How CCS Construction Staffing Achieved 798% ROI with Software Designed for Staffing Agencies
“Staffing Referrals isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential. It’s automated everything we used to do manually. I don’t understand how construction staffing companies run referral programs without it.”
— Rich Hughes, VP of Recruiting, CCS Construction Staffing
The problem: manual systems causing frustration
For CCS Construction Staffing, employee referrals were a golden opportunity to source top talent in a competitive market. But their process was undermining this potential:
- Time consuming manual tracking: Recruiters spent hours updating Excel spreadsheets
- Details falling through cracks: Candidate information and bonus payments were getting lost
- Frustrated candidates: Referrals were getting inconsistent follow-up, and it was damaging relationships
- Lost revenue opportunities: Quality hires were being missed due to tracking inefficiencies
When CCS tried a low cost generalist platform as a quick fix, things got worse. Referral submissions dropped off sharply and field employees and recruiters were frustrated.
The solution: strategic integration and mobile optimization
CCS decided to implement Staffing Referrals with full Bullhorn ATS integration to create a seamless end-to-end referral management system:
- Mobile first: Field employees can submit referrals directly from their smartphones
- Real time synchronization: Referrals show up in recruiters’ inboxes and Bullhorn
- Continuous feedback loop: Recruiters can give real-time feedback to refine messaging
- Automated tracking and notifications: End-to-end visibility eliminates manual data entry
The results: from spreadsheets to strategic advantage
The impact was immediate and dramatic. Rich Hughes, VP of Recruiting, says:
“Within minutes, we saw ambassadors jump from zero to dozens per recruiter. Our team was energized and fully engaged again.”
The numbers tell an amazing story:
- % of placements from referrals: 25.6%
- Total referral placements: 113 (YTD)
- Ambassador network: 3,444 active participants
- Return on investment: 798%
- Referrals are outperforming job boards, including ZipRecruiter, and are now CCS’s #1 talent acquisition channel.
Beyond the numbers: reclaiming recruiter time
The results went far beyond the numbers. With administrative burdens lifted, recruiters were able to focus on:
- Building relationships with candidates
- Building relationships with clients
- Expanding into new markets
- Improving candidate experience at every touchpoint
Real-world impact: the Indiana opportunity
The system’s true value was proven when an unexpected project popped up in a small Indiana town where CCS had no presence. Through Staffing Referrals:
- CCS built a pipeline of 70 qualified candidates.
- When the project scope changed, these referrals filled urgent roles on other critical projects.
- CCS demonstrated unprecedented agility in responding to market demands.
Transformative results
In six months, CCS Construction Staffing turned referrals from a manual hassle into their most powerful competitive advantage. By implementing Staffing Referrals with Bullhorn integration, they have a system that gets better and better.
For construction staffing companies looking to do the same, the message is clear: the right technology partner can turn referrals from an administrative burden into your #1 talent channel.
Schedule a demo to learn more about Staffing Referrals.