A Big 4 Consulting Firm Outsources Independent Talent Recruitment to Build a Successful Direct Sourcing Program
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SITUATION
Recognizing the Value of Direct Sourcing
A Big 4 consulting firm was looking to outsource recruitment to help with their nascent direct sourcing program. The firm wanted a flexible way to secure high-level expertise on an as-needed basis. By outsourcing talent for projects, they would be able to engage highly specialized independent contractors who could provide staffing flexibility and help lower employment costs.
Many companies today are building out their independent workforce using direct sourcing. Direct sourcing involves identifying candidates for an open project or role using internal resources rather than a third party such as a consulting firm or staffing company to find talent. There are many benefits to this strategy including the ability to quickly scale up and down as project needs change, the option to build pools of pre-vetted talent, a simplified compliance vetting process, and higher satisfaction and productivity levels among independent talent.
However, building a direct sourcing program from the ground up requires the right technology, management, and expertise. An effective solution must be backed by executive support and the right legal framework. The consulting firm realized they could maintain more compliant hiring practices, increase efficiency, and save time and money by bringing in MBO to help optimize their program.
GATE
MBO leveraged its extensive experience in professional services along with its team of recruiting experts to find qualified independent talent and implement a best-in-class recruiting process, all while saving the firm time and money.
SOLUTION
Building Skilled Pools of Independent Contractor Talent
Using its proprietary direct sourcing methodology, MBO filled key roles for the firm's projects. In doing so, MBO created the organization's first pool of independent talent. A talent pool is a proactive way to source and manage groups of highly qualified independent talent in critical density areas. Talent pools allowed the consulting firm to group independents by skill, location, and role so they could be easily reviewed and deployed for upcoming projects.
The firm's initial pool of talent included more than 7,000 professional independent contractors with in-demand skills including project management, marketing, finance, accounting, software engineering and more.Â
RESULTS
Building a Network of Talent for the Future
MBO leveraged its extensive experience in professional services along with its team of recruiting experts to find qualified independent talent for the consulting firm. This talent included independent professionals who had worked at similar consulting firms and were well-suited to available roles.Â
Using industry best practices, MBO worked hand-in-hand with the firm to write attractive job descriptions, implement a best-in-class recruiting process, and source top talent-all while saving the firm time and money.
The consulting firm developed a direct sourcing marketplace, growing it by 100 percent and saving an average of 35-40 percent on each requisition. As a result, this large pool of qualified talent not only allows the firm to eliminate the middleman from the recruiting process, but they are now able to engage talent who are already known to their organization. This is a huge benefit because independent professionals who already have experience working with a company have proven their expertise, are familiar with expectations, and have established trust. A known pool of talent can help reduce onboarding time, sourcing costs, and compliance risks.
To date, the consulting firm has added more than 5,000 qualified independents to their talent pool and are quickly building a reputation as a Client of Choice-independent professionals' top choice in client partnership. By pursuing a direct sourcing strategy and building pools of known talent, the firm is continuing to save time and money as they re-engage these key resources on multiple projects.
Industry
Professional Services
Number of Employees
330,000 Employees
Company Revenue
$47.6 Billion
Areas Served
100+
100% Growth
The company grew its direct sourcing marketplace by 100%
35-40% Saved
The company saved an average of 35-40% on each requisition
5,000 Qualified
To date, the consulting firm has added more than 5,000 qualified independents to their talent pool
THE TEAM
John joined MBO Partners in 2020 and is responsible for leading the company's Professional Services vertical. He has more than 20 years of leadership experience, and previously led enterprise-wide business and technology transformation for organizaitons including Accenture and Cognizant.
THE TEAM

Vice President, Enterprise Solutions
John joined MBO Partners in 2020 and is responsible for leading the company's Professional Services vertical. He has more than 20 years of leadership experience, and previously led enterprise-wide business and technology transformation for organizaitons including Accenture and Cognizant.
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