Comments on: How to Fall in Love With Your Vendors http://www.ere.net/2007/02/06/how-to-fall-in-love-with-your-vendors/ Recruiting News, Recruiting Events, Recruiting Community, Social Recruiting Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:00:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Paul White http://www.ere.net/2007/02/06/how-to-fall-in-love-with-your-vendors/comment-page-1/#comment-4699 Paul White Tue, 06 Feb 2007 11:05:00 +0000 http://www.ere.net/2007/02/06/how-to-fall-in-love-with-your-vendors/#comment-4699 I could not agree more. Treating a vendor like a partner rather than a servant is the key to a successful relationship. Early in my career I thought I could manage all aspects of staffing and did not feel that utilizing vendors was a wise or necessary investment. Thankfully I quickly learned that by partnering with vendors and allowing them to help me, I was able to achieve more and focus my attention on the areas that most needed it. During my tenure at Cingular Wireless vendors played a key role in helping to build an efficient and effective talent acquisition function. Now that I have transtioned into a consulting role I am committed to helping my clients identify and partner with the 'right' vendors to help them achieve their goals. I could not agree more. Treating a vendor like a partner rather than a servant is the key to a successful relationship. Early in my career I thought I could manage all aspects of staffing and did not feel that utilizing vendors was a wise or necessary investment. Thankfully I quickly learned that by partnering with vendors and allowing them to help me, I was able to achieve more and focus my attention on the areas that most needed it.

During my tenure at Cingular Wireless vendors played a key role in helping to build an efficient and effective talent acquisition function. Now that I have transtioned into a consulting role I am committed to helping my clients identify and partner with the ‘right’ vendors to help them achieve their goals.

]]> By: William Uranga http://www.ere.net/2007/02/06/how-to-fall-in-love-with-your-vendors/comment-page-1/#comment-4700 William Uranga Tue, 06 Feb 2007 03:16:00 +0000 http://www.ere.net/2007/02/06/how-to-fall-in-love-with-your-vendors/#comment-4700 What a great reminder. I would suggest some additional items for consideration: 1) Structure the contract so that satisfactory delivery is tied to the payment terms (e.g. milestones) 2) Look for opportunities to cross promote your vendor if they prove themselves (this can affect pricing and add incentive to doing a good job 3) When selecting a vendor ask for specifics of how they have done before what they would like now to do for you (I'm particularily frank with direct-placement agencies about this item) 4) Challenge a vendor's 'flexibility' by asking for examples of what they have done out of the ordinary and references. The goal here is to minimize response such as 'None of our other clients have asked for that' or 'Our architecture doesn't allow for that' 5) Hold quarterly business reviews (where appropriate). Typically this has been taken to mean an appointment where a client complains to a vendor - and not what I mean. My company holds quarterly meetings (for example) with our on-site temp agency and their associate vendors for us (the client) to brief them (vendors) on what our company is doing and plans to do in the next quarter. This is meant to better inform them (therefore make them better at recruiter for my company) and demonstrate sincere appreciation for what they do and highlight how we can work better together. What a great reminder.

I would suggest some additional items for consideration:

1) Structure the contract so that satisfactory delivery is tied to the payment terms (e.g. milestones)

2) Look for opportunities to cross promote your vendor if they prove themselves (this can affect pricing and add incentive to doing a good job

3) When selecting a vendor ask for specifics of how they have done before what they would like now to do for you (I’m particularily frank with direct-placement agencies about this item)

4) Challenge a vendor’s ‘flexibility’ by asking for examples of what they have done out of the ordinary and references. The goal here is to minimize response such as ‘None of our other clients have asked for that’ or ‘Our architecture doesn’t allow for that’

5) Hold quarterly business reviews (where appropriate). Typically this has been taken to mean an appointment where a client complains to a vendor – and not what I mean. My company holds quarterly meetings (for example) with our on-site temp agency and their associate vendors for us (the client) to brief them (vendors) on what our company is doing and plans to do in the next quarter. This is meant to better inform them (therefore make them better at recruiter for my company) and demonstrate sincere appreciation for what they do and highlight how we can work better together.

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