So we’re officially out of the recession, the media has been full of news about the end of the economic crisis. In fact you’d be forgiven for thinking that from now on life is going to be a whole lot easier for everyone in business.
Now we don’t want to be all doom and gloom but whilst the upturn might mean less scrabbling around for business it can present recruiters with a whole new set of problems. For a few years now the recruiters have worked incredibly hard to bring on business. Placing candidates was the easy bit. Now the tables are turning.
During the recession most people were grateful to get a job, keep a job and be bringing home a pay pack at the end of the week. Prior to the economic crisis it was a common story to hear about candidates not showing up for interviews, contractors not turning up on a Monday morning and recruiters general feeling let down. Talking to some of the recruitment consultants we deal with it seems they are already experiencing these problems again. People aren’t feeling that they need to grab every opportunity; particularly in the construction and engineering sectors people have more choice again. They are back in demand and if this contract doesn’t work out there will be another one just around the corner.
So what can recruiters do? The more experienced recruiters who have been in this position before will tell you that a good relationship with candidates is key. They are as important as the client. Communicate with them, remember their name and their situation. Get to know them, keep them informed and keep in touch. Don’t expect them to drop everything at a second’s notice anymore. The better you know your candidates and the more they trust you and your agency the less likely they are to mess you around. It’s is also worth remembering that a candidate might have been unsuccessful at this interview, or you might think they aren’t quite right for the role they want but they might be perfect for something else that crops up so try and let them down as gently as possible.
Over the last few years many recruiters have focused on nurturing their clients but it will be those who haven’t forgotten how important the candidates and contractors are that will be coping better in this more prosperous climate.
