Reply to: Agents Returning to Offices

[LondonManc]

The economy is not going to magically return to normal just because the already failing high street is partially open in 2 weeks LOL! People need to take a massive reality check & accept their is a massive global depression already in operation & jobs will not be easy to come by unless you have really ultra niche skillsets & the relevant experience!

Sadly you're right. There's too much greed in the world to hit a big reset and let everyone start again.

[uk contractor]

The economy is not going to magically return to normal just because the already failing high street is partially open in 2 weeks LOL! People need to take a massive reality check & accept their is a massive global depression already in operation & jobs will not be easy to come by unless you have really ultra niche skillsets & the relevant experience!

[GreenT]

1. Agree, there will be (and already is!) *short term" demand to help fire people. But that's a temporary and a small effect. You'll need 1-2 HR consultants for a few months to fire hundreds of people permanently.

2. Yes, *some* businesses will realise they made a mistake and will hire again. Again, small effect.

Where people are fired contractors are brought in 1. to help fire those people and 2. they'll find out they suddenly miss certain skills.

[GreenT]

People were put on furlough in March when whichever business activity their employer was involved in was not expected to generate enough revenue to cover their costs. With furlough, their salary was covered by the government, they were free for the employer, so they kept their jobs.

Without furlough, where would the money come from? Opening pubs and restaurants won't magically restart ALL of the economy. Normal consumer spending patterns won't return completely until the virus is eradicated, and that's at least a year away.

Projects were put on hold and perm hiring stopped when future revenues for businesses started looking uncertain in March. I had 2 perm offers pending from a consultancy and a software firm - both evaporated. All contacting roles I was interviewing for in parallel disappeared as well. Not because they could not onboard me remotely, but because they had to reduce costs.

On the other hand, the few companies that were not affected by the crisis are happily recruiting, making offers and onboarding remotely, with lockdown or internet connections not bothering them. I target pharma, and see plenty of hiring and interviewing going on.

I do see an untick in demand recently for roles in cost reduction/business transformation, target model redesign, business recovery, financial crisis management and also HR consulting around proper sacking procedures. That doesn't sound like a return to normality yet.

Based on what?

Projects have been put on hold because you cannot realistically interview people with enough confidence over an internet connection imho let alone onboard them.

I can also imagine a lot of permies moving round because they aren't happy with the lockdown rules that will probably still be in play.

[PerfectStorm]

Some agencies I'm working with have furloughed all but their team leads.

[LondonManc]

Where people are fired contractors are brought in 1. to help fire those people and 2. they'll find out they suddenly miss certain skills.

This, plus projects that have been on hold now need running in parallel because they all have deadlines.

[Eirikur]

When furlough ends, firms will start firing people.

Why would that generate roles?..

Where people are fired contractors are brought in 1. to help fire those people and 2. they'll find out they suddenly miss certain skills.

[LondonManc]

When furlough ends, firms will start firing people.

Why would that generate roles?..

Based on what?

Projects have been put on hold because you cannot realistically interview people with enough confidence over an internet connection imho let alone onboard them.

I can also imagine a lot of permies moving round because they aren't happy with the lockdown rules that will probably still be in play.

[GreenT]

When furlough ends, firms will start firing people.

Why would that generate roles?..

I think there's a general unease that there aren't even that many speculative calls from agents. While you don't want the fishing/two reference calls, I've also had calls in the past where there is the potential of a project that would need to move quickly (usually from agents I've worked with in the past). If these are non-existent too, then hatches truly are firmly battened down. Until furlough finishes, I cannot seeing a lot of places taking contract or perm on in any significant numbers. August should see a bit of an upturn, then October.

[The Tartan Cottage]

I think there's a general unease that there aren't even that many speculative calls from agents. While you don't want the fishing/two reference calls, I've also had calls in the past where there is the potential of a project that would need to move quickly (usually from agents I've worked with in the past). If these are non-existent too, then hatches truly are firmly battened down. Until furlough finishes, I cannot seeing a lot of places taking contract or perm on in any significant numbers. August should see a bit of an upturn, then October.

Yes, it is good to have those lines of communication and to keep them hot. Not happening at all at the moment and I suspect a return to the office will change things in that respect.

[LondonManc]

Correct me if wrong, but I think in the turn the agents would be marginally dependent on their clients for roles... Office presence won't change anything without that.

I think there's a general unease that there aren't even that many speculative calls from agents. While you don't want the fishing/two reference calls, I've also had calls in the past where there is the potential of a project that would need to move quickly (usually from agents I've worked with in the past). If these are non-existent too, then hatches truly are firmly battened down. Until furlough finishes, I cannot seeing a lot of places taking contract or perm on in any significant numbers. August should see a bit of an upturn, then October.

[simes]

Still finding no signs of any improvement in my specialisation, it has been dead right the way through.

Are we expecting a return to normal office work as from 4 July? I’m hoping this is going to generate a bit more momentum in the market.

Correct me if wrong, but I think in the turn the agents would be marginally dependent on their clients for roles... Office presence won't change anything without that.

[LondonManc]

In this "new norm" (ugh), you could reasonably look at talking directly to ex-clients to see if they have anything going or indeed coming up and that you'd be happy to go FTC because it will save them a load of hassle re agency fees and dealings.

[Old Greg]

Sending the agents back into overcrowded office space is cheaper than making them redundant.

[The Tartan Cottage]

Not sure how agents returning to offices is going to help new roles for your specialisation appear....

I”be worked in sales and being together with colleagues in an office does create a more connected joined up approach.

Do those agents you want to talk to not have email?

I would imagine their inboxes are chocca