Employers Market? Think again – particularly at the senior end! But should you consider a move?
Covid 19 has been quick and ruthless when it comes to recruitment in Financial Services & FinTech. I worked through the last recession and the severity was similar but the speed has shocked some peers in recruitment.
For those that are hiring, and there are not that many who are willing to interview and offer remotely, there is a perception that this is now an Employers market… think again. Must like a cohort of people in the general population, the senior end of the market are somewhat cocooning or at least sticking rigidly to their 2km radius when it comes to considering opportunities. There is a disparity caused by the perception that few firms hiring means more availability of talent but that talent is being very considered. It is a real ‘bird in the hand moment’.
There are however, some great opportunities out there. One noticeable difference in the last 6 weeks or so has been that engagement, from either the employer or jobseeker side, is very genuine with neither side really ‘testing the market’. If jobs are live, they are real. If jobseekers are engaging, they are willing to move.
If you are considering keeping an eye out, what should you keep in mind?
1. What has been, and is likely to be, the trajectory for your potential employer? Have they been shrinking a presence pre Covid or not? Are they committed to growing here? What is the impact of Covid likely to be on their operations here and abroad?
2. Has there been a track record of hiring remotely – in the last few weeks anyway? Is it something they are seriously committed to?
3. Is there a tangible business need for the role? Is it replacing key staff? Is it part of a longer-term vision? Can you see how this role fits in to an overall strategy?
The bottom line is that if you need some comfort in engaging in a process at the moment, it is perfectly understandable but look at it logically. Consider the above questions and ask questions yourself through the process. Aside from the logic, what is your gut telling you about the long term vision for this role.
If you can get comfort around that, engage. If there are red flags, keep cocooned. Just be aware, there are good roles still flowing. Having the time to look into things in a bit more detail and being able to interview a bit more easily might be an opportunity too good to miss.