There’s never been a better time to take on new people
According to Futura, the Northwest’s leading rec2rec company, the current economic climate is actually opening up more opportunities for companies to pick up people with great skills on more realistic salaries.
It’s well recognised that the best people are the hardest to recruit – they cost more and they’re far less likely to be looking for a job.
John Whalley, managing director of Futura – the largest rec2rec agency outside London – believes that the current economic climate is making better people available, and on more realistic salaries. “In normal times,” says Whalley, “companies don’t shed the best people. But right now, some companies have to make tough decisions and they are cutting even those with great track records. What we’re finding is that those people are now having to rethink their salary expectations to get in line with a changing market – so it’s possible to pick up top talent for a lower salary than you would a year ago.”
While this may not sound ideal for the candidate, Futura believes that in the long term it still makes sound sense. “The hard reality is that if you’ve lost your job, any job is better than none. But, if you move to a company that can keep moving in the recession and come out the other side in a strong shape, then you’re rebuilding a career with a market leader.”
Futura is certainly seeing more candidates available with very solid CVs. “These are people who can really make a difference to a company, people with good track records who were perhaps in the wrong market sector at the wrong time – and a switch to a different sector is all that’s needed to get their careers moving again,” says Whalley. “What’s more,” concludes Whalley, “the current climate makes those skills more affordable.”