We keep hearing of the ‘greenshoots’ appearing within the economy and whilst we have seen flurries of activity throughout the last 12 months we have not seen a significant increase in recruitment activity. Confidence is increasing within the client base but again this is not reflected in actual business.
This week has seen one marked difference. I have spent an unusual amount of time searching for roles with a quick turnaround and hence have relied solely on identifying candidates from our database. The amount of roles we have had this week reinforces the model of flurries that we have experienced throughout the year rather than an indicated rise in activity.
All the candidates I approached had contacted us within the last three months and indicated that they were available for immediate deployment. Of the dozen or so people I spoke to at least half had either had an existing contract extended or had just accepted a new contract elsewhere.
Now this may be only restricted to the PMO specialist area I was looking for. However when discussing the issue with a colleague who is currently at a conference, they concurred that they were hearing a similar story.
Is this good news for the contract market? I think it is too early to say but perhaps that confidence that we have been seeing for a few months is finally translating into activity.
What is your experience?
Sounds promising. I guess it ties in with the emerging economic news i.e. where everyone seems reluctant to call a recovery even though there are tentative signs of one.
FWIW, I don’t think we’ll be able to call a recovery for about another 4-6 months.
Cheers
I’m seeing a definite upturn in “interest” although the decision-making process still seems to be elongated.
My view is that we’re just about to enter a period of dramatic upturn in the contract market – in the FS sector at least, with the start already visible in the investment banks.
We are now in a period of (a) the end of summer hols (always a very quiet period), (b) preparation of y/end forecasts (showing substantial profits for many FS companies) which will boost internal confidence, and (c) focus on budgets – and hence activity plans – for 2010, which will be gounded in optimism rather than the fear which influenced the process last year.
Add to the mix the fact that many companies have cut “spare” staff quite ruthlessly, and the capacity for new activity will have to be provided by the contract market.
Just call me an optimist!