Recruitment is one of the fastest growing industries in the UK. In tandem with which, of course, goes an increase in competition. Meaning firms need to act quickly and smartly to keep themselves at the front of the pack, especially during times when recruitment spikes – like in January.
So, why is a January peak in demand even an issue for recruiters? Well, there’s a few factors at play here – for starters, there’s the whole ‘new year, new me’ attitude. With people getting back to work and perhaps feeling more inclined and motivated than they usually would to seek change.
While, from an employer perspective, it’ll be to do with the fact that new budgets are often unlocked in the first quarter of the year, so hiring can take more of a front seat than it did in the back end of the previous year. On top of that, there’s the practical fact that January tends to be a busy time in the office, with relatively few people taking annual leave in the first month or two of the year. So businesses have got more money, more time, and more people around – all of which can often combine to result in a recruitment drive.
On one hand, this is good news for recruiters. A rise in demand from both sides means an opportunity for firms to have a strong first quarter, if they’re successful in matching the right people to the right opportunities. But winning market share (even when there’s plenty to go around) relies on keeping abreast of the competition. For recruiters, this means it’s essential to be available and reliable for clients and candidates alike.Meeting demand with connectivity
There isn’t an SME out there that doesn’t rely on connectivity. The ways in which we live, work, shop, listen to music, consume content – and yes, even apply for jobs – is evolving fast.
When SME recruitment firms are choosing a data services solution, there’s a tendency to look for the cheapest viable option out there. But a better approach is choosing the solution that will best meets the needs of the business (though that’s not to say cost won’t be a factor, too).
During the January peak in demand, for example, recruitment firms need to be as contactable as possible, no matter where they are or what time of day it is. They need to respond quickly to correspondence to capitalise on opportunities. Which means they need access to robust, business-grade connectivity. If a solution comes with SLAs and 24/7 support – that’s even more ideal.
With the right connectivity, communications flourish
Recruitment is one industry that still depends very much on building good relationships. Whether it’s talking to clients about vacancies, to candidates about the kind of roles they’re looking for, or simply to other team members, recruiters are likely to spend a fair amount of time on the phone.
As such, a decent communications strategy is also key for these businesses – and a big part of being able to meet peaks in demand. This is why so many firms are opting for things like cloud-hosted telephony solutions, which bring with them the scalability required to do this effectively and collaboration tools to drive efficiencies internally. As well as helping recruitment firms to save money, because scaling up to meet demand doesn’t require forking out on new on-premise hardware (not to mention maintenance costs) and teams can work together effectively whether out on the road or in the office.
Unlocking access to cloud-based systems like these, which can significantly improve your ability to meet demand and differentiate you from the competition, should be a big motivator for recruitment firms, inspiring them to underpin their businesses with robust connectivity. These days, the right connectivity can support not only data traffic, but voice traffic, too – so your communications (and recruitment) can truly flourish whatever the demand.
