Extreme scarcity of candidates is a fact of life in NSW this year. What is going on and what can companies do about it? Read on to learn the main cause of the jobs crisis in Sydney and how organisations can speed up the process of filling positions with quality people.

Recruitment of Office Support staff

According to SEEK, job ads in NSW jumped by a massive 35.2% between March 2021 and March 2022, with opportunities in administration and office support making up a large portion of the jobs on offer. Yet, while the volume of job ads is skyrocketing,  job applications are fizzling. COVID is the primary cause of the big gap, with business reporters noting the following:

Many employees were let go during the pandemic and it’s proving difficult to plug the remaining holes. COVID still accounts for absenteeism.  National and international mobility has been restricted, reducing the size of the talent pool. What can employers do? Here are our four top tips:

• Partner with a specialist agency: If you need high-calibre staff for Office Support, HR and Marketing roles, one of the best things you can do is to reach out to a specialised agency. They have invaluable market knowledge, which they can leverage to help your company recruit strategically at this challenging time.

• Optimise your time-to-hire process: If you rely on your own internal recruiting systems, you could be wasting valuable time and resources. An agency will optimise your time-to-hire process, whether you’re seeking C-suite Executive Assistants or Office Juniors. Things might be slower than usual, but agencies are your best bet for more rapid results.

• Speed is critical because high-calibre candidates often have multiple applications in the pipeline. You can’t afford to let someone else snap them up before you’ve even set up interviews. Plus, specialist recruitment agencies are expert at identifying superstar candidates who are a great fit for your job criteria.

• Another advantage of using specialists is that they have a vast network of connections across a range of industries. Their extensive networks include champion candidates who may or may not be actively seeking new roles. If the right opportunity is presented in front of non-active candidates, they can often be persuaded to make a tactical career move.

Supercharge your job offers

With the supply of jobs outstripping demand, employers need to make their job ads and hiring systems as appealing to candidates as possible. Because recruitment agencies are in regular communication with job seekers, they know precisely what attracts high-performers. Organisations with long, slow, drawn-out hiring processes are a big turn-off, whether they’re recruiting Personal Assistants or Receptionists. In addition, companies that don’t offer training, flexible working and other benefits can’t compete with companies that do. Of course, salary is also important and your organisation should be completely transparent about remuneration packages.

Contact us to save time and money on recruitment

If you’d like more success at finding high-quality candidates for roles in Office Support, HR and Marketing in the Sydney CBD and beyond, get in touch today.