How To Make More Placements This Year—In Spite Of Brexit!
It’s been a nervous few months for lots of us in the recruitment trade, with so much uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the possible havoc a leave vote might wreak on the employment landscape.
For some of us, Brexit seemed a grand victory, for others, a great blow— while the great many of us just watched with bated breath to see how the UK exiting the EU would affect our careers, the recruitment industry, and the wider UK economy.
So, it’s now months since Britain voted to leave the EU on June the 23rd. What’s happened so far? And how can we, as recruiters, continue to succeed in a volatile employment market?
The Job Market Post-Brexit
It’s far too soon to tell what the long-term economic outcome will be for Britain, but there are definitely things to be hopeful about.
Jobs data was very good in June, with an Adzuna report revealing that there were 1.158 million jobs created in June, and that the UK economy was still growing in the immediate lead-up to Brexit.
Furthermore, data released in June showed that the unemployment rate had dropped to an 11 year low, at 4.9%.
In short, both jobseekers and recruiters are starting out in a very good position, even if July’s figures seem to point to permanent placements dropping in July post-Brexit.
But what if July’s drop is just the beginning of more bad news for recruiters?
During any time of change, there is potential. There’s potential to mark yourself out at one of the great recruiters, or potential to languish at the bottom, blaming Brexit for your poor turn of fortunes if things do go bad.
One thing is clear. Great recruiters will do well no matter what the economic climate, so the key is to make yourself one of the greats so you can immunise yourself against any shocks that might come.
You can only look after yourself, to develop your skills to the maximum so that you are the recruiter that everyone wants.
How to Make More Placements in Spite of Brexit
1. Have you truly maximised your network?
By that I mean have you looked at every contact, both personal and professional, then extended your search outwards from each one, utilising your contacts’ contacts? Have you updated your testimonials and requested all the referrals you can? Only in this way can you maximise both your client leads and your candidate leads to their utmost potential.
2. Are your talent mapping skills top-notch?
Don’t field this off to an assistant or intern- you need to delve deeply into your industry and related industries to map all the key players, rising stars and influencers. Don’t just plan for this year, project as long into the future as you can.
3. Are you marking yourself out as ‘someone with information’?
Follow industry publications, get abreast with recruiting trends, know the latest technology. You need to keep abreast of the latest economic predictions and know how to assuage clients’ fears about Brexit and the future. If you mark yourself at as ‘someone who knows’, people will listen, and will choose you over a recruiter who just gives the same old patter.
4. Are you working for a recruitment firm that is well-prepared for economic shocks?
Does your firm have big clients that will probably weather any storm? Do your upper management project an aura of hope for the future? Do they have a plan?
5. Have you considered a change in sector?
If you’re working in a more unstable sector which has seen poor activity recently, it might be worth considering a switch to a booming sector.
6. Have you tried other tactics?
Have you sat down and properly examined the way you pitch clients, or approach passive candidates? Start building your pitch repertoire and watch how star performers operate. Don’t spend too much time planning though- it can all too easily turn into procrastination, and the only way you can get results is to get out there and talk to people!
7. Are you making yourself known?
This is the time to attend seminars, conferences and networking events, as well as joining facebook groups and professional forums. Don’t just join, participate.
It’s a good idea to extend your normal circle of events, and begin to move outside your industry to attend generic networking events – you never know when a CEO you meet at a breakfast event might get fed up with their recruiter.
No matter how you voted in Brexit, or how the result made you feel, there’s no use in having anything other than a positive attitude. Your mindset about the future will affect your future, so you need to dig deep and make a name for yourself as one of the great recruiters.
Until next time,
Cheryl