Hays Banking - January 2009

Hotspots

With a shift in focus away from debt-related business, banks are looking to increase their client base. Candidates with strong business development and relationship management experience are therefore in high demand. Strong sales focus and the ability to develop a healthy portfolio are desirable qualities and senior relationship managers and business development managers are the key hotspots of demand.

The coming quarter

Permanent recruitment has slowed in the banking sector, with larger organisations instituting temporary cutbacks to observe market fluctuations and prepare appropriately for the future. Temporary recruitment has expanded to fill in the gaps left by this waiting period, and recruitment in this space is expected to increase.

Candidate trends

A significant influx of available candidates can be seen across the country, particularly in the areas of banking and wealth management. Candidates in the mid range ($65k - $100k) are the most readily available, and are competing hard for the top jobs. In this climate, candidates are advised to consider working with recruitment consultancy partners who are best placed to work on their behalf to secure the right role, increasing their chances against the unrepresented competition.