During this time of year, we often hear “we’re not hiring until January, give me a call back then.” Sometimes there are good reasons to wait, however, it can pose recruitment challenges for our clients (and us) when everyone is looking to hire at the same time.
We asked our team why they think clients should hire before Christmas…needless to say, they had a few ideas;
- Everyone is recruiting in January, clients have ten times more competition for the best candidates, as they are likely to have multiple offers.
- For a lot of accountancy and practice firms, “busy season” kicks into gear in January. Hiring someone now gives time to get someone ready to go in January, ensuring the busy workload can be managed effectively.
- With January labelled the “busy season” in certain sectors, it is harder for candidates to leave their roles. If clients are waiting to look until January, this could mean that they’ll miss out on the best candidates or potentially have to wait for the person until March.
- Many candidates want a fresh start in the new year and start looking for a new role in November. If they are offered before December, they are less likely to drop out. This has been heightened this year due to the number of people having their furlough extended.
- This year in particular, due to lockdown, candidates are readily available for an interview over a video call from home, this may not be the case next year.
- Holding onto recruitment budgets can result in budget decision-makers thinking you don’t need it all and reducing your budget for the next year. It’s always worth checking what is left to spend.
- Waiting to hire in January can often mean the person doesn’t start until months later with notice periods. If you want someone to start in January, it is recommended to start the process a few months earlier.
The conclusion we’ve drawn from our recruiter’s advice is that the combination of candidates starting to look now and many of our clients waiting until January, means if you start now, you’re more likely to secure the best talent.
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