Welcome to Issue 11 of Recruitment Trends & Industry Insights

Hi I'm Joanna Oakley CCWP MCIPD . With over 20 years of experience in the staffing and recruitment industry, I am a Transformation and Change Consultant and the Owner/Director of Argylestone Consulting Ltd . I help multinational staffing firms and local recruitment businesses implement technology and operational change and transformation programmes to drive growth and productivity.

TRENDS: Top 3 Predictions for the Recruitment Industry in 2025

As we prepare to leave 2024 behind, the recruitment industry continues to evolve at lightning speed, with technology driving transformative change. Here's what I believe will shape our sector in 2025:

1. Ethical AI: Accountability and Fairness Take Centre Stage

AI has undoubtedly revolutionised recruitment, but its early missteps, including biased decision-making, have not been forgotten. Moving forward, there will be an urgent push towards ethical AI practices. Recruiters and candidates alike will demand full transparency around how algorithms function, how data is managed, and how biases are actively minimised. Fairness and accountability will become non-negotiable in AI-powered tools, reshaping trust in recruitment technologies.

2. AI in Candidate Hands: A New Frontier in Online Assessments

AI tools, like ChatGPT, are empowering candidates to ace assessments with real-time, tailored answers. While this showcases the power of AI, it also raises questions about fairness. Employers and tech providers will face increasing pressure to implement countermeasures as this trend grows. Striking a balance between innovation and integrity will be a key challenge for recruitment in 2025.

3. The Chatbot Evolution: Streamlining Volume Recruitment

Once dismissed as clunky and impersonal, chatbots are maturing into essential tools for high-volume and entry-level recruitment. Their ability to handle initial candidate engagement efficiently and effectively will become invaluable, reducing recruiter workloads and improving candidate accessibility. Expect these AI assistants to become recruitment staples in the coming year.

The future of recruitment is exciting yet complex. By embracing technology responsibly, the industry can unlock remarkable opportunities for growth.

INSIGHTS: As recruitment leaders start planning for 2025, many are assessing opportunities to refine their processes and capitalise on the potential of AI tools.

Bullhorn’s 2024 Talent Trends Report provides invaluable insights into how candidates perceive AI in recruitment, highlighting key opportunities to enhance candidate experience while improving operational efficiency.

Insights from Bullhorn's 2024 Talent Trends Report

Bullhorn’s latest report underscores the growing significance of technology and AI in recruitment while affirming that personalisation and efficiency remain critical to candidates.

1. Time is Critical 80% of candidates expect placement within 20 days, underscoring the need for recruitment agencies to streamline processes and leverage technology for faster job matching.
2. AI Can Bridge the Communication Gap Candidates expect weekly contact, achieved only 57% of the time, yet 79% welcome AI-driven communications to fill the gap, so long as personalisation remains intact.
3. Candidates Trust AI 81% of candidates are open to interacting with AI for faster and more accurate placements, appreciating its ability to reduce admin burdens and improve job fit.
4. Satisfaction Needs Work While 75-80% of candidates report satisfaction, areas like process speed and job alignment still frustrate. AI could be pivotal here, particularly in candidate screening and job matching.

These findings align with feedback from Talent Acquisition leaders I spoke with at RecFest London earlier this year. A standout topic was candidates' positive reception of chatbot engagement, appreciating the efficiency and speed chatbots bring to the recruitment journey.

Read the full report: Bullhorn 2024 Talent Trends Report.

FREE WORKSHOP

Argylestone Consulting: Free Optimisation Workshop (Only 2 spaces left!)

Are you looking to reduce operational bottlenecks, streamline processes, and increase productivity??

Until the end of 2024,?Argylestone Consulting is offering recruitment agencies a complimentary, three-hour Optimisation Workshop tailored to identify hidden opportunities within your organisation.

What’s Included

• Interactive Workshop (Up to 3 Hours) Join me, Joanna, a seasoned transformation consultant, alongside up to three of your key team members to dive deep into the challenges and pain points facing your recruitment agency. We’ll explore issues around process inefficiencies, obstacles in the sales funnel, tech limitations, and more.
• Tailored Optimisation Report (between 1-2 hours)Following our session, you’ll receive a concise Optimisation Report. This report will highlight: Initial observations and potential areas of improvement. Recommendations on where to focus your efforts for maximum impact. Insight into optimisation areas such as process refinement, technology alignment, and candidate/hiring manager experience

Why This Workshop?

With extensive experience across recruitment, technology, and business transformation, I understand the unique challenges that agencies face. This workshop is a no-strings-attached opportunity to gain fresh and actionable insights and explore how you can elevate your operational efficiency and profitability with targeted strategies.

Next steps

Book a complementary 45-minute call to understand how this free workshop for you and your team, can help get you ready for 2025. You can book your call HERE

EXCITING NEWS FOR 2025!

I’m actively seeking new clients and projects starting from 6th January and would love to hear from recruitment agency leaders who are ready to take their businesses to the next level. If you’re a recruitment owner, director, or CEO, and you’re looking for expert support in change and transformation, operational efficiency, or technology implementation, let’s talk.

At Argylestone Consulting, I specialise in helping recruitment agencies streamline their front, middle and back-office processes, improve productivity, and successfully implement new technologies (ATS, VMS, CRM & Automation tools).Whether you’re planning to set up a shared service centre, enhance your client services with MSP or RPO solutions, or need a detailed Business Optimisation Assessment for a specific department or function, I’m here to deliver strategies that unlock real value and efficiency.

What I bring to the table:

25 years of recruitment expertise, which includes recruitment branch manager, divisional manager, programme director, global head of business development and chief operations officer roles.

Multiple successful projects completed in both the UK and internationally.

A track record of empowering recruitment agencies and their teams to achieve their growth and transformation goals.

A deep understanding of process reviews, candidate experience, and aligning technology with business needs.

I’m available for hybrid projects in the UK or internationally, tailoring solutions that fit your specific business landscape. Ready to start the year with impactful transformation? Let’s discuss your 2025 vision and how I can help achieve it. Connect with me or visit www.argylestoneconsulting.co.uk to learn more about how I’ve helped other recruitment & staffing business thrive and drive their operational activities.

WHAT I'VE BEEN WATCHING

So this weekend like many of you I am sure, I put up my Christmas decorations. This task cannot be completed without Christmas movies blaring in the background. First choice (which was mine) was a festive classic White Christmas, the second was the choice of my hubby, Love Actually.

Now I know Love Actually?is a firm favourite for many when it comes to Christmas films, but for me, it’s not one I truly enjoy as part of the festive season - anyone who knows me will tell you, I am much more of a?Die Hard 1 & 2 festive fanatic. While I admit Love Actually?captures a range of emotions and relationships, it’s hard to overlook the heartbreak of Emma Thompson’s character, Karen. The moment she discovers her husband’s betrayal and quietly retreats to her room for a tearful moment—set to Joni Mitchell’s haunting Both Sides Now—is so raw and poignant that it lingers long after the credits roll.

I am also not convinced by Mark's weird and almost stalker like obsession with his best friends wife -?Keira Knightley's Juliet, but maybe that's just me.

That said, there are lighter moments I do appreciate. I smile every time at the scene where the prime minister, hilariously out of his depth, is roped into singing carols by a group of children—such a wonderfully British bit of awkward charm! I can’t help but see a bit of myself in those dancing kids, fully immersed in the moment.

My favourite part, though, is the ending at Heathrow Airport. Watching the reunions and connections between the passengers in the arrivals hall is?a touching reminder that amidst all the chaos, love is indeed "all around."

?BOOK A COMPLIMENTARY 30 MINUTES WITH ME

Did you know that the ability to lead change management is the #1 skill needed in leaders today? Yet only 35% of leaders effectively manage change (across industries), and 70% of change management initiatives fail. This is why bringing a true change management expert into your business during times of change and transformation is so important.

Whether your staffing business is based here in the UK or internationally, I'm here to help. Let's discuss your goals and how we can achieve them together! Don't hesitate to book a call with me using the link in comments to explore the possibilities. Looking forward to connecting and making a positive impact! BOOK YOUR COMPLIMENTARY CALL

?VISIT MY WEBSITE

To find out more about Argylestone Consulting and the work that I do please go to