Transforming Recruitment: A Case Study with Sankou Total Service

In an era where talent acquisition is critical for business success, the challenges faced by companies in recruitment are more pronounced than ever. One such illustrative case is that of Sankou Total Service, a facility security company based in Narita, Japan. The company struggled with the dual burden of recruitment alongside other responsibilities, which significantly hampered their hiring efforts. Fortunately, a collaborative approach with R9, a recruitment support firm headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, offered a transformative solution.

The Challenge: Overextended Recruitment Personnel

Sankou Total Service encountered notable difficulties in their hiring process primarily due to its recruitment personnel being involved in multiple responsibilities. As a result, they faced a range of issues:

1. Time-consuming Recruitment Process: The recruitment cycle—from job posting to interviews and ultimately to job offers—involved numerous tasks. This complexity in the recruitment process proved burdensome for those handling it alongside other duties.

2. Delayed Candidate Engagement: The delay in responding to candidates after receiving applications led to missed opportunities, with candidates securing positions elsewhere. Given the competitive labor market, promptness is essential, but the workforce shortage created an uphill battle.

3. Lack of Clarity Without ATS: Their absence of an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) made it difficult to visualize the hiring stage of each candidate, complicating the process of tracking and coordinating interviews.

4. Insufficient Recruitment Expertise: With the plethora of job platforms available, identifying effective recruitment channels and optimizing job postings required specialized knowledge that the current team lacked, leading to a lack of applicants.

R9's Support Strategies

To address Sankou Total Service's challenges, R9 took a hands-on approach to reduce the burdens on the recruitment team while enhancing the quality of outcomes. Key strategies included:

- Conducting Initial Interviews Online: R9 took charge of screening candidates through initial online interviews, gathering detailed insight about candidate qualifications while providing informative feedback to Sankou’s team.
- Streamlining Interview Scheduling: R9 established a user-friendly system enabling candidates to select their interview times, creating an easier flow in the process.
- Progress Tracking Tools: For companies without ATS, R9 developed and implemented a progress management sheet, enabling clear visibility into the recruitment process.
- Regular Updates and Communication: R9 established regular progress meetings every two weeks to share updates and insights while utilizing platforms like Slack for real-time communication.
- Optimization of Job Advertisements: Improvement suggestions on job postings helped in maximizing visibility and attracting more candidates. R9 also managed communication between the media responsible personnels and provided consultation regarding direct recruiting strategies.
- Online Briefing Sessions: Conducting online informational sessions replaced traditional methods, efficiently conveying job details to candidates.

Positive Outcomes and Feedback

The results of R9’s support were evident shortly after the implementation. According to the recruitment officers at Sankou Total Service:

- Trust and Integration: The collaboration fostered a strong sense of trust, feeling that R9 embodied the spirit of being an in-house recruitment team while keeping the process efficient. Responses related to candidate screening became more in-depth and relevant, streamlining the selection for final interviews.
- Enhanced Speed in Candidate Response: R9's swift engagement after a candidate applied reduced the likelihood of candidates withdrawing their applications.
- Visualization of Progress: Even without an ATS, the newly instituted management sheet allowed easy tracking of recruitment progress, recognized positively in management meetings as efficient and well-organized.
- Reduced Mental Strain: With R9 stepping in to handle recruitment complexities, the existing recruitment personnel felt relieved and able to direct their focus on core competencies without the weight of dual responsibilities.

About R9

Founded in July 2009, R9 specializes in recruitment consulting and outsourcing, educational training, and external interview coordination. They boast a diverse team of 1,500 recruitment professionals aiming to address organizations' human resource challenges, and have consistently served over 800 clients, offering solutions tailored to their distinct needs.

Through capabilities refined over years of experience, R9 eases the burdens associated with recruitment while enhancing hiring quality, ensuring client satisfaction and strengthening workforce foundations.