Candidate shortage set to continue in 2007

The continuing candidate shortage, which proved even more acute in 2006 than the previous year, is set to continue through 2007 according to 61 per cent of HR professionals surveyed by specialist PA/secretarial and administrative recruitment consultancy, Crone Corkill. Of those who predicted that the trend would continue, 18 per cent expected it to accelerate between 10 and 20 per cent in 2007.

The findings come in Crone Corkillís 2007 Salary Survey, compiled from detailed questionnaires sent to over 3,500 professionals in London and the South East. The reflective and predictive survey also found that the increasing demand for candidates is driven not just by booming business. The progress of technology, changing job content and the introduction of new legislation have, and will continue to have, a profound affect of the whole recruitment cycle.

Sam Clouter, associate director, Crone Corkill, says: ìThe demise of the one-to-one secretarial role continues with the increased demand for a technical and multi-tasking team secretary. However, clientsí expectations continue to change and the market has seen the emergence of three distinct new roles: the ëfast trackí graduate; the ësuper-secretary; and the ëinternational executiveí.î

The ëfast trackí graduate
Crone Corkill found that there has been a 16.7 per cent rise in the number of graduate positions, coupled with a 2.9 per cent salary increase, and rates of growth are not expected to slow down in 2007. Employers are quickly recognising the advantages of recruiting from the graduate market ñ candidates who are bright and eager to learn. Arriving on day one, technically knowledgeable and highly educated, unusually in this candidate-short market, graduates remain a relatively untapped source of talent.

The ësuper-secretaryí
The emergence and significant growth in demand for this role has been driven by employers seeing the advantages of a truly multi-talented team player, who acts of behalf of a team as the central point of communication for all manner of enquiries and requests. The super-secretary is highly trained, highly motivated and currently highly paid. Salaries are increasing by between 8 and 20 per cent year-on-year. The super-secretary is a rare commodity, and employers are doing all that they can to retain them resulting in all time high levels of job security, responsibility and rewards.

The International Executive
Global mobility is no longer the preserve of global companies. Technology, cheaper travel and emerging markets have all contributed to the increasing demand for the international executive. Not only are they expected to speak several languages, they are also expected to understand cultural differences and traditions, coupled with accommodating international time zones and being available to travel to overseas destinations for long periods at a time. The Crone Corkill 2007 Salary Survey revealed that 40 per cent of those surveyed would turn to the international market to recruit this exceptional candidate.

ìThe emergence of these three roles clearly demonstrates the sea change in clientsí expectations. Crone Corkill will continue to deliver tailored recruitment services and strategies that mirror the needs of the changing priorities of our diverse client and candidate base,î said Tracy Durrant.