The Recruitment Market: Will 2008 bring a 'new year, new me' recruitment rush?

If industry analysts are to be believed millions of potential candidates will be re-drafting their CVs in a New Year recruitment rush.

In a 'new year, new me' approach to 2008, many candidates are likely to start hunting for fresh employment during January. With this in mind, the experts at Collingwood Search & Selection Ltd are urging companies to strike while the iron is hot and get their adverts posted as early as possible to ensure they hire the crme de la crme.

In what has proved to be a 'talent short market' in 2007, Collingwood's Managing Director Doug Mackay, says retaining a recruitment consultancy can ensure companies find the best person for the job in the most cost effective way. 'Good candidates will have an immediate selection of career choices available to them so delaying can cause disappointment and cost money,' he explained. 'Communication is the key between the agency, client and the candidate and that is our strength.'

Over 58,000 jobs were created across the UK's 21 key industries in November 2007. This figure is up by 54 per cent when compared to job creation in November 2006. But with so many extra positions to be filled where does this leave employers looking to recruit and retain real talent?

'Last year a number of our clients came to us to say they were looking for needles in a haystack when it came to filling roles. We were able to assess their needs and narrow the search for them. Recruiting can be a tough job but its one that our staff are well-versed in', said Doug.

For example, Colin Gibson, Chief Executive of Chester-based Landround Plc was searching for an International Business Development Manager. He knew the role demanded an unusual mix of skills so finding the perfect candidate was going to be a tall order. Landround turned to Collingwood Search & Selection Ltd and in two months the post was filled - thanks in part to the unique behavioural profiling system Thomas International, http://www.thomasinternational.net, a crucial element of the Collingwood process.

Looking to 2008, the 17th annual UPS Europe Business Monitor recently revealed that well over a third (38%) of business leaders in the UK say they plan to increase their workforce over the next 12 months. That figure is the highest since the question was first asked in 1993 and is up 2% on last year's results (36%). An additional 46% plan to keep their workforce about the same as it is now, meaning 84% of senior UK executives predict a stable or growing employment situation in the coming year.

So with careful optimism in the economic climate the outlook is positive - 55% of UK business leaders surveyed predict that the economic position of their company will be better in 12 months' time. Worryingly though, the UK still identified the lack of skilled workforce as an issue more so than any other country surveyed, followed by the Netherlands (40%) and Germany (37%). For businesses looking to recruit the best that means a time-consuming and critical look at the talent pool to fill vacancies.

January is traditionally an excellent time for companies to recruit as more and more people return after the festive break focused on finding a new challenge with a new employer. No matter how difficult the role is to recruit Collingwood has proven time and again that we really can find needles in haystacks.