Industry Spotlight | Tom Erb - President at Tallann Resources - Proactively Planning for Success in Any Market Cycle
On this episode of The Full Desk Experience, we dive into the current state of the job market and how staffing and recruiting companies can navigate the uncertainty. We discuss the importance of not getting conservative during times of adversity and the need to stay aggressive and manage finances wisely. Additionally, we look at the effectiveness of communication methods and why phone calls remain the most effective means of communication. Tom Erb emphasizes the importance of building relationships and networks in the staffing industry, and the problems with overreliance on job boards for recruiting. Tune in to learn more about the current state of the job market and how talent companies can stay ahead of the curve.
About Tom Erb: Tom Erb grew up in West Virginia and went to college at West Virginia University and later he pursued a career in the staffing industry. After getting his MBA, he landed a job at Olsten and worked his way up from interviewer to area director. He then spent ten years at Spherion, where he discovered his passion for sales, before becoming a Regional Vice President. Tom went on to start his own company, Tallann Resources, which offers consulting and training services to the staffing industry. Over the past 13 years, he has worked with over 1000 staffing companies and continues to love what he does.
*Introduction and Guest Speaker [00:00:27]*
Kortney Harmon introduces herself and the guest speaker, Tom Erb, and provides a brief overview of his background and experience in the staffing industry.
*Tom Erb's Background and Journey [00:01:59]*
Tom Erb shares his journey in the staffing industry, from starting out as an interviewer to becoming a regional vice president, and ultimately starting his own consulting and training firm, Talent Resources.
*Current State of the Economy and its Impact on Staffing and Recruiting Firms [00:05:00]*
Tom Erb discusses the current state of the economy and its impact on staffing and recruiting firms, including the overcorrection of hiring and layoffs in some industries, the changing definition of "open jobs," and the ongoing challenge of finding enough qualified candidates to fill positions.
*Adapting to the current climate [00:08:45]*
Speaker 2 asks how staffing offices can adapt to the current climate change and continue to grow their business. Kortney Harmon suggests that companies should not swing to extremes and should focus on both sales and recruiting. She recommends building relationships with clients and connecting with more candidates.
*Common mistakes during a market softening [00:13:49]*
Kortney Harmon discusses common mistakes that staffing firms make during a softening of the market, such as giving up and making bad decisions around internal staff. She advises companies to stay aggressive and capitalize on their competitors' mistakes.
*The future of the staffing industry [00:16:20]*
Kortney Harmon predicts that the staffing industry has green pastures ahead and great opportunities due to the high demand for workers and the low supply of people in the workforce. She believes that the industry will continue to grow exponentially in the next 40-50 years.
*The Future of Staffing Industry [00:17:15]*
Tom Erb discusses the future of the staffing industry, including the impact of technology and the changing nature of work.
*Maximizing Relationships with Candidates and Employees [00:19:20]*
Tom Erb emphasizes the importance of maximizing relationships with candidates and employees, rather than relying solely on job boards.
*Sales Tips for Staffing Leaders [00:23:35]*
Tom Erb shares his top sales tips for staffing leaders, including the importance of phone calls and networking.
*Building Relationships [00:26:04]*
Tom Erb discusses the importance of building relationships in the staffing industry and suggests making phone calls and in-person networking to build a presence in front of potential clients.
*Overcoming Adversity [00:29:13]*
Tom Erb shares his success story of overcoming adversity during the recession of 2008-2009 and growing his business despite the industry dropping by 30-40%.
*Qualities of Successful Staffing Leaders [00:33:51]*
Tom Erb talks about the qualities that successful staffing leaders should possess, including being a people connector, building networks, and taking responsibility for their own training and development.
*Leadership and Growth Mindset [00:34:14]*
Tom Erb discusses the importance of empathy and accountability in leadership, and how leaders can help their employees grow and improve.
*Resources for Staffing and Recruiting Leaders [00:37:02]*
Tom Erb recommends various resources, such as podcasts, books, and mentorship, for staffing and recruiting leaders to improve their skills and knowledge.
*Staying Ahead of Future Trends in Staffing and Recruiting [00:39:31]*
Tom Erb advises firms to get involved in associations, pay attention to technology, maximize their ATS usage, and focus on internal talent to stay ahead of future trends in staffing and recruiting.
*Common Mistakes to Avoid [00:42:12]*
Tom Erb highlights common mistakes to avoid, key factors to consider, and other influences to help succeed in the staffing industry.
*Assessing Your Current Position [00:42:12]*
It is crucial to consistently assess where you are today and if you are on target to be where you need to be in the future amidst economic changes.
*New Mini-Series Announcement [00:42:12]*
Curate is dropping a new mini-series called FDE Express, exploring specific topics related to growth blockers around people, processes, and technologies in a quick and concise format.
About Tom Erb: Tom Erb grew up in West Virginia and went to college at West Virginia University and later he pursued a career in the staffing industry. After getting his MBA, he landed a job at Olsten and worked his way up from interviewer to area director. He then spent ten years at Spherion, where he discovered his passion for sales, before becoming a Regional Vice President. Tom went on to start his own company, Tallann Resources, which offers consulting and training services to the staffing industry. Over the past 13 years, he has worked with over 1000 staffing companies and continues to love what he does.
*Introduction and Guest Speaker [00:00:27]*
Kortney Harmon introduces herself and the guest speaker, Tom Erb, and provides a brief overview of his background and experience in the staffing industry.
*Tom Erb's Background and Journey [00:01:59]*
Tom Erb shares his journey in the staffing industry, from starting out as an interviewer to becoming a regional vice president, and ultimately starting his own consulting and training firm, Talent Resources.
*Current State of the Economy and its Impact on Staffing and Recruiting Firms [00:05:00]*
Tom Erb discusses the current state of the economy and its impact on staffing and recruiting firms, including the overcorrection of hiring and layoffs in some industries, the changing definition of "open jobs," and the ongoing challenge of finding enough qualified candidates to fill positions.
*Adapting to the current climate [00:08:45]*
Speaker 2 asks how staffing offices can adapt to the current climate change and continue to grow their business. Kortney Harmon suggests that companies should not swing to extremes and should focus on both sales and recruiting. She recommends building relationships with clients and connecting with more candidates.
*Common mistakes during a market softening [00:13:49]*
Kortney Harmon discusses common mistakes that staffing firms make during a softening of the market, such as giving up and making bad decisions around internal staff. She advises companies to stay aggressive and capitalize on their competitors' mistakes.
*The future of the staffing industry [00:16:20]*
Kortney Harmon predicts that the staffing industry has green pastures ahead and great opportunities due to the high demand for workers and the low supply of people in the workforce. She believes that the industry will continue to grow exponentially in the next 40-50 years.
*The Future of Staffing Industry [00:17:15]*
Tom Erb discusses the future of the staffing industry, including the impact of technology and the changing nature of work.
*Maximizing Relationships with Candidates and Employees [00:19:20]*
Tom Erb emphasizes the importance of maximizing relationships with candidates and employees, rather than relying solely on job boards.
*Sales Tips for Staffing Leaders [00:23:35]*
Tom Erb shares his top sales tips for staffing leaders, including the importance of phone calls and networking.
*Building Relationships [00:26:04]*
Tom Erb discusses the importance of building relationships in the staffing industry and suggests making phone calls and in-person networking to build a presence in front of potential clients.
*Overcoming Adversity [00:29:13]*
Tom Erb shares his success story of overcoming adversity during the recession of 2008-2009 and growing his business despite the industry dropping by 30-40%.
*Qualities of Successful Staffing Leaders [00:33:51]*
Tom Erb talks about the qualities that successful staffing leaders should possess, including being a people connector, building networks, and taking responsibility for their own training and development.
*Leadership and Growth Mindset [00:34:14]*
Tom Erb discusses the importance of empathy and accountability in leadership, and how leaders can help their employees grow and improve.
*Resources for Staffing and Recruiting Leaders [00:37:02]*
Tom Erb recommends various resources, such as podcasts, books, and mentorship, for staffing and recruiting leaders to improve their skills and knowledge.
*Staying Ahead of Future Trends in Staffing and Recruiting [00:39:31]*
Tom Erb advises firms to get involved in associations, pay attention to technology, maximize their ATS usage, and focus on internal talent to stay ahead of future trends in staffing and recruiting.
*Common Mistakes to Avoid [00:42:12]*
Tom Erb highlights common mistakes to avoid, key factors to consider, and other influences to help succeed in the staffing industry.
*Assessing Your Current Position [00:42:12]*
It is crucial to consistently assess where you are today and if you are on target to be where you need to be in the future amidst economic changes.
*New Mini-Series Announcement [00:42:12]*
Curate is dropping a new mini-series called FDE Express, exploring specific topics related to growth blockers around people, processes, and technologies in a quick and concise format.
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