With Christmas jumper day and office party season upon us, I’ve been reflecting on my return to the recruitment sector a little over 18 months ago.
As many of you know, I left recruitment in late 2019 after nearly 15 years to retrain as an electrician, enabling me to better care for my children. Those years were wonderfully focused on their needs—scraping a living during term times and spending summers camping in Cornwall and the Lake District.
In 2023, as my children grew older, it was time to step back into my career. The world of work had changed significantly, with the advent of hybrid working. Re-entering recruitment felt a bit like being Tom Hanks in Castaway—returning to something familiar yet drastically different.
I’ll never forget the phone call to a colleague the night before my first day, nervously asking, “What do people wear to work these days?” Suits, shirts, and ties were seemingly a thing of the past.
Getting used to working from home took a while, but once I realized I could meet all my deliverables—even with the kids around—I shook off the feeling that I was “skiving off.”
Here are a few of my observations about the recruitment sector since my return:
Technology
How great is Teams? Gone are the days of spending hours traveling to take a job brief in person. Online ID verification has been a game-changer too. I certainly don’t miss meeting candidates at 7 a.m. in motorway service stations to verify their IDs!
Being a LinkedIn Influencer
I’m still not convinced this leads to placements—but as you can see, I’m giving it a go!
IR35
The back and forth of responsibilities on IR35 has been enough to make anyone want to live on a desert island! Designed to capture only a third of temporary workers, it’s been a failure. The additional costs to employers have undeniably impacted the volume of interim roles in the market.
Day Rates
I nearly fell off my kitchen chair seeing the high day rates some candidates commanded in 2022. Unfortunately, this has reversed during 2024, one of the toughest job markets I’ve ever seen for candidates.
Candidate Relationships
What happened here? It feels like someone decided getting to know candidates was no longer a thing. I feel embarrassed when candidates (also known as people / future placements / potential clients) thank me simply for speaking with them. Looking at my placements in 2024, the majority stemmed from truly understanding what my candidates were looking for.
If you’re interested in qualified-level interim finance recruitment, market insights, or advice on maximizing returns from your applications, please get in touch! Let’s set up a Teams call—or, for nostalgia’s sake, a 7 p.m. meeting in a motorway business hotel (You can meet Wilson too).