Recruit Someone Worth Recruiting – Part One – Motivate Change

We are constantly asked what the market for IT recruitment is like and our answer can vary greatly; sometimes things are good and sometimes they aren’t so good. Whilst we’re lucky that the IT industry is reasonably stable, it does tend to reflect the economy and general mood of the nation.

January is traditionally subdued and it is usually a time when both companies and candidates take stock, trim the fat and make plans for the year ahead.

It is a little ambitious to rely on once in a lifetime events to boost business and it is often the case that the companies which make a concerted effort during times of economic stagnation reap the rewards when the good times roll around again. They are proactive rather than reactive, they are innovative and they motivate change.

To use a tenuous analogy, the current IT recruitment market can be compared to a shopping centre at this time of year.

People purchased their winter wardrobe before the Christmas and New Year period. They may have slightly exceeded their budget and now January is a time of austerity, a period to be got through, before they can buy a new wardrobe in the spring. They might go to the shopping centre to have a look around but they aren’t too keen to buy anything. In order for the retailers to get people through the door they have to have a compelling offer.

Still with us?!

The current IT recruitment market is just like that shopping centre. There are a lot of potential customers (candidates) who are happy to browse yet they all appear too scared to commit themselves to actively seeking a new role.

One of the main contributing factors to this inertia is that most of the roles which are currently being advertised are identical to those in which candidates are already engaged; they offer the same position, the same career progression (or lack of) and the same salary and benefits package.

Therefore, it is up to those companies who are looking to recruit candidates to fill their vacant positions to motivate change in order to make themselves more attractive to potential employees without simply resorting to paying above market rates, something many are unwilling or unable to do in the current economic climate.

Next week we’ll take a look at how companies can motivate change and how that relates to the issues currently affecting the recruitment decisions of both candidates and employers.

Let us know your thoughts on this topic by joining in the conversation on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/langleyjames) or on Twitter (@ITrecruitment).

To find out how Langley James can help you to motivate change and streamline your IT recruitment process please contact us on  0845 124 9555 or langleyjames@langleyjames.com