Yes, We Work for Multiple Companies in the Same Industry. And It’s an Advantage.

After 11 years in personnel consulting, we know one fundamental thing – no two firms are the same. And that applies even when they operate in the same industry and look for the exact same position on paper.

Same Position, Completely Different Candidates

Let's take a concrete example from our practice. We have several clients from the client accounting and tax consulting sector. Everyone is looking for a financial accountant. Is it the same position? Only in name. The reality looks completely different:

• Firm A is a smaller accounting office using local software (Pohoda). Their accountants work from home, valuing flexibility and independence. They are looking for an introvert who doesn't need daily contact with a team.

• Firm B is based in a modern open space in the city center. They specialize in startups, use complex ERP systems (Helios Inuvio), and have a young team and a culture built on fun. They need a team player who loves a dynamic environment.

• Firm C is part of an international network. They work with IFRS, communicate daily in English, and their accountants travel to meetings abroad. They are looking for someone with a global mindset and excellent English.

• Firm D has undergone digitalization; they have RPA robots for routine work. They are not looking for a classic accountant, but an analyst who can interpret data and work with modern tools.

The ideal candidate for Firm A would fail at Firm B. The extrovert from Firm B would feel lonely in the home office of Firm A. The expert on IFRS from Firm C would be bored at the "classic" Pohoda. Do you see the difference?

What Decides? Details You Don't See in the Ad

When selecting the right candidate, factors play a role that are not visible at first glance:

• Locality and flexibility: We have candidates who won't cross the district line because they take kids to school. And we have moms who prefer a strictly defined shift to a flexible mark. Someone needs 100% home office due to family care, someone else wants to escape home because they can't concentrate there. What motivates one, discourages another.

• Technology and systems: "Do you know Excel? They have SAP and are unhappy." "That manages everyone, I want to show what I can do," they say. Conversely, the younger generation wants modern tools and automation. Someone is an expert on local software and doesn't want to learn a new system, another seeks the opportunity to learn IFRS. Everyone has their strong points and preferences.

• Company culture: We remember a financial controller who moved to a dynamic startup. Great experience, went through the selection process, everyone was enthusiastic. After three months, he left: "They need order and clear processes, not chaos." The same startup later hired a creative candidate from a corporation who was "suffocating in processes" there. Today he is the CFO. There is no good or bad culture – there is only the right one for a specific person.

• Work type and development: Some people appreciate stability – doing their job in their field and wanting to keep doing exactly what they know perfectly. Others need constant challenges: "As soon as I learn something, I get bored." Someone is looking for experience with international standards, another wants to switch from a corporation to a smaller firm to see the whole process. Everyone has different career goals.

Ethics Above All: How We Work with Competitors

We understand the fears of clients. That is why we adhere to strict ethical principles:

• Candidate exclusivity: If a candidate has exclusivity with a client for a specific role, we do not present them to anyone else. No exceptions. Even if the competition offered double.

• Confidentiality: What is said in our meeting room stays in our meeting room. We never share internal information between competitors – whether it concerns planned projects, layoffs, or new strategies.

• Boosting reputation: We present each candidate so that we strengthen the employer's brand. We never compare with the competition, we always emphasize the unique strengths of the specific firm.

• Fair approach: We do not play clients against each other. We do not hold auctions with candidates. We look for a fair solution that makes sense to all parties.

The Advantage of Industry Insight

When we work for more firms from the same sector, we gain a unique insight into the whole industry:

• We know real wage conditions – not just guesses, but reality. We know what is standard and what can arise. Recently, we showed a client that their "above standard" offer was actually 20% below the average. They adjusted it and filled the position within two weeks.

• We understand specific requirements – every industry has its terminology, certifications, specifics. We know the difference between IFRS and Czech accounting standards, or between a chief accountant in various types of companies.

• We have access to a wider network of candidates – we know not only active applicants but mainly passive ones. Professionals looking not for "work", but for the right opportunity. If they decide, it is because we know them and they trust us.

• We can advise better – we know what works and what doesn't. What benefits work, what recruitment process is effective, how to address the right candidates.

Trust as the Foundation of Everything

Our clients know that:

• Their information is safe

• We look for candidates directly for them, not "from the drawer"

• We respect their uniqueness and company culture

• We strengthen their position on the labor market

When a candidate comes to us and says "I heard great things about you", we know we are doing our job well.

Summary: Competition Doesn't Compete for the Same People

The truth is: even when two firms operate in the same field, they don't look for the same people. They look for people who:

• Share their values

• Fit into their culture

• Appreciate specific benefits

• Will be satisfied in their specific environment

And that is exactly what we do. We don't look for just anyone with the required experience. We look for the right people for the right places. That is why it is not a problem for the "competition". Because in reality, no two firms are the same. Each needs something else. And thanks to knowing the environment and people, we can find exactly that. Working for firms from the same industry is not a conflict of interest. It is expertise that brings value to everyone.