A jobs market update from Kinetic Recruitment.
Perhaps because we have over 1000 people signing on for the dole every week in New Zealand, it seems that the number of candidates actively seeking work has somewhat diminished.
In recent weeks we have noticed a reduction in the volumes of candidates applying for roles and I know it's not because we have a shortage of people. What I do think is that people are really fed up.
They are fed up of hearing about the recession and the constant doom and gloom, they are fed up with applying for jobs and being rejected constantly, they are fed up of the cold winter and still having months of it to go. They are just over it, so why not have a break?
The dole will offer assistance immediately, pay the bills and they can hibernate for the upcoming months until life in general gets better.
That's not something I recommend but it appears it is becoming a more viable and necessary option for many.
People everywhere have now come to accept the status quo; we have all adjusted our lifestyle in some way to live in these economic times. Most of us have worked out what we need to earn to live on and the treats of yesterday will have to wait for another time.
We have seen a range of emotions over the year to date from candidates applying for work. Initially it was panic, then frustration and now it has turned to the stage of indifference, where you almost get the feeling some people are in the mindset that "if something comes up and it ticks all my boxes, maybe I will consider it".
In relation to salary, we are still, even in these times, seeing candidates accept nothing less than what they think they are worth. When we had a great shortage of candidates this was more understandable. However, times have changed.
We compile a salary survey each quarter to keep our clients informed and up to date on the market, useful especially when they are not recruiting themselves. The figures in it are based on placements we have made in the previous quarter.
Salaries overall have not dropped that much, but what clients are able to get now is more value for money. There are opportunities to take well skilled people on board.
The inexperienced recruiter will hire someone who is overqualified, thinking they are getting a bargain and that comes with its own problems.
When the market does improve and it will, it is an absolute certainty that turnover will be high. The overqualified candidates in lower level roles will find new opportunities that are better suited to them but also the feeling of being trapped in a position that offers security will cease to exist.
It is so important in these times that companies employ at the right level and also that they put time and energy into making the culture of the team and company positive and engaging to ensure continuity of staff long after the memories of the recession have been buried in the back of our minds.
I feel for recruitment agencies as things settle and we attempt to build our business levels back up during the year. Where I used to review and analyse figures quarterly, I am now doing so weekly.
I know we have made the cutbacks necessary to survive this year and I am happy to report small improvements emerge on a weekly basis. As we fill one permanent job, another is appearing. Improvement.
As an industry it is important for us to stay up to date with what is happening with our clients.
We are still working hard to understand their restrictions and we try our best to work alongside them, complementing the processes they have in place and adding value where we can. The same applies to job-seekers, we are here to help them too.
We respect the fact that people have negative experiences with agencies and employers but we do our best and at the end of the day, if we don't have a permanent or temporary job to talk to you about, we can't do anything about that. I can guarantee you that we are trying - hard.
* Kate Ross is director of Kinetic Recruitment as well as upcoming part time job website The Outfit and the Return2work programme, in partnership with Sarah Paykel.
