Investor Spotlight: Vaco

Vaco, a premier San Antonio-based staffing and recruiting firm is leading the industry as the pandemic has made major shifts in how we work. With an emphasis on technology and security, read the interview below to learn how they adapt to changing workforce trends.

Tell us a little bit about Vaco and your work across the world and in our San Antonio community.
Vaco is how organizations get the talent solutions they really need – whether it’s bringing in a team to solve a specific business challenge or finding their next team member. From comprehensive business consulting and talent solutions to specialty practices that touch everything from healthcare IT to supply chain solutions, we are there to support.

Vaco has recently expanded within San Antonio, thanks to the acquisition of Aventine Hill Partners (AHP), an advisory, consulting, and executive search firm. Our recent growth is attributed to two factors: the solid foundation of AHP and the expanded service offerings of Vaco. AHP’s strategic decision to join Vaco has allowed us to expand our established Accounting & Finance Consulting, CFO Advisory, and Executive Search Practices and accelerate the launch of a Consulting and Perm Search Technology Practice.

How does Vaco continue evolving to support employers and job seekers?

Vaco continues to adopt new and optimized platforms and technology, processes, and training to enable the most effective virtual interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and employee experience/engagement programs. For example, expanding our centralized global recruiting center (Vaco’s Global Solutions) has enabled us to quickly scale to our clients’ growing and changing needs, including the rise in remote work opportunities.

Our advancement of environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives have strengthened our ability to attract, engage and retain talent. We strive to become best-in-class in terms of the diversity, through a culture that reflects all aspects of the global community that we live and operate in.

With today’s candidate market, longer-term resource planning is key. Working this way enables us to find the right consultants for the right projects that add value to our clients, based on their goals, objectives, and unique challenges. While continuing to look to the future, we remain committed to sharing industry trends and current and expected demands for talent.

We incorporate empathy and wellness concerns into all aspects of how we serve our clients. With today’s fast-moving digital market, we recognize the critical need for human ‘touch’ while keeping up with digital transformations, regulations, and security measures. We are committed to having a positive impact on all stakeholders.

How has Vaco shifted focus since the pandemic began and do you anticipate those changes to be permanent?

We focus on the “future of work” and what it means for an agile workforce.

Remote interviewing, hiring, employee engagement and client service practices have become common, and we anticipate this shift to be here to stay. However, the new remote work environment introduces new security risks. Vaco is committed to upholding digital security practices for all Vaconians and for the Vaco brand overall.

What hiring or remote work trends are you watching at the start of 2022?
Remote work trends currently experienced and expected to gain more interest include the following:

• Increased focus on automation and artificial intelligence
• Improved cloud communication tools
• Adoption of onsite workdays
• Transition to flexible work
• More inclusive and diverse workforce
• Enhanced focus on employee experience
• Increase in cybersecurity measures and training
• What makes Vaco stand-out in the professional staffing industry?
• We like to say that we provide boutique-level service with a global reach.

We understand that business needs come in all shapes and sizes. Vaco delivers the ideal solution and pivots according to our clients’ needs. Our services encompass all industries, functional areas, and strategic initiatives.

We believe communication is the most critical element of engagement management. We are committed to providing each of our clients with ongoing engagement management, quality assurance, and subject matter expertise. Vaco maintains accountability for engagement performance, any project deliverables, and direct hire quality through a frequent, accurate, and meaningful communication plan, tailored to each client’s needs and preferences.

We develop relationships with our clients’ team members by listening and understanding goals, challenges, personal interests, and more. With today’s fast-moving digital market, we recognize the critical need for a strong emphasis on human touch while maintaining pace with rapidly changing talent needs, digital transformations, regulations, and security measures.

Since Vaco’s founding in 2002, Vaco has grown to serve more than 50 markets and 12,000 clients across the globe.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Vaco is committed to creating and maintaining a culture of belonging; ensuring diversity is recognized, valued, and actively cultivated; instilling the values of inclusion and equity across our workforce; and providing the tools to facilitate effective internal and external conversations on these topics. We bring these principles to our client engagements.

Supporting this commitment are numerous actions and programs, including:

To learn more, please contact Candace Lynch at candace.lynch@vaco.com