Quarter time, what’s in store for Q2?
As we bid farewell the first quarter of the year, we move into the traditional “busy season” for recruitment. The months between April and September when hiring is typically more active. But what can we gauge from the start of the year as a sign of what’s to come?
January began optimistically, despite the seasonal increase in unemployment, with the headline rate rising to 4.1%. Within accountancy and finance the mood was more buoyant, as the lay-offs of 2023 were seen to be behind us. Candidate sentiment was noticeably more positive, leading to a busier than expected start to the year.
As we entered February, market sentiment took a more cautious turn. The realities of challenging trading conditions hit home as a number of high-profile organisations entered administration. Godfreys and the Melbourne Rebels among those making the headlines for the wrong reasons.
The overall impact, from a recruitment perspective, was hiring processes becoming increasingly more cumbersome. Additional interview stages were put in place, more approvals were required and a tighter view on salary bandings lead to the slow-down.
March was a much busier month, particularly for contracting, as many of our clients sought out alternative ways to solve their resourcing headaches. Budgets are now well underway for many of our clients. Strict deadlines and limited resources internally have made interim hiring an attractive option.
So what’s next for the remainder of the year?
April to September or “Q2 & Q3” in recruitment speak, are typically the busy months. Budgets are re-set, headcount needs are established and year-end kicks off for Finance teams and auditors alike. With anticipated interest rate cuts later in the year, consumer and business confidence should return making hiring a more straightforward proposition.
With a strong March behind us, the team at Atlas Partners are looking forward to an active April with more hiring to come as the year progresses.
Liam Killen
Director, Atlas Partners
Melbourne Young Professionals out in force for 2024
Melbourne’s accounting and finance industry young professionals kicked-off 2024 in style, stepping through the unsuspecting wardrobe door at Trinket Bar, into Melbourne Young Professional (MYP) Happy Hour, last week.
It’s fantastic meet new faces, along with seeing familiar friends of the network, getting their networking game on, as we build this community.
Pathways – Tim Bensley Group CFO, Carpet Call
“You have to be more judicious with your time and move quickly — make decisions right or wrong, and move on”. For someone who wasn’t really convinced that they loved accounting, Tim Bensley, Group Chief Financial Officer for Carpet Call, has built a phenomenal career — crediting a lot of his success to backing himself and building an incredible team around him. He sat down with Liam Killen to discuss what it takes to be successful at an executive level.
How to provide a great candidate experience & land top-tier talent
In the current market, securing high-value talent requires more than just offering a competitive salary — candidates expect to be impressed throughout the entire recruitment process. This is known as the ‘candidate experience’ and can be the difference between top-tier talent accepting a role, or stepping away. From communication, to setting talent up for success — we’ve outlined what makes a great candidate experience.
