For most staffing firms, winning a service-quality award once is a milestone. Winning it for 15 consecutive years—and then some—is a signal that something structural is working. Cella by Randstad Digital has now crossed that threshold, earning ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing Client and Talent 15-Year Diamond Awards, a distinction achieved by just 6.3% of participating firms in 2025.
The recognition places Cella in a narrow tier of staffing and solutions providers that have consistently delivered high client and candidate satisfaction across economic cycles, technology shifts, and evolving workforce expectations. In an industry often shaped by short-term demand spikes and margin pressure, sustained service quality at this level is notable.
Why the 15-Year Diamond Award Matters
ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing awards are based entirely on third-party feedback, not submissions or self-reported metrics. Clients and placed candidates rate their experience, and only firms that meet strict satisfaction thresholds qualify.
The Diamond designation raises the bar further. To earn it, agencies must win the award 15 years in a row, demonstrating long-term consistency rather than a one-year performance peak.
In Cella’s case, the streak is even longer. The company has now won Best of Staffing recognition for 17 consecutive years, reinforcing its reputation as a stable, service-led partner in creative, marketing, and digital talent solutions.
Satisfaction Scores That Outpace the Industry
Cella’s performance stands out not just for longevity, but for how decisively it exceeds industry benchmarks:
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71.4% of clients rated Cella a 9 or 10 out of 10 for satisfaction, compared with an industry average of 55%
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70.5% of placed candidates gave similarly high scores, well above the industry average of 50%
ClearlyRated data shows that, on average, clients working with Best of Staffing winners are more than 50% more likely to be completely satisfied, while candidates are 60% more likely to report a positive experience compared to non-winning agencies. Cella’s results reinforce those trends at scale.
Service Consistency in a Volatile Talent Market
The timing of the award is telling. Staffing firms are operating in a market shaped by AI-driven transformation, shifting client expectations, and increased scrutiny around candidate experience. Many organizations are reevaluating traditional hiring models, while talent increasingly expects transparency, flexibility, and career development—not just placement.
Cella’s leadership credits its longevity to a service model that treats client success and talent enablement as interdependent rather than competing priorities.
“When we empower our talent to flourish, our clients win,” said Jackie Schaffer, Global Head of Cella by Randstad Digital. “Our service model is built on this synergy—equipping our talent community with the latest technologies and AI skills so they can deliver the innovation and excellence our clients demand.”
That focus aligns with broader industry trends, where staffing firms are under pressure to move beyond transactional recruiting and provide strategic workforce solutions, particularly in digital, creative, and AI-adjacent roles.
Talent Enablement as a Differentiator
Cella’s emphasis on equipping talent with emerging skills—especially around AI-enabled workflows—reflects a shift in how high-performing staffing firms are positioning themselves. Rather than simply sourcing candidates, leading agencies are investing in upskilling, tooling, and long-term talent engagement.
According to Tim Gearhart, Vice President of Talent Delivery, the recognition reflects that philosophy.
“For nearly two decades, our mission has been to help individuals realize their potential,” Gearhart said. “This recognition reflects our team’s passion for creating opportunities where people don’t just work—they flourish.”
In practical terms, that means aligning candidate experience with the realities of modern work: faster hiring cycles, hybrid environments, and increasing demand for digital and creative fluency.
A Benchmark for the Staffing Industry
ClearlyRated CEO Baker Nanduru positioned this year’s winners as indicators of where the staffing industry is headed.
“These companies keep client experience front and center, pushing the envelope in innovative service approaches,” Nanduru said. “Their work is shaping the future of accounting,” he added—underscoring the broader professional services landscape where service quality is becoming a competitive differentiator.
For staffing firms, awards like the Best of Staffing Diamond distinction function as more than marketing badges. They serve as third-party validation at a time when buyers are scrutinizing partners more closely, and when candidates have more channels to share their experiences publicly.
The Bigger Picture
Cella’s 15-Year Diamond recognition highlights a broader reality in staffing and HR services: consistency is rare, and sustained trust is hard-won. As automation, AI, and platform-based hiring models continue to reshape the market, agencies that can balance technology adoption with human-centered service are likely to stand out.
In that context, Cella’s long-running streak suggests that service quality—measured year after year by clients and candidates themselves—remains one of the most durable competitive advantages in workforce solutions.
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