A global Indianapolis-based enterprise needed to scale quickly post-COVID while staying cautious about permanent hires. Milliner’s speed, thorough vetting and creative solutions like covering the cost of downtown parking, built deep trust — making them the client’s preferred staffing partner.
The Challenge
When a global real estate firm emerged from COVID-19 restrictions in early 2021, they faced a significant challenge. Work was coming back, people were returning to offices and the company needed to scale up quickly. But leadership remained cautious about permanent hiring commitments given ongoing uncertainty.
“We didn’t do a lot of layoffs during COVID,” explains the company’s senior corporate recruiter. “Instead, as people voluntarily chose to leave, we just didn’t backfill them. That’s how we avoided layoffs for those who wanted to stay.”
As operations ramped back up, one department alone needed 12 to 15 temporary positions to handle the increased workload while the company remained conservative about permanent headcount. They needed a staffing partner who could deliver quality candidates quickly and understand the realities of recruiting in an on-demand environment.
I expect they’ll send me only the best of the best. And they do. They understand us and put our needs first.
The Solution
The company turned to Milliner Talent Solutions, and the partnership has flourished ever since. What sets Milliner apart isn’t just their ability to fill positions. It’s how they approach every aspect of the relationship.
“That’s recruiting,” the recruiter stated. “When somebody calls me and says they need someone, I can’t wait. If I’m calling Milliner, they can’t wait two weeks to start sending me candidates. I need to start seeing people right away.”
Milliner’s team gets it. They understand the pace of corporate recruiting and respond accordingly, delivering qualified candidates within the timeframe their clients need.
The level of trust Milliner has earned is remarkable. The corporate recruiter doesn’t re-interview candidates that Milliner sends because they know they’ve been thoroughly vetted.
“Managers ask me, ‘Did you vet this candidate before I interview them?’ I say no. They ask why not? I tell them: Why am I paying Milliner if I have to do it on top of what they’re doing? I expect they’ll send me only the best of the best. And they do.”
Many agencies give up when a position becomes difficult to fill. Not Milliner. When one role, in particular, proved challenging to meet the hiring manager’s expectations, the team spent six weeks sending two to three candidates per week until they found the right fit.
“A lot of agencies work on commission, so time is money. If a job becomes too hard to fill, they just stop working it. Milliner’s team doesn’t stop.”
The Results
The partnership has delivered consistent results across multiple dimensions:
- Temp workers convert to permanent positions when openings arise
- Milliner remains the preferred agency for temporary staffing needs
- Trust level allows the corporate recruiter to decrease their workload
- Competitive rates with unique fee structures greatly benefit the client
Perhaps the strongest testament to the partnership: the relationship has grown beyond business. The client’s HR lead has referred their own family members to Milliner for their small business staffing needs, and Milliner responded with the same care and competitive pricing they bring to every relationship.
“They just take care of us,” the client says simply. “Why would I not use them? They understand us and put our needs first.”
