A survey conducted last year (2010) by online recruitment specialist Recruitment Genius identified that, for 61 per cent of the respondents, the internet was the preferred method of looking for work. This compared to 20 per cent who preferred to use a recruitment agency and just 6 per cent who visited the Job Centre. The findings of the survey were supported by other industry statistics which estimate that over 90 per cent of candidates look online before considering any other methods.
This behavioural shift is having a significant impact on the nature of the British high street with new figures, released by Ordnance Survey (OS) showing that agency outlets have declined by 13.4 per cent in the period October 2008 to December 2010. Recruitment agencies were found to have suffered one of the steepest rates of closure coming second only to building societies which saw a decline of 28.2 per cent in high street premises.
Geoff Newman, chief executive of Recruitment Genius, and who once ran a traditional high street agency before moving online, said: “Times have changed and so must agencies. By utilising the benefits of the internet Recruitment Genius is able to offer recruitment solutions for hundreds rather than thousands of pounds. And, particularly in today’s economic climate, our clients love it!
“We have invested heavily to ensure our technology and infrastructure enables us to provide reliable and effective services to clients of all shapes and sizes. This investment and commitment is paying dividends as we are leading the way in online recruitment.”
