Hays Office Support - July 2010
Hotspots
Businesses are starting to recommence projects that were put on hold during the downturn. This increased workload cannot be supported by current headcount, which in most cases is below pre-GFC levels. Skills in most demand include project staff, team support, Personal Assistants, Executive Assistants and Administrators.
Sales and HR professionals are also needed to help support growth. HR skills are sought to rebuild a business, and sales teams are being developed.
Demand remains high for Office Managers, as mentioned last quarter. Employers typically want an individual who can take on a range of skills, such as stock take, office administration, personal assistant duties and overseeing junior staff. Businesses are also looking for all-rounders who can support more than one department. They are more willing to utilise temporary assignments to cover positions short-term until a permanent candidate is sourced.
The coming quarter
We expect last quarter's trend of rising temporary roles to continue this quarter. Employers are moving cautiously back to their previous staffing levels with a temporary resource initially while their permanent need is defined. However we are now also seeing permanent job numbers increase as business confidence continues to rise.
Employer trends
Employers are cautious of candidates who have been out of work for a long period of time or who have moved frequently from business to business. Following the GFC, they are wary of risk in any form. As a result, stability and motivation are the key factors they look for in candidates.
Some employers are quick to jump to conclusions about a candidate's abilities if they were made redundant during the downturn. But it was not only non-productive employees who were made redundant. Some very skilled and highly qualified candidates also found themselves out of work during the GFC, and such candidates deserve attention.
Candidate trends
Some candidates are more confident about looking for work now that the market is showing signs of recovery. Having remained with their employers throughout the last 12 to 18 months, they are returning to the job market as confidence in the economy increases.
