An employee-owned, regional management consulting firm faced an imminent need to develop a talent management plan to meet the needs of their growing client base. The firm was at risk of losing revenue and affecting customer satisfaction, but the competitive nature of the industry made finding the right talent particularly difficult.

The Recruitment Challenges

The firm’s initial strategy involved posting open positions online. However, this approach resulted in an influx of unqualified applicants and lacked the specificity needed to attract the right candidates. This inefficiency underscored the need for a more targeted recruitment strategy.

The scope of the project demanded a flexible recruiting model; one that could form a pipeline of qualified candidates for permanent employment to meet the project needs of a diverse client base. Given the client’s demand for talent, competition among traditional management consulting firms would prove challenging without a talent strategy and partnership.

The Strategy

The firm chose to partner with Duffy Group for several reasons:

• Cost Efficiency: Typical recruiting firms often charge a percentage of the candidate’s first-year salary. “Needing to hire ten people, placement fees would have been too expensive.”
• Strategic Partnership: This approach eliminated the need for an internal recruiter. “Right now, we are building our candidate pipeline and if we see our needs change, we can expand or contract the recruiter’s schedule.”
• Customized Process: “The Practice Leader adjusted his process quickly and easily to meet our needs. I am paying for only the work I need.”

Duffy Group implemented a multi-faceted approach, combining various recruiting tools like regional target research and cold calling. Their expertise in attracting passive candidates, who are often unreachable through standard recruiting methods, was a critical component of this strategy.

Duffy’s executive recruiters engaged directly with qualified candidates, generating interest in the available positions.

The Duffy Difference 

The partnership led to rapid identification and personal interviews with candidates possessing the desired expertise. Within the first six months, seven management consulting positions were filled, followed by a total of 19 successful hires. This collaboration has created a robust candidate pipeline to meet future talent needs over the next year.