Blue Signal Ranks No. 1751 on the 2022 Inc 5000 List

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For the 2nd Time, Blue Signal Appears on the Inc 5000 List, Ranking No. 1751 With a Three-Year Revenue Growth of 351 Percent

Today, Inc. revealed that Blue Signal is No. 1751 on its annual Inc 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list represents a one-of-a-kind look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent businesses. Facebook, Chobani, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc 5000 list.

This is the second consecutive year Blue Signal has been ranked on Inc 5000 list and in addition to being recognized as #1751 overall, we were also ranked #57 in Arizona, #54 in Phoenix, and #74 in Human Resources! "We are proud and humbled to be on the Inc 5000 list alongside many of our partners and clients," says Blue Signal CEO, Matt Walsh. "This recognition is a testament to our clients, candidates, and team. We are thankful for the opportunities to help build and grow many Inc. 5000 clients and appreciate the opportunity to be among them."

The companies on the 2022 Inc 5000 list have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19. Among the top 500, the average median three-year revenue growth rate soared to 2,144 percent. Together, those companies added more than 68,394 jobs over the past three years.

Complete results of the Inc 5000 list, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc. magazine, which will be available on August 23rd.

“The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated,” says Scott Omelianuk, Editor-In-Chief of Inc. “Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today.”

More about Blue Signal

Having successfully completed over 1,700 search projects, it’s no surprise that Blue Signal has the experience, relationships, and tools to achieve this massive growth. Our deep industry knowledge – from 215 combined years of recruiting experience – and streamlined processes help clients to secure high-caliber talent within tight timeframes. As a top executive search firm, we have been a driving force in our clients’ professional successes. At Blue Signal, we immerse ourselves in our client’s businesses and our candidate’s careers to fully understand top priorities and the best direction for both parties. Our reputation is built on our ability to consistently incorporate these priorities into each of our searches to make long-term, impactful connections.

Blue Signal’s success has gained attention within the industry for our client services and candidate processes. We are proud to have won awards such as Inc. Magazine’s Best Workplaces 2021 & 2022; #1 Technical Placement Firm 2022; #2 Executive Search Firm in Arizona for 3 consecutive years; #2 Best Places to Work in Phoenix by the Phoenix Business Journal 2021; Forbes America’s Best Temporary Staffing Firm 2020; listed on Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation 2021; Top Recruiter – Best of Tempe 2019, 2021, and 2022; #2 Best Places to Work in Arizona 2021 and 2022; and #89 on the Inc. Regionals Southwest list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies. Among our leadership, Matt Walsh has joined the Pinnacle Society and was recognized as one of the 30 Most Inspiring Business Leaders in 2019.

More about Inc. and the Inc 5000 List

Methodology

Companies on the 2022 Inc 5000 list are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2021. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places. The top 500 companies on the Inc 5000 list are featured in Inc. magazine’s September issue.

About Inc.

The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference and Gala, visit http://conference.inc.com/.

Blue Signal Recognized as Best of Tempe 2021

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Blue Signal was recently recognized as the Best of Tempe Award Top Recruiter for 2021.

The Tempe Award Program identifies local companies that have achieved excellence in their field and work to give back to their communities. Top contenders are chosen based on their service to their local community, the use of best practices, resourceful market differentiation, long-term value, and the image they portray of small businesses within the locally owned economy. Based on information gathered by the Tempe Award Program and other 3rd parties, Blue Signal Search was selected as the 2021 winner in the Recruiter category for the third consecutive year (2019, 2020, & 2021). As a three-time recipient of this award, Blue Signal has qualified for the 2021 Tempe Business Hall of Fame.

Best of Tempe Physical Award

Best of Tempe Award Top Recruiter 2021

Blue Signal is honored to receive this recognition. We are privileged to be part of a great community with such a thriving local-business marketplace. Blue Signal takes pride in knowing our success directly benefits our local economy, and we are honored to be listed amongst such notable companies. While Blue Signal’s work extends across the globe, we are lucky to call Arizona our HQ home!

Blue Signal’s success would not have been possible without the support of other local businesses, our loyal clients, our exceptionally talented candidates, and our skilled internal employees. This award as Best of Tempe showcases the excellence of our industry overall, and the exponential growth it has seen over the past several years, as the war for talent continues to be a challenge throughout all professions.

With such a great need, comes even greater competition. At Blue Signal Search, we work to benefit every single person in the process. We ensure candidate satisfaction by helping them take the next big step toward their career goals. This includes our 12-point interview process that prequalifies candidates for the role before sending them into a client-facing interview. As for clients, we work to assist them in finding the next key addition to their team. We act as partners to clients by supplementing future ventures with the talent needed to support those big ideas. After all, the best resource any company has is its employees.

More about the Tempe Award Program

The Tempe Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Tempe, Arizona area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Tempe Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in the community. Their organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Their mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.

 

More about Blue Signal Search

Blue Signal was founded in Chicago in 2012, and since then, has grown into a multimillion-dollar executive placement firm with an office in Phoenix and remote employees nationwide. Blue Signal has established itself as the premier executive search firm within wireless/telecom, information technology, IoT, finance & accounting, emerging technology, cloud & managed services, manufacturing & industrial, lighting, logistics & supply chain, food & agriculture, human resources, medical & healthcare, and related industry niches.

At Blue Signal, we believe that hiring the right people is the best way to transform business. Our targeted, specialized searches deliver highly qualified professionals to meet every hiring need. Our team has over 220 years of combined experience in finding the right people for each unique company culture and industry niche.

Our team works with both candidates and hiring managers to find the right fit. Contact us today to let us know how we can help.

Winning the War for Talent in 2021

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As the competition heats up among industries to snag the best of the best to fill open roles, it’s becoming more clear we are experiencing a “War for Talent.” The phrase “War for Talent” is not a new term in the recruiting industry, as it was first coined in 1997 by Steven Hankin of McKinsey. In their 2001 book The War for Talent, authors Ed Michaels, Helen Handfield-Jones, and Beth Axelrod predicted that “the make-or-break for firms in the next two decades would be the ability to attract, develop, and retain talent.” In 2021, we’re in the thick of that battle, struggling to beat out the competition and win over top talent. Though there is an uptick in hiring across the board, with a closer look you’ll see just how small the market is when targeting top-tiered talent with niche skills and specialties. With over 7 million jobs recently posted online, the industry is experiencing an abundance of open roles and a lack of qualified candidates to fill them. In light of this sudden and increasing need for talent, job seekers are left with the upper hand. In today’s market, when it comes to winning the war for talent, employers need to take meaningful action by offering unique benefits, remaining flexible, improving branding, and focusing on retention post-hire. 

War for Talent: 4 Steps

Roll Out the Red Carpet

The current job market is in the hands of the job seekers — so it’s important to get to know your audience. Millennials for example, (who in just five short years will comprise almost 50% of the workforce) have different expectations for jobs than their predecessors did. 86% of Millennials put values, like respect for peers, before salary and 82% prefer to work from home at least one day a week. Now more than ever, hiring managers and companies need to be rolling out the red carpet and concede to the demands of those on the job hunt. Large, leading tech companies such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook have been perfect examples of this in the past as we’ve seen them building, buying, or rehabbing office spaces to make them attractive and appealing to workers. However, today’s climate calls for a little more creativity as the majority of companies and candidates are switching to the work from home model, making fancy office spaces obsolete. Companies are now branching out, offering new incentives like Peloton bikes, paid time off for mental health, additional vacation days, raises, and bonuses to keep their employees motivated and happy. Unfortunately, if you’re not doing your homework to find out what benefits your employees actually care about, you’ll be taking a shot in the dark. 

Poaching and persuading top talent isn’t an altogether new concept but with today’s market, it’s now become a crucial part of everyone’s talent search. The rule of thumb when recruiting for top talent while competing in any industry is to assume there is always another offer on the table. Whether the candidate is actively interviewing for other roles or gets offered a promotion/raise by their current employer when handing in their notice - push your boundaries and dive deep to find what you can offer that no one else will. 

Be Flexible & Act Fast 

With so many competing offers and employers incentivizing candidates to stay where they are - quick decisions in the hiring process are crucial. Just imagine, while a hiring manager is contemplating possible,  better candidates, the perfect candidate they let go cold is accepting another offer. With the majority of talent currently working from home, the process of taking an interview during the day has become a breeze. Candidates can resign from their current position and start a new one with the simple act of shipping back one laptop and receiving another in its place. This simplified and fast-acting turnover is exactly why it is imperative to remain flexible, open, and decisive when recruiting top talent. 

The flexibility shouldn’t stop there. Being open to offering a flexible schedule in today’s market is another “must-have” on a majority of applicants’ lists. It’s been reported that “up to half of employees might quit their jobs if remote or hybrid work arrangements are not provided post-pandemic.” Due to this new norm, industries across the board are now competing on a national scale rather than with their local markets. By choosing not to employ remote workers, you are actively limiting your candidate pool. Offering a flexible work schedule is becoming non-negotiable when keeping up with the competition. With job seekers in the driver’s seat and in a position to make demands, hiring managers need to be listening. 

Step Up Digital Branding & Awareness

Enticing a candidate to join a new company goes beyond what’s written on an offer. Most potential hires are conducting their own research on companies they’re looking to join, digitally. With the internet as the new marketplace, it is absolutely crucial to have a stellar online reputation and top-notch digital branding in place. As a simple fact of life, first impressions are everything - and more often than not, that introduction doesn’t come straight from a company email. 

When a candidate is deciding if they should apply to a company, their first instinct will be to dig up some background information and see if they can picture themselves at the company. Ensuring consistent, clean, and up-to-date branding across all platforms positions you as a well-oiled machine, and instills a sense of confidence - which will result in more applicants. 

Beyond consistency and aesthetics in branding, companies should be going above and beyond to create buzz in their industries. PR initiatives and posting exciting company news online can get job seekers’ attention and spark a good impression before they even land on your website/social channels. Another common way candidates look into a potential employer is through their online reviews and testimonials. This goes without saying, but poor reviews are one of the most passive reasons top talent will walk away from a job offer or even an initial interview. Open the door to communication by conducting exit interviews with employees leaving the company to uncover and address issues before they affect your incoming talent. Better yet, encourage satisfied customers to leave a positive review about their experience.

Invest in Training

With the added competition of today’s recruiting market, it’s important to remember that your job isn’t done when a new hire is made. In some cases, this is when the real work begins as your focus shifts to retaining that hire. One of the best ways to ensure retention of new hires is training, training, training! Investing in thorough and continued training programs is crucial in today’s market when the act of making the initial hire is already such an uphill battle. Hiring professionals agree that “in every industry and sector, among companies large and small, a new conversation must occur as upskilling and reskilling become the new norm.” Employers need to be more proactive by providing employees with the resources and time needed to learn the material and skills. Companies can focus on creating their own internal training that’s specific to their processes by including real on-the-job examples. The biggest mistake you can make after landing a top talent hire is to go into their employment blindly. Do your research and leverage tried and true methods to make sure you retain that expertise in-house. 

With the intensity of today’s job market, offering unique benefits, remaining flexible and fast-acting, and ensuring retention after a hire is made can give your company the edge it needs to land top talent. Just like this job market overall, the way recruiting is conducted is changing at unprecedented speeds. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, Blue Signal can help. We’re experts in this realm and most importantly, we have the dedicated time to complete the open job searches you need filled. A significant benefit in working with a recruiting firm such as Blue Signal is the ability to target passive candidates, which is a game-changer in this climate. The days of waiting around for candidates to come to you and apply to your job posting on their own are over. According to a LinkedIn study, only 15% of employees say they are completely satisfied with their jobs and would not be open to a change. In the midst of this “War for Talent,” you want to be working with the best. If you’re ready to start a conversation about how you can better target and retain top talent in your field, reach out to us today. 

2020-2021 Blue Signal Virtual Summit Awards

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In 2020, Blue Signal expanded its recruiting team to 24 full-time recruiters, brought on an additional 3 operations team members, and awarded several promotions to some of its senior team members. We placed over 300 qualified candidates in exciting new roles, and despite the difficult circumstances brought on by Covid-19, we were able to exceed our annual revenue from 2019. This year our annual Blue Signal Summit looked a little different as it was held virtually, rather than in-person in Scottsdale, Arizona. None the less, we were elated to come together to review our record-breaking 2020 awards and discuss big plans for 2021 and beyond.

If it weren’t for our incredible leadership, we would not be where we are today. At the Summit, Blue Signal Owner and Executive Vice President, Matt Walsh, announced several awards to recognize some of our top performers and exemplary mentors.

Top Cash In & Top Billings 2020 - Ryan Walsh

Top Cash In & Top Billings 2020 - Ryan Walsh

Within his first two years in the industry, Ryan Walsh has achieved the awards for Top Cash-In and Top Billings two years in a row - a feat unheard of in recruiting. This past year he was promoted to Senior Recruiting Manager for his diligence and eagerness to share knowledge with junior members of the team. While accepting his award, Ryan took the time to thank his team and the fellow recruiters that worked together on split placements that all contributed to securing these milestones. He also gave a special shoutout to our Project Manager Kimberly Sjurson, who was brought on just six months ago and has truly made a huge impact at Blue Signal through her hard work and dedication. 

MVP Award 2020 - Lacey Walters

MVP Award 2020 - Lacey Walters

As the “lifeblood of Blue Signal,” Lacey Walters was recognized as the three-time recipient of the MVP, Top Contributor award. During his speech, Matt mentioned that without Lacey’s daily, behind-the-scenes work, none of what we do at Blue Signal would be possible. Over the years, Lacey has been able to grow her team, and by building an incredible support system she leads the execution of all marketing aspects for Blue Signal with ease. She is truly the company’s MVP and has proven it time and time again as she contributes to the company’s overall success and earns this acknowledgment.

Record-Breaking 2020 Awards - Jonathan Lee

Excellence Award 2020 - Jonathan Lee

In his announcement, Matt congratulated Jonathan Lee with the nickname “Jonny Excellence,” as this award was created specifically with him in mind. Matt voiced his appreciation of all Jonathan’s support, as he is always there to help with the most positive attitude and continues to put in the extra mile in all he does. As the first recipient of the Best Support Award at last year’s summit, it comes with no surprise that Jonathan is yet again acknowledged for his hard work. Jonathan is constantly focused on excellence for himself and the team and is truly a beacon of the word. We’re extremely grateful to have Jonathan as part of the team!

Record-Breaking 2020 Awards - Kelsey Campion

Top Contractor Billings 2020 - Kelsey Campion

With over $100K in contractor billings, Kelsey Campion secured the award for the Top Contractor Billings in 2020. Matt said it best when he described Kelsey as an “absolute machine” when it comes to contract roles. He mentioned her extreme dedication and work ethic as she is always making herself available by working nights, weekends, and holidays to secure her roles and keep pushing for more. Kelsey’s efforts this year played a huge part in Blue Signal being recognized as part of Forbes’ annual list of America’s Best Temporary Staffing Firms for 2020. We don’t know how she does it, but she continues to improve and outperform her personal records on a regular basis.

Record-Breaking 2020 Awards - Brent Stokes

First Year Top Billings 2020 - Brent Stokes

In order to recognize Brent Stokes’ mind-blowing performance, this award was newly created to recognize his achievements as a new member of the Blue Signal team. With almost 4 years of recruiting experience behind him, Brent joined Blue Signal in February of 2020 and was able to secure over $300K in total billings in the remaining 10 months of the year. In his speech, Matt congratulated Brent on all he has accomplished and shared his appreciation for Brent’s dedication to learning, and for serving as a role model for others to learn from. We hope to replicate this kind of success and drive in future recruiters to come.

These 5 individuals embody Blue Signal’s core values of excellence, transparency, integrity, commitment, and respect. They put clients and candidates first, no matter the circumstance; and drive the culture of the organization through leading by example. These standout team members earned their prestigious recognition, and we are all excited to see what success 2021 will bring them, and the company as a whole.

Blue Signal Core Values

Blue Signal Recognized as Best of Tempe 2019

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Blue Signal was recently recognized as the Best of Tempe Award Top Recruiter for 2019. 

The Tempe Award Program identifies local companies that have achieved excellence in their field and work to benefit their communities. Top contenders are chosen based on their service to their local community, the use of best practices, resourceful market differentiation, long-term value, and the image they portray of small businesses within the locally-owned economy. Based on information gathered by the Tempe Award Program and other 3rd parties, Blue Signal Search was selected as the 2019 winner in the Recruiter category! 

Blue Signal is honored to receive this recognition. We are privileged to be part of a great community with such a thriving local-business marketplace. While Blue Signal’s work extends across the globe, we are lucky to call Arizona our HQ home! 

Best of Tempe Blue Signal Award

Blue Signal’s success would not have been possible without the support of other local businesses, our loyal clients, our exceptionally talented candidates, and our skilled internal employees. This award as Best of Tempe showcases the excellence of our industry overall, and the exponential growth it has seen over the past several years, as the search for talent continues to be a challenge  throughout all professions. 

With such a great need, comes even greater competition. At Blue Signal Search, we work to benefit every single person in the process. We ensure candidate satisfaction by helping them take the next big step toward their career goals. This includes our 12-point interview process that prequalifies candidates for the role before sending them into a client-facing interview. As for clients, we work to assist them in finding the next key addition to their team. We act as partners to clients by supplementing future ventures with the talent needed to support those big ideas. After all, the best resource any company has is its employees.

More about the Tempe Award Program 

The Tempe Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Tempe area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value. 

The Tempe Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in the community. Their organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Their mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.

More about Blue Signal Search 

Blue Signal was founded in Chicago in 2012, and since then, has grown into a multimillion-dollar executive placement firm with offices in the Phoenix and Chicago areas. Blue Signal has established itself as the premier executive search firm within wireless/telecom, technology, and related industry niches.

At Blue Signal, we believe that hiring the right people is the best way to transform business. Our targeted, specialized searches deliver highly qualified professionals to meet every hiring need. Our team has decades of combined experience in finding the right people for each unique company culture and industry niche.

Our team works with both candidates and hiring managers to find the right fit. Contact us today to let us know how we can help.