What do coalition governments and outsourced recruitment arrangements have in common? Stay with me on this. There are a lot of C words around at the moment to describe politicians; two of the most prominent being Cameron and Clegg. Personally I think they look very comfortable together despite the media desperately looking for a ’lovers’ tiff’. If it works out that our leaders with their conflicting ideas can come together and fix the pressing problems of the day, it will be a magnificent achievement.

So, in that spirit of co-operation I am looking around me and hoping to see it flourish in business, and in particular the recruitment industry. Recruiters are not naturally great compromisers, and coalition is not usually on the agenda. Let’s face it - we have found somewhere to work where selfishness is often rewarded.

But co-operation is key when clients use a third party to handle their recruitment needs. That’s when all the relationships can come under pressure.

We all want Clegg and Cameron to put their individual differences to one side and make decisions for the good of the country. We want them to understand that what is good for the country will be good for their parties. If they can put the success of their joint venture above all else they’ll be our heroes. It is a tough ask for professional politicians who have spent so long promoting themselves.

Similarly, when a company engages a managed or an outsourced service, they want all those troublesome issues and difficult people to fall into line and quietly become resolved issues and helpful, undemanding people.

It’s not always easy though. The myriad offered solutions by suppliers can be confusing. It is amazing how finding people can be dressed up in such complex processes, but the rate at which some companies get through suppliers is testament to how difficult it can be.

There is even more coalition required between external recruiters and the newly hired internal recruiters. Trying to find compromise usually comes down to whether or not to accept a fee level. The norm is that the same service is required, but just at a lower rate. It’s a rare agreement indeed that calls for a consistency of service plus certain levels of quality and information, as well as a fee reduction. Once successfully in the nest the cuckoo calls the shots and takes its cut until asked to leave. OK, that’s cynical and not always true, but it is true often enough for it to be the standard moan that you hear recruiters emit when they discover that their much loved client wants them to go through company XYZ, world-beating provider of radical solutions that will make their life easier.

The key to the success of managed or outsourced recruitment solutions comes down to a coalition of forces that agree to compromise to a degree for the good of their mutual client and therefore their own good. When this is done, based on understanding the company’s needs, with a range of solutions carefully selected against each of those needs, you have a recipe for success. Making that happen is the biggest task of the solution provider who must be careful how they proceed.
In this age of coalition we can learn many lessons by sharing goals.

Stefan Ciecierski is regional director at recruitment firm ReThink