people2people news | September 9, 2010
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Welcome to the people2people news site. It is intended that this site will be used as forum for the sharing of ideas and news about people2people, the jobs market and experiences from our clients and those who are seeking new opportunities. We welcome comments and should you wish to start your own discussion contact: news@people2people.com.au
Sydney Representative
Posted by shannon: March 31, 2010Last weekend one of our people represented Sydney City at the NSW Oztag State Cup - well actually, it was me. The tournament was held over three days in (very) sunny Shell Harbour. It was the first time Sydney has entered a women’s team and although we came home without a win, it was a great experience.
Shannon Barlow
Consultant onsiite
people2people supports earth hour
Posted by shannon: March 25, 2010At people2people, our logo is green for a reason. As a business we are conscious of our carbon footprint and committed to doing our bit to tread lightly. This Saturday we will once again be supporting Earth Hour with everything in the office switched off, bar the server.
This year’s theme is “Earth Hour, Every Hour”. It’s all about being earth aware all the time. Now this doesn’t mean you have to suddenly sell your car, start rationing toilet flushes and grow a beard, it’s more about the little things that you can do to make a difference. Why not calculate your carbon footprint and find out what you can do to reduce your mark? My Earth Hour resolution is to always turn off my computer and monitor at the end of the day - too easy!
Shannon Barlow
Consultant onsiite
Footy Tipping – Week One Winner
Posted by Elizabeth: March 23, 2010people2people’s annual footy tipping comp is back and Lynden Jones from Asteron is off to a sensational start. As the weekly prize winner Lynden has been awarded a bottle of Crooked River Wines which he will enjoy watching his favourite team the Newcastle Knights this weekend. Lynden would like to thank the Knights for the perfect round and will continue to follow them throughout 2010. Good luck with the Asteron Amazing Race today Lynden – I hope you have success despite leaving your iPhone at home!
Elizabeth Punshon
Consultant Temporary Services
State of the Market - March 2010
Posted by zichuan: March 10, 2010The results of the people2people snap poll are in and whilst I needed a couple more to be statistically viable, thanks to everyone who participated. I cross checked the results with other research and was interested to see that the general trend is similar. So what’s going on out there? Well, according to one respondent “the market is booming gradually”. Incongruous as it sounds there is some truth in that statement.
According to my respondents, 75% are actively looking for a new role and 25% would move if something good comes up. These results are quite close to research based on a statistically viable larger sample, 71% of that survey are actively looking around and the total number of people thinking of jumping ship (i.e. including “passive candidates” - those who would move if “something good comes up”) is 95%.
Whilst they correlate with each other, these stats could be inflated. Surveys/emails from recruitment companies appeal more to those who are looking for a job than those who aren’t. However the general feel of the market and the volumes of ad response also suggest that there are a lot of people looking around in the accounting/finance industry (at all levels).
So what’s the “competition” like?
It is still a competitive market. Many who’ve survived 2009 (from both Chartered and Commerce) are looking for a change and around half of the “passive candidates” say that they expect to be actively looking for a new role in 3 months.
On the employer’s side, they still hope to find that elusive “perfect” candidate. If someone’s background is an exact fit to what the employer’s looking for they will have a distinct advantage. The number one frustration of the market expressed to me is that client’s are still being extremely picky (equal first with “it’s a sluggish market”).
From this side of the desk, if employers are willing to be flexible on one or two “key requirements”, it opens up a plethora of highly skilled people that they can bring on board making their recruitment processes shorter and less of a headache for everyone involved.
What’s the “view” of the market?
Post GFC (that’s if you subscribe to the view that the GFC is over) people are falling into two camps. Some are more cautious when moving jobs. Moving for higher pay is still a motivator but it’s weaker and more consideration is now placed on the environment, company stability and work/life balance. The other group is perhaps a little more blasé and willing to take the risk resigning with nothing to go to in a still relatively undercooked market. My December analysis suggested that there would be an increase in people leaving jobs with no job to go and this has featured in the market to date although more so at the higher levels.
Passive job seekers are more likely to think that the market has improved. This could be due to the influence of media reports and the fact that looking at internet ads every 2 weeks is very different to watching them daily. These factors are also likely to be similar to what influences employer perceptions of the market as they often only have anecdotal information and news reports to work from.
Roughly equal numbers believe that the market has either improved or hasn’t changed whilst some still believe the market is getting worse. At different levels, the $120,000+ level are the most optimistic about the market’s improvement (that part of the market was probably the hardest hit in the later stage of 2008), those under the $120,000 level are generally still positive but aren’t as optimistic.
Overall there has been an increase in vacant positions compared with last year however the recent headlines touting the “biggest increase in job ads ever” belie the all important detail. The ANZ survey noted: “Total job ads are now 27.5% higher than they were at their seasonal trough in July 2009, but they remain 42.6% below the all-time peak reached in April 2008”. This is roughly the same outcome as our internal statistics. So while things have improved overall and we’ve passed the half way mark, the market is hardly booming.
What’s the expected outlook?
From last time:
Whilst there is a possibility that the rate of people changing jobs in 2010 could be the same as 2009, the market looks on track for February - April 2010 to continue to improve with a return to a pre-GFC level of activity/more wide spread “candidate short market” around May 2010.
The effects
• Early 2010 could see a surge in staff leaving jobs without a new one to go to, people will (and are already starting to) throw their arms up in the air and call it a day. There will be a proportion of roles that are not be replaced as businesses carry out restructuring and some businesses have access capacity with all the part-timers but a tipping point will be reached where enough people quit their jobs forcing a surge in recruitment activity – many HR departments and line managers are working on ways to mitigate this risk.
• Once a tipping point is reached (expected around March/April 2010) this could result in what one client called “lemming” behaviour resulting in more resignations and the musical chairs starting as people rotate throughout roles.
The accounting market is patchy and we’re going back to a pattern seen pre-2009 where different sections e.g. Accounts Payable or Payroll, “surge” slightly at different points in time but without the strong undercurrent of general recruitment activity to create opportunities across the board.
There are a few more qualified/part qualified jobs out there but this part of the market is probably the quietest overall so far. I still expect the market to continue its improvement during the next six weeks or so and in some areas the candidate short market is returning. The rate of improvement has been slower than expected so to once again reach the heady heights of 2007/early 2008 by May is looking less likely. However, if half of the “passive candidates” became “active” in their job search like they say they will then this will push us over the tipping point and result in a more fluid market.
Reliving glory days?
Maybe we’re living in the past and perhaps we shouldn’t naturally expect the market to reach its previous heights so soon, it could be like expecting all the shares to again reach their peak by May (it would be nice if they did).
Overall the market should continue to improve but there are lingering issues related to the credit crisis that can and most probably will pop up resulting in potential threats in the later part of 2010 and into 2011. When I last wrote it was Dubai, most recently it was Greece and the others within the PIGS EU group (Portugal, Italy, Greece,
Spain). The Greek situation had a longer lasting negative impact on global confidence than
Dubai and it is entirely possible that the next scare will be worse than the two that have passed.
So with still relatively uncertain times, it’s good that the positive mood has continued. If we can get activity levels back to 75% of the previous peak and if employers approach recruitment with a broader mind that will still provide a broad range of opportunities. After all, very few people who want to move companies to do exactly the same job, most people move to tackle new challenges.
ZiChuan Lim
Senior Consultant Accounting and Finance
Footy Tipping in 2010
Posted by the Editor: March 4, 2010It is that time of year again and people2people are launching the 2010 Rugby League footy tipping competition. This year we have more prizes, an iphone app (search for people2people) and you can form a group, say of your colleagues or friends to add even more spice to the competition.
Here is the link to register.
Best of luck and go the Rabbitohs!
Mark Smith
Director