Agency reports record number of job seekers

MORE people than ever are turning to recruitment agencies to help them get a job as the economic crisis tightens.

The number of people keen to take on temporary work is at an all-time high as job security and long-term employment with the same organisation are looking like things from the past.

And senior professionals are rubbing shoulders with office juniors in the scrabble to get jobs.

Ian Campbell, managing director of leading recruitment agency Avenue Scotland, said: ìIn the last six months alone we have registered over five and a half thousand people. In our 16-year history we have never registered so many high-quality candidates who are keen to take on temporary work - and I just donít mean office staff and manufacturing personnel.

ìWe have senior and middle managers, company directors, specialist contractors and project engineers in the energy, water, manufacturing and industrial sectors all genuinely excited by the prospect of taking on short-term contract work.î

And for organisations the wealth of talent available for temporary contracts means it has also never been a better time to recruit.

ìYou could add key skills or experience to drive your business forward or win a particular contract without actually taking on any full-time staff,î said Mr Campbell.

ìThe list of benefits are many and varied, but include the acquisition of people with the right blend of skills and experience to take your company forward and who can start immediately, no costs of recruitment, no commitment to continual employment and no costs of redundancy.î

Mr Campbell is adamant that the current economic downturn, far from being a
disaster, can in fact be an opportunity for companies and individuals.

The phenomenal skills base that has become available by enforced redundancy measures by blue chip companies has led to Avenue Scotland creating its innovative Temporary Key Personnel strategy.

The current economic situation means that companies are reluctant to add to their overheads with permanent appointments, but they recognise they need key skills to ensure survival and create competitive advantage when the upturn kicks in.

Likewise more candidates are recognising that with the shortage of full-time vacancies the perfect placement may not be available in the short term and so the offer of such a position on a temporary basis not only addresses the financial requirements but also provides valuable experience which could assist their long-term career prospects.

The strategy is particularly attractive for companies who can benefit from, for example, the skills and contacts of sales managers or the experience and commitment of individuals with specialist skills to address key projects such as procurement, materials planning, IT and operations.

Mr Campbell founded Avenue Scotland in 1993. It is headquartered in Dunfermline and is now one of the countryís top recruitment companies.