Recruiting Alternatives

Executive Brief of Services Provided to Equipment Service Company

Situation - The head of Human Resources for a leading medical equipment company needed to hire two key senior executives for their rapidly expanding firm. They had recently gone through a recapitalization, and were growing rapidly both organically and through acquisition. The firm needed to hire a Corporate General Counsel and a Human Resources Director who could effectively navigate the occasional rough waters caused by such growth.

Challenges - They faced several barriers to finding the right talent with internal resources:

  • Determining the ideal profile for both positions.

  • Providing a wide enough variety of candidates to have a choice, while not getting bogged down in the screening and interviewing process.

  • Convincing top talent to consider a move during tough economic times.

Reasons - The company's internal recruiting team lacked both the resources and experience to provide the dedicated focus that was needed.

Solutions - Professional Alternatives, a division of Source2, was brought in to conduct the search. Consultative meetings with key stakeholders immediately took place to determine the ideal profiles of the candidates who would offer both the needed expertise and have the right cultural fit that would assure a lasting relationship and cause the least disruption to the rest of the management team.

Next, nine extremely qualified candidates were recruited from a wide variety of sources - from insurance companies to health care providers. The depth and quality of this first pass was unusually strong. The management team felt any one of the nine could have handled both jobs well. The search team then helped the client to narrow the field down to four, from which they selected their final candidates.

But the work was not done, as thief choice for General Counsel was having second thoughts about leaving her present position. The search team wouldn't give up. They met with her several times and convinced her that the opportunity was one worth taking.

Results - The company is extremely happy with their two new executives. Both employees are still key contributors to the company three years later.

In 2006, 2007 and 2008, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal ranked Professional Alternatives as one of the top six Executive Search firms in the state. With the addition of Professional Alternatives, Source2 adds substantially to an already wide array of workforce productivity solutions.


Executive Brief of Services Provided to a Fortune 100 Insurance Provider

Situation - One of the largest healthcare insurers in the country wanted to reduce expenses and deliver better services to their employees. One of the ways they intended to accomplish this was through a transformation of their entire Human Resources department. Their plan was to have all HR policy questions that were traditionally handled by HR Generalists answered and resolved through a contact center that included telephonic and online response capabilities.

Challenges

  • One of the end results of these changes was going to be a reduction of HR staff from more than 400 to 200 employees.

  • During this period, they were concerned about losing key contributors.

  • Other staff that may be targeted for transfer or termination might leave too soon.

  • Remaining HR employees would need help transitioning into new roles, and training programs needed to be developed and implemented for this group.

Reasons - This much change can create uncertainty and stress within a department.

Solutions - Professional Alternatives, (A division of Source2) was contacted to help on a number of fronts.

  • A cadre of HR contractors with a variety of disciplines were made ready to fill in for any key employees who exited early.

  • Professional Alternatives augmented the company's outplacement services by providing other opportunities for Human Resource professionals who were exiting the company.

  • Organizational development and training consultants were engaged to implement training programs and help transition internal staff into new roles.

Results - Over the next eighteen months, the firm cut it's HR department in half, substantially reducing costs, while becoming a more strategic partner within the firm. Delivery of benefits to the employee population improved in speed and ease of access.

Professional Alternatives has consistently been ranked one of the top Temporary Staffing and Executive Search firms in the state. With the addition of Professional Alternatives, Source2 adds substantially to an already wide array of workforce productivity solutions.


Executive Brief of Services Provided to a Major Medical Center

Situation - A Medical Center in the Southwest was facing some serious challenges. They had been plagued by high turnover and poor performance.

Challenges - There were a number of issues that needed to be addressed:

  • Two high-level management positions needed to be filled.

  • The HRIS applicant tracking system was stalled and off track.

  • Staffing needs had reached a code-red level with 200+ openings for nurses going unfilled.

  • The top Human Resource executive position had been vacated

Reasons - Due to the change in leadership in HR, initiatives lacked direction.

Solutions - Professional Alternatives, (A division of Source2) was brought in and tackled the challenge with a multifaceted strategy. An aggressive recruiting campaign to hire nurses was implemented with a combination of on-site contract nurse recruiters, backed up by sourcing specialists at the main office.

At the same time, two Human Resource consultants worked on-site to address departmental needs. One consultant focused on developing and implementing strategies for internal recruiting and staffing. The other consultant brought the HRIS project back on track.

Simultaneously, our Executive Search team recruited a candidate to fill the VP of HR position.

Results - Within six months, all key roles were filled, nurse openings had dropped significantly, and their applicant tracking system was up and running.

In 2006, 2007 and 2008, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal ranked Professional Alternatives as one of the top six Executive Search firms in the state. With the addition of Professional Alternatives, Source2 adds substantially to an already wide array of workforce productivity solutions.


Executive Brief of Services Provided to an Entertainment Company

Situation:

A Financial Services and Entertainment conglomerate that includes broadcasting companies and theme parks solicits the millions of guests to those parks to apply for their credit card. This credit card is complete with theme park branding and provides new cardholders with benefits including but not limited to food and ticket discounts, access to movies and concerts, giveaways and introductory interest rates. The company's unique business model enables instant credit approvals through specialized, proprietary technologies. This allows the company to take an application, approve and provide a fully functional, customer embossed card within 15 minutes of taking the customer's application. Two business functions that include credit card sales and customer card pick up centers are operational seven days per week.

Client objectives:

  • Leverage the unique nature of the high volume of guests at the parks

  • Obtain card applications on 3% of the park attendance

  • Capture .25% of park attendance as new approved card holders

  • Up-sell the card benefits and increase immediate usage

  • Focus on workforce flexibility, productivity and profit

Challenges:

The credit card sales vendor working with the Company was not meeting performance objectives in sales nor upholding strict park guidelines in professionalism, which caused friction with park management. These challenges were compounded by a declining economy, a tightening credit market and decreased park attendance.

Reasons:

Aside from the economic challenges, the credit card sales vendor did not field a full, qualified staff each day as required by its contract. In additional to unprofessional behavior, the vendor was unable to retain "A" players or productive employees. This was based on a lack of quality recruiting and training processes, employee benefits and site management structure.

Solutions:

Source2 (Professional Alternatives parent company) conducted an operations analysis of the business processes. As a result of that analysis, Source2 created a client-centric workforce with high quality, productive employees including supervisors and managers. Solution components include:

  • Institution of a targeted, specific recruitment model to locate better quality candidates

  • Creation of a custom training program to better train and equip sales staff

  • Implementation of a production-driven workforce model

  • Creation of competition-based incentive package to recognize top achievers and motivate staff

  • A restructured employee package to provide more stability and retain quality employees, including paid time off, healthcare benefits and a 401K plan

  • A dedicated, single point of contact for our Client Company

Results:

Within the first 3 months Source2 was able to increase the number of approved cards by 10% while saving the Company over $300,000 in direct costs and greatly improving staff professionalism. Source2 is paid on a productivity basis (per card application).