Employers window shop for employees during recession

The recession could see employers begin to window shop when it comes to finding candidates for job opportunities.

As competition for work is increasing because of the economic downturn there are fewer roles available, meaning managers will be selective about finding the best person for the job, Adecco claims.

This may mean that having a top-notch CV on an online recruitment site could be the ideal way for jobseekers to be noticed.

Steven Kirkpatrick, managing director of Adecco Retail, said there are still chances from employment, even though the jobs market is tough.

That doesn't necessarily mean that firms aren't looking for people, just that they are being that much more selective over who they bring on board, he explained.

ClickAJob Marketing Manager Anders Jensen is not so easily satisfied.

A top-notch CV is good, but not nearly enough to be seriously competitive, he explains.

With secure salaries at stake and so many CVs hyped into being larger than life, savvy employers want proof that candidates are as desirable as they claim to be.

Up-to-date experience is particularly significant, given the pace of technology since so many people originally qualified, he points out.

For many posts, skills gained on the job can often outweigh the initial degree or certificate of years ago, he says.

Proving them effectively gives even impressive CVs some serious teeth - an edge that has kept our online ClickATest assessment facility increasingly busy as the recession bites.

According to an analysis of employment figures since 1997, published by the Trades Union Congress, although the number of people out of work in the UK is increasing, employment figures have still reached an historic high of around 75 per cent.