Video market update: Hiring managers want top talent in place by September

The not for profit and public sectors have been impacted at varying levels throughout the Covid-19 crisis. At Michael Page Finance, we continue to work closely with businesses across the UK looking to hire skilled professionals and individuals looking for new opportunities in the not for profit and public sectors.

To ensure we are providing our customers with the best support and most up-to-date information on the recruitment landscape, we have pulled together this Q2 market update.

This update covers some of the key hiring trends in the sector, including who is hiring and why, as well as address some of the main questions we are getting from both employers and professionals.  

You can view the full video outlining these trends by clicking above.

Permanent and interim hiring trends 

Initial decline in interim recruitment – while we initially predicted a spike in interim recruitment, we saw a decrease in this area.  However, those organisations, such as universities we have been working with do plan to recruit later down the line.

Paused permanent processes are now restarting – several permanent processes are being restarted and finalised. 

Project and change management - many roles that are being advertised across the interim market are focused around project and change management, which is likely due to the significant restructures that organisations are going through at this time.  

Virtual processes - for both interim and permanent recruitment, appointments are happening virtually. This has been facilitated by several video conferencing technologies and is being adopted very quickly across the public and not for profit sectors.

Rise in multi-role campaigns - as we move closer to being back in offices, businesses are trying to ensure they have the relevant people in post by September.

Additional interview stages – for permanent roles, many processes are taking longer to accommodate additional interview stages. There are now often between two to four stages rather than of one to two and this is because in these sectors a strong people fit is key. 

Remote onboarding processes – onboarding has been well run by many organisations through remote processes. For those organisations that have not adopted this process remotely, where possible, getting on top of this now will support hiring in the future. 

The big questions in the not for profit and public sectors 

Employers

When is the best time to start hiring? 
If you are thinking of recruiting over the next couple of months, kick off your recruitment strategy slightly earlier than normal to ensure you find the right person. From the conversations we continue to have with our customers across the sector, many businesses have decided to delay the start of their planned talent searches, opting to wait another two to three months. However, it is important to note that this is when hiring is likely to be more difficult. 

Professionals 

What can I do to improve my job prospects? 

Get your CV in the best possible shape and make sure that other people have read it to get feedback – be ready to apply when the opportunity arises. Use this time well, if you have the opportunity to upskill via an online course or similar, this can bolster your skill set. 

It is also important to be prepared to adapt to the new way of recruiting via video conference. Take the time to practice interviews over video as many people have never had to interview remotely. 

Whether you are looking for talent or exploring your options, your recruitment partner will be able to keep you in the loop with how the market is changing and support you in navigating this new recruitment landscape.  If you would like to discuss the market insights we can provide in more detail, please get in touch. 
 

Alternatively, explore our Page Insights capabilities and request a bespoke report.

Harriet Robertson
Senior Manager, Michael Page Finance – Not for Profit 
Sophie Gorvett
Senior Manager, Michael Page Finance – Public Sector