Contact  P: 614-899-6696 F: 614-899-6696 E:
5011 Pine
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Westerville, OH 43081 |
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Is Specializing the Right
Thing?
by
Glen Gardner
Today’s economy has caused me to think about how to ensure business
prosperity and security going forward. The effects of the
recession are felt in just about every industry and profession, and
while 2008 was a solid year for the Vortechs Group, no one is sure what
2009 will hold, including me.
As a recruiter, my first instinct was to diversify in order to remain
successful despite the economy. If I recruit for many different
industries, it seems logical that I would be spreading my risk, and
therefore not dependent on just one area. But as a business
person, I know that to remain competitive I must increase efficiency,
effectiveness and expertise. The last economic downturn saw the
demise of many of my competitors. Only the strong survived.
So, if I venture into other industries and professions where I am not
familiar and not as strong, I will not make it. There are
already other recruiters in that field who are much stronger than I am,
because of their past background and knowledge in that area.
Based on my experience during the recession of 2001, I have decided
that what is best for my company, the Vortechs Group, is to become more
specialized, not more diversified. This is accomplished by going
through my client list and targeting those with the most specialized
searches and marketing to them and their subsidiaries. In most
cases, this is accomplished through a referral or phone call.
Implementing the specialization tactic means my goal for 2009 is
quality searches as opposed to quantity. This fits my business
philosophy of efficiency as well as takes into consideration that the
economy will dictate quantity, something I have no control over.
By identifying a niche, I know that I can capitalize on past
experience, limit competition and utilize my connections.
The other advantage of narrowing my area of specialization is that I
have begun to build name recognition of the Vortechs Group as being a
leader, or possibly the only recruiter, in a very narrow area of
specialization. I have benefited from referrals, networking and
current clients passing my name on to their colleagues. I am also
developing relationships with candidates, who often know the people for
whom I am recruiting and are comfortable making a career move because I
am dealing with a smaller, more specialized professional community.
Overall, I have decided not to abandon my business philosophy because
of the economy, but instead to be even more strict with my searches,
because in my case, I believe it is the key to remaining competitive in
the long term.
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What is best for my company
is to specialize - focus on quality of searches.
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