Recruiting now
We felt that our users would appreciate a regular update of the views of key recruiters in the secretarial market on how the job market was progressing on a quarterly basis. We invited 5 of the leading secretarial recruitment agencies to give their view of the state of the secretarial job market and their findings make interesting reading.
The 5 agencies taking part in the survey were:
"Promising - it has picked up substantially."
David Morel - Tiger Recruitment
"A slow but steady start to 2009, with more roles being released in the 2nd than the 1st quarter. Clients were hesitant to hire on both the temporary and permanent side of things at the beginning of the year but confidence is now starting to return to the market. Financial industry worst affected with many recruitment freezes in place for 1st/2nd quarter (now being lifted)."
Victoria Coghlan - Tay Associates
"Both the temporary and permanent divisions have seen business levels halve this year, with 2 of our major competitors being forced into administration and others cutting staff by as much as 80%."
Lyn Cecil - Secretaries Plus
"During the first half of 2009, we experienced a decrease in the demand for professionals for more generalist support positions. Recruitment activity centred around strategic or replacement hires and roles requiring very niche skill sets."
Sam Doolan - Joslin Rowe
"It has been unpredictable and challenging. Many companies are being cautious about taking on new staff even if the need to do so is there. The permanent and temporary jobs we have taken from new clients span a broad range of sectors ranging from financial services to the arts."
Nadia Sharif - Gordon Yates
"Quiet from now until end of August with a pick up until the beginning of December. The market will pick up in earnest from beginning of January."
David Morel - Tiger Recruitment
"Looking far more positive for the next quarter, with clients releasing roles who may not have hired for the last 12mths."
Victoria Coghlan - Tay Associates
"Cautiously optimistic as business levels have improved noticeably. There is more temporary work and a marked increase in the level of permanent vacancies notified to us. Unfortunately, due to the downturn, there has also been a dramatic increase in the number of job seekers."
Lyn Cecil - Secretaries Plus
"The last two quarters of 2009 are more positive in terms of recruitment activity. However, support recruitment has undoubtedly been the hardest hit and therefore will take the most time to recover."
Sam Doolan - Joslin Rowe
"Our forecast is that it will remain the same, hard to predict and tough for many talented candidates who are job hunting."
Nadia Sharif - Gordon Yates
"Yes, but there will be plenty of ups and downs."
David Morel - Tiger Recruitment
"I think we have seen the worst of it, but do think that it will take another 12 months or so to return to previous activity levels. 3rd quarter looking promising as long as momentum can be maintained and clients encouraged to be more decisive."
Victoria Coghlan - Tay Associates
"I hope so. There has been talk of a W rather than a bell curve; only time will tell and no economist will be out of a job for wrongful predictions."
Lyn Cecil - Secretaries Plus
"An increase in recruitment activity is a good indicator of a turn in the market, so the signs are hopeful."
Sam Doolan - Joslin Rowe
"I think we are in the midst of the worst part and hopefully the only way is up now."
Nadia Sharif - Gordon Yates
"Instead of looking to survive the recession, they are concentrating on how they can maximise their position in the market as and when we come out. Their recruitment plans will be governed by their wider strategic approach."
David Morel - Tiger Recruitment
"Those that are recruiting are lowering salaries / hourly rates (supply vs. demand) and not replacing where previously they would have done so."
Victoria Coghlan - Tay Associates
"We understand the Big Four accountants have ceased their recruitment freeze. There seems to be an expectation from some they will be recruiting again shortly, but then others will still make redundancies."
Lyn Cecil - Secretaries Plus
"Clients seem far more positive - however, candidates need to be aware that clients remain incredibly particular about the CVs they receive and the candidates they will interview. This exact match environment will continue for some time."
Sam Doolan - Joslin Rowe
"Many are still being cautious but there are some signs that recruitment could be on the agenda again in Q4 and beyond. We will see. Having worked through recessions and down turns before, we KNOW that an up-turn can happen quickly."
Nadia Sharif - Gordon Yates
"Don't become despondent or take it personally. Concentrate on your cover letter and CV."
David Morel - Tiger Recruitment
"Ensure your CV is 100% accurate and best reflects your experience and skill set. If available immediately actively seek and take any temp work available. Clients hesitant to hire permanently do seem to be offering contracts and T-P's for temps in place already. Encourage relationship building with reputable recruitment consultants and ensure that candidates are always aware of where there CV is being sent - no agency should refuse to name the client they are sending your CV to."
Victoria Coghlan - Tay Associates
"Make sure that your CV looks as good as it can and you understand how to optimise it to be picked up first by the various job boards. Make sure that you use the job boards; they are so much faster and more targeted than print. If you have registered at Jobcentre Plus, ask them about their "Support for newly unemployed professionals" that covers these points and more. We run the courses several times a week in Central London and the commuter belt but you have to be referred by the Jobcentre Plus advisers. If you haven't had to job hunt for a while the digital age is upon us!"
Lyn Cecil - Secretaries Plus
"While competition is fierce due to a high volume of job seekers, there are still positions available within the market. Job seekers need to make sure that they stand out from the crowd. If you secure an interview, make sure you prepare as much as possible. If your interview is through a recruitment agency like Joslin Rowe, speak to your recruitment consultant about possible questions that you maybe asked and prepare for these with specific examples from your experience to highlight your answers. Take time to research the company. We know from our clients the more candidates display their knowledge of the company, the more their enthusiasm to work there comes across."
Sam Doolan - Joslin Rowe
"Our Career Doctor sessions highlight the need to be strategic and focused in your approach to make your application stand out. And we also stress the importance of follow up on all applications made. The other obvious one is to not give up - a job is out there for you even though it may be taking longer than usual to secure the opportunity."
Nadia Sharif - Gordon Yates
So the message seems to be, stay positive, get your CV and covering letter polished up and most of all, don't give up!
Thank you to the five agencies which took part in the survey:
If you have any feedback on our survey or you are an agency and would like to participate in our next quarterly survey, please contact us.