What is US Staffing?
- Sagar Maher
- Aug 25
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 25
A Simple Guide Using the Hotel & Chicken Curry Analogy!
If you’re a fresher and someone says “US IT staffing,” you might think it’s complicated, full of portals, compliance rules, visas, and tax terms. Honestly, it can be. But here’s a way to understand it that actually makes sense—imagine it like running a luxury hotel kitchen and making chicken curry. Stick with me, because this analogy will make the entire process crystal clear.
The Hotel = The Client Company
Think of a five-star hotel. This hotel wants to serve amazing food to its guests. In staffing terms, the hotel is the client company—big IT firms like Apple, Infosys, or Walmart Tech. They have projects to deliver, deadlines to meet, and products to build.
Just like a hotel cares about how delicious its food is, the company cares about quality software delivered on time. But a hotel doesn’t magically make the food appear—it needs the right people and the right ingredients. Similarly, companies need skilled professionals like developers, testers, and business analysts to “cook” the software.
The Chef = The Hiring Manager
Every hotel has a chef, right? The chef knows exactly how the chicken curry should taste, which spices to use, and how long to cook it. In staffing, the hiring manager is the chef.
They know exactly what skills, experience, and certifications are required.
They guide the team to make sure the final dish (project) is perfect.
Without the chef, the hotel cannot deliver a proper meal; without the hiring manager, the project risks going off-track.
The Dish = The Software Project
Now, what is the dish? In our analogy: chicken curry = the software project.
Just like a curry needs the right mix of ingredients in the right way, a software project needs the right mix of talent—developers, testers, BAs, designers.
If the ingredients are off or the chef doesn’t get them in time, the curry fails. Similarly, if a company doesn’t get the right talent, the project can miss deadlines or fail quality checks.
Groceries = IT Talent
A chef can’t cook without groceries. In staffing terms:
Groceries = the actual talent—Java developers, testers, business analysts, UI/UX designers.
High-quality, fresh ingredients = skilled, ready-to-work professionals.
Low-quality ingredients = mismatched or inexperienced candidates.
Freshers entering staffing often start at this stage—sourcing and identifying the right ingredients for the dish. Your role is to make sure the chef (hiring manager) gets exactly what they need.
MSP = Grocery Procurement Team
Hotels usually don’t go straight to the farmers. They hire a procurement team to handle groceries. In staffing, this is the MSP (Managed Service Provider).
They manage communication between the hotel and grocery vendors.
They ensure compliance, track orders, and handle process logistics.
In short, MSPs make sure the staffing “supply chain” runs smoothly.
Think of MSPs as the people making sure that the right ingredients are bought, delivered on time, and meet the quality standards.
Grocery Vendors = Staffing Agencies
The procurement team reaches out to grocery vendors—stores like D-Mart or Big Bazaar. In staffing, these are your staffing agencies: Apex, Kforce, TekSystems, etc.
They receive job orders from MSPs.
They screen candidates, submit them via VMS portals, and track interviews and feedback.
They act as the bridge between the MSP and the talent pool.
So, staffing agencies are the ones ensuring the chef has the groceries in hand and ready for cooking.
Farmers = Bench Sales Vendors / Independent Candidates
Now, the groceries themselves? They come from farmers.
In staffing, bench sales vendors or independent consultants are the farmers—they have the actual candidates ready to work.
Staffing agencies “collect” these candidates, screen them, and submit them to the MSPs.
Without farmers, grocery vendors can’t supply ingredients. Without bench sales vendors or consultants, staffing agencies have nothing to submit.
VMS Portals = CRM & Supply Chain Tools
A hotel uses inventory or supply chain tools to track groceries. In staffing:
VMS (Vendor Management System) portals do the same thing.
Job openings are posted.
Candidate resumes are submitted.
Interviews are tracked, and feedback is collected.
VMS ensures that everyone knows what’s happening at every stage—client → MSP → staffing agency → candidate.
Tax Terms = Hotel Bills
Every ingredient comes with a bill. Similarly, in staffing, you need to understand tax terms:
W-2 Employee: Taxes automatically deducted; like paying an all-inclusive hotel bill.
1099 Contractor: You pay your own taxes; like self-catering or managing your own grocery bills.
Withholding Tax: Prepaid taxes deducted from your salary.
CPT/OPT Taxes: Special rules for F-1 students working on internships.
Understanding these ensures you stay compliant and avoid surprises.
Important US Work Visas = Hotel Passports
Visas are your “passports” to enter the hotel and work legally:
H-1B Visa: Specialty occupation visa (VIP guest pass).
L-1 Visa: Internal company transfers (hotel chain transfers).
O-1 Visa: Extraordinary ability (celebrity guest pass).
F-1 Visa (CPT/OPT): Student training pass (temporary guest access).
Staffing agencies guide candidates through paperwork, timelines, and compliance, so they can legally “check in” to their roles.
How Everything Connects
Client Company (Hotel)
⬇️
Hiring Manager (Chef)
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MSP (Procurement Team)
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VMS Portal (Inventory Tool)
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Staffing Agencies (Grocery Vendors)
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Bench Sales / Candidates (Farmers)
Final Thoughts!
US IT staffing can feel complex, but if you think of it like making chicken curry in a hotel, it suddenly makes sense:
The hotel (client) wants a dish (software project)
The chef (hiring manager) specifies the recipe (skills & roles)
MSP (procurement team) manages supply chain
Staffing agencies (grocery vendors) provide ingredients
Bench sales vendors / candidates (farmers) supply actual talent
Once you understand this flow, along with tax terms, visas, and VMS tools, entering the US staffing industry becomes much less intimidating.
At Freshers Launchpad, we help freshers learn the ropes, source talent, submit candidates, and understand the entire staffing lifecycle, so you can step into your career with confidence.
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