000 FASTEST-GROWING PRIVATE COMPANIES BY INC. MAGAZINE

Continuiti’s unique “super-niche” business model, which taps into a national network of HR Professionals, has driven our success. Continuiti was recently named one of the 5,000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies by Inc. magazine.  See Inc. 5000 for more information.
 

© 2009 Continuiti, LLC
* The designations Super-Niche and The Power of Super-Niche Staffing are trademarks of Continuiti LLC.