How to make sure a recruitment skills shortage doesn’t slow you down
News just in from RIDA (the recruitment investment, advisory and consultancy house) paints a picture that is at once full of promise, and at the same time exposes some very real frustrations. A survey recently carried out by the consultancy – in which recruitment company directors were quizzed about their predictions for business throughout 2015 – revealed that whilst 59% experienced growth in 2014, 45% considered that a notable lack of skilled consultants could prove a barrier to further significant expansion.
For the most part, the recruitment specialists who were quizzed did not see a problem in the jobs market, or with the quantity of jobs they expect to make it onto their books throughout the coming year. The problems will occur – in short the brakes will go on – when the skilled staff needed to manage clients simply aren’t there, or rather, aren’t perhaps performing at the level required. And this is significant: (27%) of survey respondents reported that increased staff performance directly impacted on their agency’s bottom line.
When we at Recruit Mint read the findings, we did two things: a) we breathed a sigh of relief that we’ve managed to find the smart, hard-working staff that we’ve got, all of whom are busy making sure that we remain one of the most efficient and trusted agencies in Peterborough. But we also b) agreed whole-heartedly. We’ve mentioned before how it’s tough to find recruitment personnel who can do things the Recruit Mint way, but we recognise that it’s not just we who struggle. And whilst the situation is exasperating for recruitment professionals, it has ramifications for the wider business and economic environment, locally, regionally and nationally. Slow down the rate at which jobs get filled, or worse still, fill them with people who aren’t right, and you’re basically throwing a spanner into an engine that – still fragile from recession – can’t really afford to get derailed.
Good news does come, however, from a statement by Helen Reynolds, CEO of RIDA Group. She says, ‘Despite the challenges being faced by a number of recruitment business owners, many of them are being overcome – and to great effect on their bottom line. Online marketing and increased branding have seen a sharp rise in activity over the last 12 months, as agencies seek to counter increased agency competition… This survey has shown that while recruitment director confidence remains high overall, those who adopt more savvy practices such as optimising their online presence will be the eventual winners in the continued war for talent (and clients).’
So, the message is clear – there is a silver lining to that cloud. Whilst we continue to live in an imperfect world we can use our initiative and our skills to exploit technology, working smarter to make the most of constantly expanding and improving communication opportunities – all available to use at the touch of a button.
Information source: http://www.ridagroup.co.uk/
