79% hiring surge: semiconductor leader builds a scalable recruiting engine.
flexible recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), global delivery and skills-based sourcing support rapid hiring fluctuations across 30 markets
client
a leading global semiconductor enterprise with 22,000 employees across 30 markets
challenge
The client needed to manage extreme hiring volume fluctuations, while shifting from hardware engineering to specialized software and AI talent in a highly competitive market.
solution
A recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) model delivers a scalable global delivery engine. The RPO features onshore-offshore delivery and localized employer branding.
results
The globally unified recruiting engine has achieved a 64% direct sourcing rate and minimized agency usage to 4%.
business transformation demands flexible global hiring
As a semiconductor company expanded from its engineering roots into software development and AI, it faced growing pressure to attract specialized tech talent at scale in highly competitive markets. The challenge was compounded by dramatic fluctuations in hiring demand tied to major customer contract wins, creating sudden spikes in demand for hard-to-find talent.
At the same time, limited employer brand recognition outside APAC made it more difficult to attract talent across North America and Europe, further increasing pressure on the recruiting team.
Building on its strong presence in APAC, the company sought to expand market visibility across North America and EMEA to support ambitious workforce growth plans. With internal resources stretched thin, and a CRM infrastructure that lacked standardized data, the organization needed a partner to globalize recruitment, optimize talent intelligence and strengthen its sourcing strategy.
from regional recruitment to a unified global talent model
The company partners with Randstad Sourceright, a part of Randstad Enterprise, to transition its fragmented regional talent acquisition programs into a cohesive global recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) model. This partnership followed a "land and expand" strategy, beginning with proven success in Japan before strategically scaling to India and ultimately across 30 markets in North America, Europe and the APAC regions.
The RPO rapidly scales recruiting capacity up or down in response to changing business demands while maintaining consistent delivery quality across regions. This flexible delivery model enables the organization to respond quickly to the hiring surges that follow major contract wins, while efficiently managing periods of lower hiring activity.
4 strategic pillars for flexibility, scale and specialized hiring
- Flexible delivery capacity: Utilizing an onshore-offshore model, the solution features on-site talent advisors supported by global business centers in India, Hungary and Japan.
- Scalable resourcing: The delivery engine allows the team to flex quickly to meet volatile demand during rapid ramp-ups.
- Skills-based sourcing: To address the AI skills shortage, the team expands its focus to include talent with adjacent skill sets and the right blend of hardware and software knowledge.
- A standardized global framework: Regionally customized technology provides a standardized global framework for reporting, data quality, automation and scheduling.
measurable impact and a scalable future
The transition to a unified global talent model continues to deliver operational improvements and exceed primary recruitment targets for the semiconductor leader. By standardizing processes and focusing on direct sourcing, the organization significantly reduces its reliance on external agencies. These efforts are complemented by regionally tailored talent marketing initiatives aligned with local candidate preferences to increase brand awareness while improving the candidate experience across global markets.
Beyond immediate hiring outcomes, the new model establishes a scalable foundation for future workforce growth while improving visibility, consistency and collaboration across global markets.
Key outcomes include:
- 64% direct sourcing rate, surpassing the 60% goal
- 4% agency usage, below the 5% maximum target
- Reduced cost per hire by prioritizing direct sourcing over agency reliance
By establishing a scalable global delivery model, localized employer branding and a data-driven recruitment technology strategy, the organization is now positioned to support a planned increase of 79% while delivering 1,800 permanent, graduate and intern hires across its global footprint.
The flexible recruiting engine provides the agility needed to support continued business growth while adapting to changing talent demands across 30 markets.