Why Quotas Are the Enemy of Creative Staffing (…And How We’re Doing It Differently.)
Ever tried to force creativity into a spreadsheet? It’s like herding cats—if the cats were rebellious designers, witty copywriters, and slightly sleep-deprived art directors. Yet, many staffing agencies slap a big ol’ quota on their recruiters, turning what should be an art into a soulless numbers game.
At M+P, we believe quotas are the enemy of good creative staffing. Here’s why we don’t do them—and why that makes us the staffing agency that doesn’t suck.
The Warm Body Problem
Most staffing agencies live and die by quotas. Recruiters are pushed to place X number of candidates per month, which leads to a classic problem: bodies over brilliance. This is how you end up with a UX designer who thinks “wireframe” means a stylish pair of glasses or a copywriter who writes like a malfunctioning chatbot. (Not that we’re judging… but yikes.) We prefer to find the right person, not just a person. That means fewer awkward Zoom interviews and more dream-team matches.
Human Connections > Headcounts
A recruiter with a quota isn’t looking for the best candidate; they’re looking for the fastest hire. That’s bad for clients, bad for talent, and honestly? Bad for our souls. We take the time to actually know the creatives we place. What drives them? What weird, wonderful skills do they have? What’s their go-to karaoke song? (Important intel for agency happy hours.) When we make a match, it’s because it fits, not because we’re racing to hit a target.
The Revolving Door of Doom
A quota-driven agency sees success as “filling roles.” We see success as “people staying, thriving, and not regretting life choices.” When recruiters are forced to hit a number, turnover skyrockets. The wrong hires burn out, clients get frustrated, and suddenly everyone’s in an endless cycle of job-hopping misery.
At M+P, we’re here to stop the madness. Our placements stick because they’re built on mutual fit, not frantic box-checking.
Let’s Make Creative Staffing Not Suck
Staffing should be about building teams, not hitting quotas. If you’re tired of agencies treating talent like numbers on a spreadsheet, we get it. At M+P, we prioritize human connections over number-crunching.
So, if you’re a creative looking for a role that actually fits, or a company that wants hires who last longer than a viral TikTok trend—hit us up. We promise: no quotas, no nonsense, just good people finding good people.
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