Candidates in control
ESP Recruitment MD Liz Sinclair on the changing recruitment market in events
t has been a
I rollercoaster in the world of events in the last two years and recruiters have seen a turnaround from no jobs for several months after the first lockdown , with hundreds of fantastic candidates at all levels on the market ; to jobs appearing globally as the restrictions eased off in different countries .
As restrictions were lifted , the floodgates opened and hundreds of jobs appeared on LinkedIn , with our industry sharing recommendations to help each other back into work . Many unemployed candidates were snapped up , some back to their old jobs and some finding exciting new opportunities in a post-Covid industry .
But what has changed ? Candidates are in control .
The number of lower-level jobs posted far exceeded the number of event professionals available for work , which highlighted how the recruitment market has flipped to a candidate-led environment in many countries .
Candidates were calling the shots , telling employers how many days they wanted to work at home to achieve work-life balance and what salary they were now looking for .
I spent an afternoon ringing eight candidates perfect for the job , none of them even entertaining the thought of going into the office five days a week . All said ‘ thanks but no thanks ’.
In September 2021 , several candidates turned down offers with great companies , because those employers under-offered on salary . Employers assumed it was the same market as six months before , but things had changed .
Recruitment in exhibitions became cut-throat , when the reality of the market was clear – too many jobs , not enough candidates and a backlog of shows to deliver . The LinkedIn referrals had dried up , adverts online and job boards were not getting the expected response and marketeers were more in demand than toilet roll and pasta in lockdown .
Some organisers became aggressive , trying to poach from their competitors , throwing cash at those targeted candidates , with employers having to match those salaries to keep their staff .
Thankfully things have settled down in 2022 , but employers do need to take a different approach . The changes to the employment market since the pandemic have made a people-first approach to recruitment a priority for 2022 .
Some tips :
• Recognise the market as it is now and don ’ t compare it to prepandemic times
• Offer the correct remuneration for candidates , which in many places is at least 10 % more than it was before the pandemic for junior roles and sometimes up to 20 % more for the more in demand jobs like marketing and content producers
• Create a simplified hiring process – presentations should be left for a second interview when the candidate has bought into the company and the job
• Move fast . It is still important to conduct a thorough process , but offer a date for second interview within days of the first
• Offer flexibility and hybrid working where possible
• Also , focus on internal talent mobility and staff retention .
Liz Sinclair
Regarding styles of recruitment . LinkedIn and job board advertising is proving less successful now , at least in Europe , as candidates often expect to be contacted rather than applying for jobs . The trend seems to be towards in-house Talent Acquisition for many larger companies . We find that they tend to be generalist Recruiters / Resourcers who don ’ t necessarily know the market .
Understanding what an exhibition candidate is looking for in a job or company culture can also make the difference between a candidate wanting to be put forward for a job or not .
It is also worth remembering that a lot of the best candidates for jobs don ’ t advertise that they are looking . A Talent Acquisition Manager won ’ t be able to find them on LinkedIn , so companies are missing out . The really good news is that at mid and senior levels , there are still many people looking for a new career / challenge in our industry .
ESP Recruitment works in partnership with Trevor Foley , tfconnect
36 Issue 3 2022 www . exhibitionworld . co . uk