Buyer Reality

Much like the alternate sides of vinyl records, good staffing partners complement their services with practices that elevate them above other providers.

Setting the stage with your new client partnership.

Ways to develop real relationships with prospective clients.

Engage your customers to get the data you really need to improve.

The problem: Inability to provide a sustainable talent stream to meet your buyer's needs. Solution: Focus on the five W's and the H and what you can do to help provide the value the buyer seeks.

In 2018, the procurement department at Northwestern Mutual oversaw the entire process of managing the independent talent pipeline - from handling SOWs to vetting the contractors. As part of our refocused strategic initiatives, we chose a technology partner that enables us to manage, build out and maximize our existing talent pool.

If recent world events have proved anything, it is the value and impact people have on an organization, and by extension, the value of the companies that help to supply those people - both temporary and permanent workers.

A common misconception of many suppliers is that partnership means meeting for coffee every month or maybe weekly calls. Or maybe it's a travel mug and a pen. Maybe we even become friends!

As a procurement category specialist for contingent labor, I often convince and educate program stakeholders to accomplish various goals, and the training I received early in my career prepared me well to do that.