Case Study: How Hoffmann Brothers Modernized Recruiting & Reduced Hiring Costs With Workable

Quick Results
- Time to go live: Fully live within days
- Recruiting Costs: Significant savings by reducing job sponsorship spend
- Candidate Reach: Expanded beyond Indeed to 20+ job boards
- Retention: Improved through better-fit hires from wider candidate pools
Who Is Hoffmann Brothers?
Hoffmann Brothers is a full-service residential and commercial contractor with more than 45 years of experience. The company provides a comprehensive range of services, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, drains and sewer, appliance repair, and duct cleaning. With a workforce of over 500 employees, Hoffmann Brothers continues to grow through strategic acquisitions, such as Ferguson Roofing and Blue Sky Plumbing, as part of its ongoing expansion strategy. Leading hiring through every stage of growth is Talent Acquisition Manager, Ryan O’Rourke.
What Was Hiring Like Before Workable?
Before implementing Workable, Hoffmann Brothers managed recruiting through a dated HRIS that lacked visibility, organization, and scalability.
Challenges included:
- No resume database or searchable candidate history
- All hiring efforts were concentrated through a single sponsored job platform, indicating limited channel diversification.
- Manual and inconsistent data storage between systems
- Missed opportunities for passive recruiting and talent rediscovery
“Our process was pretty much sponsor the job on Indeed. There was no note-taking, no passive recruitment, and no centralized data.”
Why Did Hoffmann Brothers Choose Workable?
When Ryan O’Rourke stepped into his role as Talent Acquisition Manager, he led the search for a new ATS. After evaluating several competitors, Workable stood out for its ease of use, robust reporting, and broad job board reach.
Key reasons for choosing Workable:
- Easily posts to over 200+ job boards with one click
- Intuitive setup that allowed independent configuration
- Integrated texting, referrals, and resume search
- Supports both corporate and field hiring across multiple locations
“Implementation was super easy. We were up and running right away. It’s very user-friendly.”
How Workable Improved Efficiency and Cost
Hoffmann Brothers saw immediate impact after rolling out Workable:
- Broader candidate sourcing: Jobs distributed across 200+ free boards
- Reduced job sponsorship costs: Sourcing was diversified, making sponsored posts necessary only for highly competitive, in-demand roles.
- Better data tracking: Visibility into career page metrics, hires, and source performance
- More efficient workflows: Resume searches, candidate tagging, and snooze lists improved reuse of talent
“We’re saving money for sure. We used to spend so much on sponsoring roles on one job board, and now we’re hiring candidates from boards we’d never even heard of.”
Which Workable Features Do They Use Most?
- Resume Database & Boolean Search
Enables the team to tag candidates (e.g., third-year apprentice 2025) and recall them later, saving time and money. - Referrals
Hoffmann Brothers uses the built-in referral system, with growing adoption across its brands. - Texting & Mobile App
Recruiters stay connected via SMS alerts and mobile notifications, ensuring quick candidate follow-ups. - Career Page Insights
For the first time, the team can track career-page traffic and conversions, boosting employer branding and organic applicants.
Before & After Workable
Dimension |
Before Workable |
With Workable |
Hiring Process |
Manual posting via HRIS & Indeed |
Centralized, automated workflow |
Data Management |
Scattered across systems |
Unified, searchable candidate database |
Cost Per Hire |
High due to job sponsorship & agency fees |
Lower through free distribution & owned pipeline |
Candidate Sources |
Mostly sponsored Indeed posts & referrals |
20+ job boards and organic career traffic |
Employer Branding |
Minimal tracking |
Analytics & visibility into career page performance |
Team Efficiency |
Time lost searching emails & spreadsheets |
Resume search, notes, and snooze features streamline work |
How Workable Supports Growth
As Hoffmann Brothers expands through new markets and acquisitions, Workable scales easily to add new company pages and manage distinct brands without confusion.
Business outcomes:
- Faster time to hire for new acquisitions
- Centralized recruiting across St. Louis, Nashville, and Denver
- Consistent candidate communication and reporting
- Eliminated need for staffing agencies
“Workable lets us brand each company separately and still manage it all in one place. As we grow, we can’t sponsor every job—Workable helps us post smartly and still get the visibility we need.”
Would Hoffmann Brothers Recommend Workable?
Yes. Absolutely.
“One hundred percent. Especially in this industry, it’s critical to capture every conversation.”
FAQs
Q: How long did it take Hoffman Brothers to post their first job?
A: Within days—implementation was fast and intuitive.
Q: Does Workable reduce recruiting costs?
A: Yes. By expanding free job distribution and minimizing sponsorship, Hoffman Brothers cut costs significantly.
Q: Does Workable improve candidate experience?
A: Yes. Faster communication, better organization, and more proactive hiring improved engagement and retention.
Q: Can Workable scale with new brands and markets?
A: Absolutely. Workable supports multiple career pages and locations under one unified system.