Right now, demand for ESG professionals is outpacing supply, and can anyone really say they’re surprised?
Key stakeholders today demand responsible business practices, new sustainability regulations are introduced every day (okay not literally, but it sure feels like it), and quite simply, sustainability just brings too many competitive advantages for companies to ignore it.
So of course there’s a scramble to attract the top ESG talent available. (Because without top ESG talent, how can companies possibly expect to achieve their sustainability goals?).
In fact, there’s such a scramble, that many companies struggle to onboard the talent they need. The solution? For many, it is to find a quality ESG recruitment agency.
But not all ESG recruiters are created equal. So in this article, we’ll help you spot the difference between the reputable ESG recruitment agencies, and the let’s just say, not so reputable ones.
(And we’ll also take a look at a whole new way to easily find top ESG talent, beyond the traditional agencies).
Sound good? Good! But first, maybe it’s important to ask, why bother looking for an ESG recruitment agency specifically? What do they know that other agencies don’t?
Why ESG recruitment requires specialist knowledge
ESG has been talked about so much over the past few years that it’s easy to forget, this is not just some fancy buzzword.
Between the Environmental, the Social, and the Governance, what we’re talking about here is a complex, ever-evolving framework for understanding how companies impact the world, and how the world impacts them.
ESG encompasses operational matters, legal matters, and possibly above all, reputational matters!
So for a recruiter to specialize in ESG, they need to deeply understand things like relevant regulatory frameworks, global reporting standards, industry-specific sustainability drivers and challenges, sustainability certifications and qualifications…. we’d better stop there because this list could go on until next year’s sustainability report is due.
The bottom line is, ESG is far too nuanced for generalist recruiters to handle effectively. If you want to hire with confidence, specialist ESG recruiters are a much better option.
But how do you find a good one?
5 key signs of a reputable ESG recruitment agency
Unfortunately, many recruitment agencies today claim to have ESG/sustainability credentials, but not all of them can back those claims up with real expertise and proven results.
To separate the genuine experts from the, to put it kindly, marketing fluff, look out for the five positive indicators listed below.
- ESG-specific expertise: It goes without saying that any reputable ESG recruitment agency should be well aware of the latest ESG-related terminology, regulations, trends, emerging roles etc. Basically, they should effortlessly speak the language, and have an in-depth knowledge of any aspect of ESG you choose to quiz them on. (And by all means, quiz them!).
- A proven track record: Knowledge is one thing, results are another. Reputable ESG agencies should be able to show you multiple examples of successful placements in sustainability/ESG roles. If they can’t do that, then run away, fast.
- A network of vetted, specialized professionals: Ask potential agencies about the professionals in their network. Are most of them specialized in ESG-related areas? CSRD consultants, decarbonization experts, interim sustainability managers for example? Or are they mostly generalists? If there isn’t a strong presence of experienced, vetted ESG specialists, it’s time to move on.
- A transparent, values-aligned approach: You’ve come to an ESG recruitment agency because you care about making a positive impact in the world. If the agency is the real deal, they should care too. You should feel a shared sense of purpose when you talk to them. If you feel they care more about commissions than the impact of their work, well, you know what to do. (Hasta la vista faker!).
- Flexibility to fit your needs: Any reputable recruitment agency, ESG or not, should be willing and able to adapt to your needs. Whether you require a short-term freelancer, interim support, or a long-term hire, they should happily solve that problem for you. Any agency that tries to make you bend to their ways just isn’t worth dealing with. It’s a massive red flag. (And obviously we are only interested in green flags here. Wink wink).
Find an ESG recruiter that truly embodies all of the characteristics above, and you’ll be on the right track. To find one, all you have to do is keep reading. (Quick tip, what you’re looking for can be found in the final section!). (Another wink).
Where to find reputable ESG recruiters
Now you know what to look for, the next step is knowing where to look. A pretty good starting point would be to consider the options below:
- Specialist ESG recruitment agencies: If you’re confident you know how to spot a genuine ESG-focused agency by yourself, of course you can find them online and contact them directly. Can’t really get more straightforward than that can you?
- Professional networks and communities: But if you’d prefer some reassurance regarding the credentials of different agencies, LinkedIn groups, industry forums, and sustainability-focused communities often share leads on reputable recruiters.
- Sustainability conferences and events: To assess multiple agencies in person in one place, big sustainability conferences and events could be the potential goldmine you’re looking for. (Or greenmine?) (We’ll show ourselves out).
But do you know what a better starting point would be? Now this might sound pretty extreme, but hear us out; forget traditional ESG recruiters entirely!
Allow us to explain.
Sustainability staff on-demand: a whole new way to find ESG talent
Although traditional ESG recruiters can give you access to a large pool of ESG professionals, they are often still restricted by the bureaucracy, rigid processes, and slower turnaround times of conventional recruitment models. Making it harder to move quickly and adapt to your specific needs.
But worry not! Because a whole new flexible, affordable, customizable way to find the ESG talent you need has arrived.
Online platforms that offer sustainability staff on-demand can connect you directly with ESG professionals whenever you need them, with no long-term commitments required. All you have to do is let them know what expertise you need and when you need it, and they can send you the perfect solution. Simple as that.
If you work with a quality platform, you can find the right talent fast, and in a way that suits your exact needs.
And we would know, because Dazzle happens to be one of those platforms. (We’re the best one, promise).
Easily find the ESG professionals you need with Dazzle
Through the Dazzle platform, you can gain easy access to the world’s best sustainability freelancers on-demand.
Whatever area of ESG or sustainability you need help with, through Dazzle you can find the right experts to assist you.
With Dazzle, quality is guaranteed because all of our sustainability experts are extensively pre-screened. And the process is also very flexible, as you can choose to work with our experts on a project-based, on-demand, or interim basis.
Contact us today, and within hours we can send you several expert profiles, customized to your specific ESG-related needs.
Our mission is to help you achieve your ESG mission, as efficiently and seamlessly as possible. At a time when companies are scrambling to attract the top ESG talent, give Dazzle a try, and you’ll soon realize that there is no reason to stress.
