A few months back, my bookshelf groaned under the weight of our ever-expanding book collection. So, I decided to build a new bookcase. The allure of sawdust-filled weekends in my shed was irresistible, if mildly alarming. Armed with YouTube tutorials and an array of tools, I dove in. But here’s the twist: despite the impressive tools and online guidance, my ambitions outweighed my talent – to borrow a phrase. I hadn’t the skill necessary to meet the precision I required, let alone the ability to discern premium wood from overmarketed fluff. So, I did what any sensible DIY enthusiast would do—I bought two beautifully crafted bookcases made by someone who knew their craft inside out.

Now, let’s pivot to talent acquisition. Just as I was drawn to DIY carpentry, some businesses take a DIY approach to hiring. And there are plenty of tools available – Seek’s application tracking system is actually better than some of the tools I’ve been forced to use in my career. But here’s the catch: tools alone don’t guarantee success. You need an expert hand.

Let’s start with job ads. How hard can it be to craft a job ad right? Well, it turns out there’s quite a bit to it. Enough to make a stand alone post, for instance,  research reveals that using more than five bullet points in job requirements discourages women from applying. An expert eye can fine-tune your ad for better results.

But more than the intricacies of leveraging the tools at your disposal - DIY recruitment eats time. Writing ads, sifting through applications (some addressed to the wrong role!), arranging interviews—it’s a time vortex. And time spent on non-expert tasks is time lost.

By contrast as a talent acquisition specialist, I live and breathe this. I’ve been at it long before you realised you needed that role filled. The result is a better fit for the role in an unbelievably short time frame. Seriously, recent statistics show that the average days to fill a short-term or contract role are a mere 3.5 days—compared to the 22.2 days when advertised.

So, DIY your bookcase, but when it comes to talent, lean on the experts. We’re here, hammer in hand, ready to build your dream team.