Recruiters Struggle to Find Right Candidates;

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Recruiters Struggle to Find Right Candidates:

"Recruiters Struggle to Find Right Candidates
Oct. 27, 2009 —

Despite record unemployment recruiters are reporting that they are struggling to identify the right people for their organizations, perhaps because the market is flooded with well-qualified candidates.

Research by SHL found that 41% of recruiters questioned said the number of applications per job has increased since the start of the recession, yet only 23% have actually found it easier to find suitable candidates.

The survey of more than 350 recruiters found that 36% have been taking longer to recruit because of the recession, with the majority stating that this is because there are more candidates. Almost two thirds (60%) have also become more selective, with a third of these (35%) saying they are looking for the best people to help their organization survive the tough economic conditions.

Employers are also concerned about job candidates who are looking for any job until the market improves, rather than a job that is right for them. Their concerns seem to be well-founded with a recent SHL survey of employees showing that 18% had taken a job in the last year that was not in line with their expectations.

According to SHL, recruiters are being more selective about experience (69%), competencies (61%), enthusiasm (46%) and fit with company culture (42%). Additional methods of selection have been brought in by two-thirds of those questioned including competency interviewing (32%), trial periods (26%), additional interviews (21%) and psychometric testing (13%).

Survey results show that despite being more selective, 53% of respondents said they do not have a clear understanding of what roles within their organization require in terms of behaviors and skill sets."

“While it may seem that recruiters currently have the pick of the talent due to the increase in jobseekers, it appears that this is not necessarily the case. Not only has the sheer number of applicants made it difficult for employers to identify the best candidates, but many employers do not appear to have an understanding of the skills and competencies they actually need,” said David Leigh, CEO of SHL. “At such a competitive time when every employee can make a difference, organizations must spend longer clarifying the type of candidate they need and then assess applicants with this in mind – this will give them a much better chance of being successful.”


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http://dreamlearndobecome.blogspot.com This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.