March 2009
Inside March 2009
In March issue, we tackle the issue of learning and development from all angles – how to do it, where it has most cost efficiency and impact, and who’s doing what.
Training and retaining in a tight market: A ‘how to’ guide
As the credit crunch bites, recruitment firms are looking for more cost-effective ways to train and retain their staff. Recruitment extra reporter Steven Andrew explores the current state of training and career progression in the industry.
Databases: Are Your ‘Internal Lists’ Delivering the Results they Should?
Recruitment firms are increasingly shunning traditional job ad methods in favour of their own talent lists as a way around skills shortages, recruitment extra investigations suggest.
Reality Bites
Recruitment to recruitment is without doubt the single toughest recruitment sector to have success in. Unfairly tarnished by some for being a necessary evil, or providing no value at all, we thought this month we should shed some light on the challengers, pitfalls and frustrations of life as a rec2rec consultant
Scott Recruitment was the first ...more
Quality Service – not Price Gouging – the Key to Surviving the Slowdown, say Experts
After five years of steady growth, a slowing economy has brought a degree of uncertainty to an otherwise buoyant Australian recruitment industry. Will the skills shortage provide a buffer for the industry, protecting it from any significant drop in revenue? Or will there be a return to the “bad old days” of fee gouging and undercutting rivals? recruitment extra explores the possibilities…
Rudd Government introduces important changes to 457 visa system
In the last few months the Rudd Government has introduced or flagged a number of important changes to the operation of Subclass 457 Visas. These are outlined below.
Dealing with a downturn: M&A when times are tougher
As this article is being written we have the news that global financial services giant, Lehman Brothers, has filed for bankruptcy, Merrill Lynch has been sold to Bank of America with expected losses of US$15 billion and there are concerns over the viability of the insurance giant American Insurance Group. The media has had no shortage of gloomy stories out of the financial sector for some months now. But life and recruitment goes on; at least in Australia. Is this then a good time to sell a recruitment business or to buy?
Good service and profit – what does it mean in M&A?
In an era of intense competition for candidates as well as clients, the quality of service provided can be a competitive advantage.
In many of the interactions HHMC has with recruitment companies, often those selling their business, we hear about the depth of relationships they have developed with their clients by providing a high quality of service. Most are confident that these relationships will continue long into the future. While there is no doubt truth in many of these statements it is difficult to describe how this can be confirmed or even measured.
The year in review
Few would debate that 2008 has been a significant year for external events. Australia started the year with a new federal government and New Zealand end with not only a new government, but like all of us share in a global financial crisis. It is worth looking back at some of the issues that were at the forefront in our recruitment environment as the year unfolded. It is interesting to note the change in tone as the year progressed.
Restructuring in times
In times of economic slowdown and uncertainty, asset protection is a key issue on the minds of many recruitment business owners and taxpayers. Given the right set of circumstances, restructuring strategies can be employed to shield the value of your business assets and to pave the way for future growth. Income tax is often not as great an impediment to restructuring as commonly perceived.