Unscrupulous recruiters spoil it for the rest of us

Did you hear about the BBC Radio Scotland investigation which has uncovered dirty dealings in the recruitment industry?

It found agencies advertising non existent jobs to attract new candidates, agencies stealing each other’s vacancies and some trying to recruit for positions which had already been filled.

Rogue traders occur in every sector and recruitment isn’t immune. I applaud anything that uncovers the unscrupulous methods some agencies use - and sees those agencies hung out to dry.

But please don’t think that all agencies employ dirty tricks to boost business.
We are very proud of the reputation we have – gained, and retained, through years of operating to the very highest standards.

We are voluntary members of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) – the trade body which governs our industry. No agency has to join but by doing so it shows a willingness to conform to industry best practice, ensuring the best service to candidates and clients.

What I really want to say is – don’t tarnish us all with the same brush – some of us are the good guys!

ACR is 'tweeting'

Six months ago I’d never written a blog, now I’m ‘tweeting’!

I’ve never been a Luddite – technology, after all, makes life so much easier on so many levels. But there is a little bit of me that is still in awe of the whole online world. There’s just so much out there – and so much that can be done with it.

Our consultant Karen Dykes is, thankfully, much better versed than me in the world of the web and fantastic at seeking out new opportunities online. She’s the one who registered us on twitter.com and now has us posting regularly – ‘tweeting’ in technical terms(!) - on twitterjobsearch.com.

It’s so useful. We post details of new jobs we have on our books and candidates receive the notifications instantly. And jobseekers who aren’t yet candidates can find jobs we have on offer through it and link back to our website to register their interest. Incredible really, when you think just a few years ago it was all faxes, print outs and bulging envelopes.

Client contact is very much in the mix too. Karen’s got us all signed up to LinkedIn – a really useful business networking website. With everyone so time-poor nowadays, it’s great to be able to keep in touch without leaving your desk.

Do come and join us online – we’ll see you in the virtual world!

Executive level PA required

We are currently handling an exceptional opportunity for an experienced PA to support the Group FD/Deputy Chief Executive of a highly progressive organisation based in Peterborough.

Salary up to £32,000 + attractive benefits package.
The ideal candidate will have extensive experience of supporting at Board level, with strong business acumen and accurate analytical skills to disseminate information.

This is a really super opportunity for a high calibre executive PA. If you are interested or have someone in mind then please do get in touch!

Consultant Karen celebrates 10 years with ACR

I started Anne Corder Recruitment 15 years ago and one of the things I’m most proud of is the level of staff retention we have recorded. Our turnover is low and people seem to stick around – something for which I am incredibly grateful and very proud.

On that note, this week marks a special date in our calendar. Our consultant Karen Dykes has been with us for 10 years, and I’m sure, on occasion, she’d say it feels like all that and more!

Karen came to work at ACR via stints as a flight attendant, estate agent and with another recruitment agency. I remember her interview – it wasn’t that she bought into the ACR ethos, she shared it even before she came here.

And on a personal level we really liked her – which always helps!

We turned out to be right on every level. Karen shares my personal passion and the company’s passion for excellence. She is one of the most tenacious individuals I’ve ever worked with, absolutely refusing to settle for anything other than perfect.

Her achievements during that 10 years are many – most notably heading up the move to a paperless office and working tirelessly to ensure we reach the ISO industry standards year in and year out.

And she’s a great person to have at a party too!

She’ll be very embarrassed that I’ve made her the subject of the blog which she set up but for the record: congratulations Karen on your 10 years and thank you for being a great colleague and a good friend.

The green shoots of Spring

We’re in phase three!

And believe me that is good news!

Well-respected recruitment expert Roger Tweedy from the REC has drawn up a model showing the stages – from a recruiter’s point of view – of a recession. This is based on interviews with veteran recruiters who’ve weathered three recessions. (ACR has an input into the monthly report on jobs published by REC and KPMG).

Briefly, the model goes like this:
Phase 1: Fall in permanent business and rise in temp/contract business
Phase 2: Continued fall in permanent, fall in temp and slowing down in public sector
Phase 3: Rise in temp and contracts and increase in permanent business
Phase 4: Full recovery and growth

Another well known and knowledgeable recruiter Bill Boorman has charted these phases during the current recession. Phase 1 happened during the back end of last year. The collapse of Woolies, the snow in January, early bank holidays and Fred Goodwin’s pension all contributed to a decline in employer confidence with temp and perm markets both at a standstill – phase 2 – in January, February and March.

But…..
That’s changing. It’s something we’ve noticed over the last four weeks and something Bill Boorman has recognised as a national trend. Temp and contract clients are reporting slight – but continuing – increases in business levels. Permanent clients are also reporting more deals being done. Decisions on hiring are taking time but they ARE coming through – companies are starting to consider if now is the time to start rebuilding headcount to capitalise on recovery as it comes. And that means – we’re in phase three!

There does seem to be a consensus in business that Roger Tweedy’s phase 4 will come next Spring. That feels like a long way off. But for now, after the pain of phase 1 and 2, phase 3 is very welcome and we will be doing everything we can to capitalise on it for our clients, candidates and ourselves.