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This article is based on a conversation between Brad Bialy and Barry Asin on Take the Stage, a podcast/vodcast presented by Haley Marketing. For this episode and others search for “Secrets of Staffing Success” on your preferred podcast player or watch past episodes on YouTube.
Amazon has completely revolutionized the way we shop. Need something? A few clicks, and it’s at your doorstep in a day (or less). That level of speed, convenience, and transparency has changed customer expectations—not just in retail, but in every industry, including staffing.
So, what can staffing firms learn from Amazon? I sat down with Barry Asin, staffing industry expert and co-author of Breaking Through: Leadership Disciplines from Top Performing Staffing Firms, to discuss how reducing friction in the hiring process can help firms stand out and win more business.
How Amazon Changed the Way We Buy—And What Staffing Can Learn from It
Barry pointed out that Amazon’s success is built on one thing: eliminating friction. “Amazon has made buying incredibly easy,” Barry said. “With one click, you know what you’re getting, when it will arrive, and how much it costs. The staffing industry, on the other hand, has historically been more of a black box. Clients and candidates often don’t have that level of visibility or ease of use.”
Staffing firms that figure out how to remove unnecessary steps, improve transparency, and create a seamless hiring experience will be the ones that thrive in 2025 and beyond.
Where Is the Friction in Staffing?
Barry identified key areas where staffing firms can reduce friction:
Slow Hiring Processes: Lengthy applications, multiple interview rounds, and slow decision-making drive candidates away.
Lack of Transparency: Candidates and clients often feel left in the dark about where they stand in the hiring process.
Inefficient Communication: Missed calls, unreturned emails, and scattered follow-ups frustrate both candidates and employers.
3 Ways Staffing Firms Can Reduce Friction (and Win More Business)
Barry shared three strategies staffing firms can implement today to improve efficiency and enhance the candidate and client experience:
1. Speed Up the Process
Use automation to streamline applications, screening, and interview scheduling.
Implement self-service options for candidates and clients to check job statuses.
2. Increase Transparency
Provide real-time job updates for candidates (think: “track your application” like a package delivery).
Offer clear pricing, timelines, and expectations to clients upfront.
3. Improve Communication
Use text messaging and chatbots to engage candidates faster.
Train recruiters to follow up consistently and set clear expectations.
The Future of Staffing: Faster, Easier, More Transparent
“Candidates and clients are used to Amazon-level convenience,” Barry said. “Staffing firms that make the hiring process as easy and transparent as possible will have a major competitive advantage.”
In other words: reduce friction, and you’ll win more placements.
Let’s Talk in Miami!
Want to hear more about how to improve your hiring process and stay ahead in 2025? Join us at SIA’s Executive Forum, March 10-13 in Miami Beach! I won’t be there, but David Searns and our team will, and we’d love to chat about what’s next for the industry.
Let’s connect! Reach out to schedule a time to meet in person.
The post Lessons from Amazon: Reducing Friction in Staffing appeared first on Haley Marketing Group.
