What has been happening in the market?
- Q2 saw a slowdown in the number of directly advertised vacancies, which is common during the summer as clients balance school holidays and annual leave. With a high number of candidates actively seeking roles, the limited opportunities have been challenging for many job seekers.
- Longer hiring processes – summer holidays have impacted interview timelines, with some candidates waiting weeks between the first and final stages. This loss of momentum has often resulted in businesses losing out on top-quality candidates
- The good news is that with the holidays behind us, September has already picked up significantly, especially within the mid to senior HR market, making it a much busier month for our team and the hope that this will continue in October and November before the market typically quietens down in December (albeit Emma Pringle can caveat that by saying December has been one of her strongest months in previous years!)
- We’re noticing a rise in Learning & Development roles available in the market, which is encouraging as it indicates our clients are dedicated to investing in their employees’ growth. This commitment is a significant factor for job seekers when evaluating new opportunities.
The Interim/Fractional Market
In the current interim and fractional market, we’re seeing strong demand for temporary staff, particularly in administration, HR, and finance. Companies are increasingly turning to flexible hiring solutions due to ongoing economic uncertainties, allowing them to adapt their workforce to business needs. Candidates are also drawn to temp roles for the variety, flexibility, and work-life balance they offer, with upskilling opportunities being a major motivator. Additionally, the rise of hybrid and remote temp roles is becoming a key factor in attracting job seekers.
Employment Law Webinar
Emma Pringle was joined by Musab Hemsi from Anderson Strathern to host another employment law webinar in September where Musab delved into the latest developments in employment law, HR, and people management. Some of the key takeaways were around.
- Flexibility – HR professionals are faced with a number of significant changes to the employment and immigration landscape
- Resilience – as an HR professional, you will likely encounter a lot of resistance to the proposed changes.
- Communication – there is a lot to digest in terms of changes that could take effect within a relatively short timeframe, clear communication will be vital.
- Support – HR is often shaped as being the conduit for all of these changes but who supports you? Don’t shy away from asking for help!
- Immigration Changes – Major changes are in motion on how employees with visas will prove their status and Right to Work from January 2025
The attendees provided some fantastic feedback about the event, and this is something we are looking to continue to do. If you are interested in registering for the next employment law update, do not hesitate to reach out to a member of the HR team.
Welcome Shelley Smith to the team!
During Q2 we were delighted to welcome Shelley Smith to the HR team as a Managing Consultant. Shelley brings extensive recruitment expertise, both in the UK and internationally and an extensive background in Business Services. Her passion for building strong, lasting relationships is evidenced by her high rate of repeat business. Shelley is a key addition to the team as we continue to grow and innovate.
Our senior HR clients and candidates can look forward to even more exceptional service and support as we continue to expand. Shelley’s arrival signifies our dedication to meeting and exceeding your expectations. As well as this, Shelley will be taking a lead on our HR leadership roundtable events with the first of these taking place in September. If you would like to be involved in these events going forward, please reach out directly.
Please join us in giving Shelley a warm welcome! We are excited to see the positive impact she will bring to our team and to all those we serve.
What do candidates want to see?
Job adverts – We recently ran a poll within our HR network about job adverts, asking candidates what they look for. Through our conversations, it’s clear they want ads that are clear, engaging, and detailed—covering responsibilities, skills, company culture, and growth opportunities. Transparency around salary, benefits, and work-life balance is also key. Many candidates said a well-crafted job ad can make or break their decision to apply. Additionally, when we work on retained roles and can share the employer’s name upfront, candidate engagement increases significantly.
What’s important – We also asked our network to rank the most important factors in a job advert: role responsibilities, salary & benefits, the application process, or company information.
An overwhelming 89% of respondents said that salary & benefits are the top priority.
Hybrid/flexible working – Anthony Oliva in the team recently done a blog around the shift back to the office and in conclusion he found that striking a balance between business needs and employee wellbeing is essential. While some companies push for a return to full-time office work, prioritising flexibility is crucial for enhancing employee satisfaction and productivity. By fostering transparent communication and flexible work arrangements, businesses can cultivate a positive environment that benefits everyone involved.
Click on the link below for more information: https://www.iconicresourcing.com/2024/07/the-shift-back-to-the-office/