Pet Peeves: The Buyers’ Turn

Their tales could fill a book. Last month I blogged about staffing suppliers’ pet peeves regarding their clients. Well, buyers have their own issues with suppliers. Over the years, the two sides have learned to work together amicably but as any client will tell you, it’s not always an easy relationship. It’s not for lack of trying, however, says a customer ruefully. Here are 11 recurring gripes that drive clients up the wall.

  • Don’t keep calling to understand how to get on my company’s preferred supplier list. There is a company policy that has to be followed.
  • Don’t call my boss after I tell you that are not eligible to get on the preferred list.
  • Don’t provide resumes for the sake of providing resumes. There has to be some skill matching to the job requisition.
  • Don’t ignore the Contingent Workforce Program office. They are there for a reason.
  • Don’t call the hiring manager directly when it’s against company policy. You put off both the hiring manager and the CW Program office.
  • Don’t say you can do it all in an RFP. No one supplier can recruit for 50 areas and numerous specialized skill sets.
  • Don’t be ignorant of the space/skill sets that the client inhabits.  You should know more than the clients do.
  • Don’t leave the account unsupervised. Make sure there is a transfer of knowledge when account managers leave.
  • Don’t ask the client to consider a new offering such as an MSP/SOW when your firm is doing a mediocre job filling temporary worker orders. And you know it.
  • Don’t hand out gifts. Corporate policy forces the recipient (client) to get permissions and it’s time consuming and unnecessary.
  • Don’t forget it’s a people business. Be nice to your customers, temps and your competition. The results might surprise you — and your bottom line.