Talent Matters Podcast’s Post

🌹 Everything in the garden is NOT rosy for recruiters. You only need to look at the state of the recruitment industry and the job market, how things have turned out post-pandemic, redundancies, the technological shift, the problems with LinkedIn, companies cost and corner-cutting… things aren't looking good for job seekers OR recruiters. Is it time to give recruiters a break? The waters are very muddy in the recruitment world right now. It’s not recruiters making your job search difficult – it’s the system! We can talk about unprofessional behaviour, ghosting, short-termism, and transactional recruiting but headhunters/recruiters aren't trying to add to your woes. Behind the scenes, they're pedalling hard to win new business.    Maybe their inboxes are heaving.   Perhaps they’re over-delivering on current assignments because they can’t afford to fail.   They've got bosses breathing down their necks.   Maybe their jobs aren’t secure right now.   So you can blame recruiters, LinkedIn, the market, the economy, and AI. You can blame yourself too but that's not solving the problem. At some point, you'll need an alternative solution. Would you like to work with me? I'm looking for 5 people who are ready to crack the code, disrupt the system, stand out in a crowded market, and take back control of their job search and career. The Career Accelerator is a 12-week success programme of 1:1 support. Designed by me, for senior executives and leaders, expertly tailored for you, done together. I'm taking on new clients who want to get ahead for 2025. Get in touch if you feel the call. #executiverecruiter #headhunter #jobsearch #toughlove 🌹  

I've done my daily exercise. What about you? Stress, fatigue and pressure compromise intellectual firepower... In my capacity as a headhunter, I have come to realise both from personal experience and in my observations of others that: You can't sustain high performance in a high-pressure role without managing your mood and energy levels. Stress, fatigue and pressure compromise intellectual firepower... Exercising is a stress buster It boosts your energy levels, keeping burnout at bay In a calm and energised state, you can better apply your brain power I've done my daily exercise. What about you? If you're curious to understand what I do... 🕵️ I headhunt for SaaS and digital companies based in the USA and UK, across the "C" suite and in senior specialist roles in Sales, Marketing and Consulting, typically paying £100-300k base $150-400k - mainly for early stage/scale-up companies 20 to 500 employees... We work with clients when stakes are at their highest, applying precision to maximise chances of successful hiring outcomes and mitigate risk. This means we scan the entire target addressable market: ➡️ Leveraging sources of insight, referrals and soundings ➡️ Typically looking at 7-10K profiles on LinkedIn ➡️ Reaching out to 100-200, and ➡️ Ultimately tabling a shortlist of 5-7 candidates. ➡️ Over 90% of the people we headhunt are employed. We're employer company focused. We don't help people find jobs. We don't register candidates. If you're right, we'll find you. If you're an employer, particularly in scale-up mode and looking to hire senior people, please feel free to reach out #retainedsearch #cxo #pavilion #forcemanagement #ai

🎯 Is the Role of the Headhunter a Lost Art in Today's Job Market? 🤔 As a job seeker actively looking to grow my network and explore new opportunities, I’ve been reflecting on how people connect in today's market. With AI-driven platforms and internal recruitment teams handling much of the hiring process, it raises the question: Is the traditional role of the headhunter still as valuable as it once was? 📈 As the job market evolves, do you think headhunters are: A crucial tool for matching talent with the right opportunity? Or has technology and in-house recruitment made them less relevant? 🔥 For professionals and recruiters: Are you still using headhunters to find the right talent or jobs? Candidates, have you recently worked with headhunters, and how was your experience? As I explore alternative ways to connect with others who may have opportunities aligned with my skillset and experience, I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the role of headhunters today. Let’s discuss! #JobSearch #Headhunter #Networking #TalentAcquisition #JobMarket #CareerGrowth

Last week I shared that we were seeing the market improve for job seekers. The process is still brutal though in terms of competition for roles, number of interviews and amount of time it takes. It's worth talking about what has changed in companies that is causing this. In the zero interest rates world managers were rewarded for how quickly they could grow their teams. Now they are evaluated on their ability to do more with less. While hiring is increasing, it's at a much smaller scale than we've historically seen. Where a manager might have gotten allocation to hire 3-5 people in the past, they're only getting approved for one now. This means that managers are much more cautious about how they "spend" that hire and are looking for people that have the skillset to fill a bunch of gaps. The manager will just keep interviewing until they are positive they're getting a unicorn that can solve all their problems. In parallel, hiring managers are getting a huge amount of applications for every open role. There are a ton of people looking and it's gotten easier than ever to apply for jobs (not to mention people using chatgpt on resumes makes it harder to tell which candidates are actually qualified). This creates a bunch of weird challenges. A lot of the support structure that was in place to help hiring managers has been reduced. Talent and recruiting teams are some of the hardest hit by reductions over the last couple years. This is where a lot of the process of evaluating and engaging with candidates starts breaking down and interview timelines drag way out. It's getting better but it's still a mess. For candidates, I am hoping that understanding some of these challenges can help with the mental and emotional sides of the job search. It's not that companies are assholes (though sometimes they are), it's often that their internal realities have totally changed. It's not that you aren't talented, capable and valuable. It's that the whole system is clogged up.

The Power of Networking is making a comeback! In today's job market, “who you know” can be more important than “what you know”. Here are the key points that I took away from the Wall Street Journal recently: 1. Personal Connections Matter: -Only 40% of successful applicants come through job portals; most are referrals. -Networking gets your resume seen, and digested, by a real person. 2. Frustration with Digital Hiring: -High applicant volumes overwhelm hiring managers. -Automatic screening tools often miss qualified candidates. 3. Boosting Referrals: -Companies are increasing referral bonuses, acknowledging the victories that can come from this channel. -Referred candidates have a higher chance of success by having their own “internal hero.” 4. The Human Touch: -Personal connections are invaluable despite AI advances. -Networking leads to more opportunities that you might not have known were available otherwise. What groups and networking opportunities have you participated in lately? #Networking #JobHunt #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalConnections #Hiring https://lnkd.in/ec4uMG4H

Every day, I'm asked the same questions from candidates, CEO's, Talent Acquisition Leads and clients alike about the current state of job openings. Clients often perceive the market as flooded with candidates, yet the reality is quite different. Curious about the job market? Despite a decrease in the job openings rate from its peak in 2022, with an average of 5.3% in the first quarter of 2024, nearly 4 in 5 employers (77%) are still struggling to fill vacancies. The job market might seem robust on paper, but finding that perfect match remains a challenge. So, why the disconnect? It's simple. The hunt for The Right Match goes beyond numbers and statistics. Clients continually turn to us for assistance because they understand that amidst the sea of candidates, uncovering the ideal fit requires expertise and dedication. As we navigate this dynamic landscape, rest assured that we're here to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity. Let's connect and discuss how we can help you find your perfect marketing match. #JobMarketInsights #Headoftalent, #ceo, #executivesearch, #retainersearch #marketing #hiring

Which Industries Are Actively Hiring and Recruiting Now? Answers: https://lnkd.in/gqJ3V3fg #JobMarket #CareerPivot #HiringTrends #Recruitment Hey there, everyone! 🌟 Lately, I've found myself thinking about making another career change. It’s something many of us can relate to, right? The job market can feel like a roller coaster, and sometimes it’s hard to keep up. So, I'm curious—what industries are actually hiring right now? When exploring a new path, a few pain points often come to mind: Job Stability: With so many changes happening, it’s vital to know which industries are thriving so you can find secure opportunities. 🔍 Recruitment Trends: Some industries might be relying heavily on agencies or ramping up their internal recruiting teams. Understanding this can help us target our job search more effectively. 📈 Skill Development: If a certain field is booming, how can we pivot our skills to meet those demands? 💪 I think a great solution is to tap into online platforms for insights and updates on hiring trends. Networking can also be invaluable—connecting with professionals in growing industries can provide clarity and maybe even lead to unexpected opportuni...

🤔 Why Your Job Applications Aren’t Getting Noticed 🤔 A recent post from James Hornick 🎩 (see Talent Rants and Sarcasm on Substack - very good) really hit home: A business received 600+ direct applications for a finance role, and over 400 were a reasonable match Yet, only a handful made it through the vetting process. Why? Because internal recruitment teams, already stretched thin from previous cuts, are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of applications (when times get tough, recruiters are usually first out the door) If you’re applying to roles and not hearing back, it’s not always about your CV. Or qualifications. Or choppy work history. Or whatever it is that's bugging you today. Often, there aren’t enough recruiters to review every “good” application And I'm yet to meet a Hiring Manager who wants to see all 400 matches Here’s what happens as a result: ✂ Shortcuts in Hiring: Overworked teams rely on referrals or the top of the stack, often missing great candidates 💻 Job Seekers Apply More: Hoping to increase their chances, candidates flood the system, worsening the problem 🔥 Reputations Suffer: A lack of response or generic rejections hurt a company’s image 🤖 AI Isn’t the Answer: While AI tools promise efficiency, they can’t replace the judgment of human interaction. And it's going to get worse before it gets better See my old post on Spam Wars 🙈 Don't be fooled by promises of quick AI-based fixes Navigating the modern job market is more challenging than ever If you’re not getting the responses you expect, know that it’s not always about you - it’s about a rapidly changing system that’s overwhelmed Authenticity is 🔑 And excellent networking #jobsearch #jobapplication #cvtips #networking #resume

Lately, there’s been a noticeable rise in recruiting trends that seem too good to be true—and for many job seekers, they are. Despite the surge in job postings and hiring initiatives, some of these opportunities are proving to be nothing more than smoke and mirrors. 🚨 Here’s what’s happening: 1. Inflated Job Postings: Companies are posting numerous roles that never seem to lead to actual hires, creating a false sense of opportunity. 2. Data Harvesting: Some listings are designed to collect personal information from hopeful applicants without any intention of filling the role. 3. Keeping the Pipeline Full: Certain organizations appear to be building a pipeline of candidates for future needs, but with no immediate plans to hire. 4. Wasting Time and Resources: For job seekers, this trend is frustrating and demoralizing, wasting valuable time on applications that lead nowhere. What can you do? • Research: Before applying, research the company and check reviews from current and past employees. • Network: Connect with current employees to get a better sense of the company’s hiring practices. • Be Cautious: Avoid sharing too much personal information before a legitimate offer is on the table. We need to raise awareness and hold companies accountable for these misleading practices. Job seekers deserve better than false hope. #JobSearch #Recruiting #JobHunt #LinkedInScams #CareerTips #trend #fakejobs