Background: Recruiting Leadership and Innovative Processes

Forrest Solutions has established itself as a leader in strategic staffing and outsourcing by harnessing the power of its innovative and highly effective recruitment engine. Led by Kate Post, the Chief of Talent and Partner at Forrest Solutions, this engine is the driving force behind Forrest Solutions’ ability to deliver exceptional onsite talent to its clients. Over her impressive 45-year career, Kate has developed outsourcing and staffing solutions that exceed market standards, laying the foundation for what has become the industry’s best and most effective recruitment engine.

 

Challenges: Fill rates and Retention in a Challenging Market

The staffing and outsourcing industry often faces significant challenges, including lengthy time-to-fill periods and high turnover rates, which can impact client satisfaction and operational efficiency. According to SHRM, the industry standard time-to-fill for professional services roles is approximately 47 days. Many competitors that rely on small recruitment teams or offshore models struggle to meet client demands due to these extended timelines and a lack of direct oversight.

 

Approach/Selection: An In-House Proprietary Process

Forrest Solutions has developed a robust in-house recruitment model that delivers onsite talent, which consistently meets and exceeds client expectations. The recruitment engine is not just a process—it’s a strategic advantage that enables the company to fill roles faster and with higher-quality candidates compared to the industry norm. Key components of this approach include:

 

  • Recruitment Engine Size: Forrest Solutions has over 40 recruiters, which is often 10 times the size of its competitors’ recruitment teams. This larger team size allows for a more comprehensive and personalized approach to each client’s needs.
  • National Presence: The team operates in over 100 cities across the U.S., with 18 recruiters located outside the New York metro area, ensuring a broad reach and local expertise.
  • Strategic Sourcing: This approach mirrors that of an executive search firm, focusing on understanding the client’s needs and building a detailed candidate profile to guide targeted searches.

 

By focusing on providing talent onsite rather than using an offshore model, Forrest Solutions has seen much higher satisfaction rates among its clients. Clients appreciate the hands-on approach and the ability to work closely with a team that is physically present, leading to better strategic alignment and collaboration.

 

Process/Implementation:  Far Outpacing Expectations and Standards

The success of the Forrest Solutions recruitment engine can be attributed to several key factors that drive its strategic staffing and outsourcing capabilities:

 

  • Speed and Efficiency: Forrest Solutions has achieved a remarkable average time-to-fill rate of just 17 days, significantly outperforming the industry standard of 47 days. This speed is a major differentiator in the market, allowing clients to quickly scale their operations with qualified talent.
  • Volume: The team is currently filling 20-22 positions per week, demonstrating their ability to handle high volumes without compromising on quality.
  • Retention: Investments in training and development have led to a 12% decrease in staff turnover year-over-year. Forrest Solutions’ commitment to talent retention includes its proprietary WPX 1.0 and 2.0 training programs, which ensure that all professionals are well-prepared and engaged.

 

Kate Post emphasized that their approach parallels that of an executive search team, focusing on thoroughly understanding the job function and client culture before going to market. This strategic methodology ensures that the right talent is sourced efficiently, significantly reducing the time-to-fill compared to industry competitors.

 

Results:  Recruiting is the Game Changer

Forrest Solutions’ recruitment engine has proven to be a game-changer in powering the success of its staffing and outsourcing clients, delivering results that consistently exceed industry averages. Some of the standout achievements include:

 

  • Faster Placements: With a time-to-fill of 17 days, Forrest Solutions is more than twice as fast as the industry average, providing a crucial advantage in the competitive staffing market.
  • Higher Volume: Filling 20-22 positions weekly highlights the team’s capacity and efficiency, which few competitors can match.
  • Improved Retention: A 12% reduction in turnover rates demonstrates the effectiveness of their training and development programs, leading to better client satisfaction and lower costs associated with rehiring.
  • Onsite Talent: Clients consistently report greater satisfaction with Forrest Solutions’ onsite services, which are competitively priced compared to offshore models. This approach ensures closer collaboration and more effective service delivery.

 

These results clearly illustrate how Forrest Solutions’ strategic, data-driven approach to recruitment enables its staffing and outsourcing clients to achieve their goals with exceptional efficiency and effectiveness.

 

Conclusion

Forrest Solutions’ recruitment engine is the cornerstone of its strategic staffing and outsourcing services. By maintaining control over the entire recruitment process and leveraging AI technology, the company delivers unmatched speed, quality, and client satisfaction. Their ability to outpace industry standards in time-to-fill, coupled with a focus on onsite talent, positions Forrest Solutions as a leader in the staffing and outsourcing industry.