As the dust starts to settle on what has been the most dramatic of economic slowdowns, a number

of interesting, yet not totally surprising realities are starting to become apparent in the professional

and executive recruitment marketplace vis-à-vis Active and Passive candi-

dates. For ease of the bullet points below, an Active candidate has job-

hunting as part of their daily activities; a Passive candidate does not.

INCREASE IN ACTIVE CANDIDATES

The number of candidates per vacant role has significantly increased

since October 08, but the quality levels of candidates’ remains low.

This has led some experts in the industry to conclude that many or-

ganisations have used the recent slowdown to make non-essential

positions redundant and in lots of cases, clear out poor-performing

individuals. As a result, many hiring managers who got excited about

a candidate supply have only been frustrated with the job of sifting

through a multitude of resumes that don’t fit their requirements, thus

wasting valuable management resources at a time when it is so important to focus on what

will bring positive results to your organisation.

RELUCTANCE OF TOP PERFORMERS TO BECOME ACTIVE CANDIDATES

A lot of the quality candidates with track records of success have become very cautious

about putting themselves out to the market, hence are often not responding to job advertise-

ments or registering with agencies. In effect, this has created a short-term false market, where

most job board statistics will report a large decrease in advertisements and an equally large

increase in available candidates – however, for most companies, quality remains the issue.

SUCCESS THROUGH TARGETED SEARCH

Even though the comprehensive “targeted search process” has represented our core service

offering, recently it has become even more popular, accounting for over 75% of our new as-

signment strategies since Christmas, up from 47% in 2008. Our reading of this large increase in

demand for our search approach is clients’ realisation that this represents a phenomenal op-

portunity to snare excellent performers given the uncertainty over the marketplace, but also

the knowledge that these candidates may not be active.

The exhaustive, external search process has often proven to be the only successful solution

in sourcing business champions and the current economic climate seems to be pronouncing its

value. Unlike database / advertising, search is a proactive approach whereby the client organi-

sation is able to partner with a search agency to map the ideal candidates skills, attributes &

experience and then go to the market to find the person, rather than wait for the market to

come to you.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATES – a very interesting statistic! One of the country’s leading economists, in a recent presentation, plotted the national unem-

ployment figure over the last 20 years. Most experts are predicting that the rate will go as high

as 7% within the next 12-18 months (although WA may only reach 5%). We’ve asked a few of

our clients when they thought the last time it reached that level was? Most are surprised to

hear June 2001. It didn’t seem that bad then, did it!? We definitely are in The Information Age

when the bad news travels a lot faster, even 8 years on. We first started using the search ap-

proach to recruitment in 2001, when unemployment was at 7%, so our understanding

of its value at times of generous candidate supply suggests the next few years may see its con-

tinued popularity!

KEY

PO INTS

• Briefly highlight your point of

interest here.

• Briefly highlight your point of

interest here.

• Briefly highlight your point of

interest here.

• Briefly highlight your point of

interest here.

Welcome to the second

edition of the Briscoe

Bulletin. Since our last

submission in December, I

hope you and yours have

had a fantastic Christmas,

got some time to ignore

the media drama that

surrounds us at the

moment and came back to

work with a renewed

sense of optimism to the

opportunities that ’09 may

present us in Western

Australia.

Positive Phrase of the Positive Phrase of the Positive Phrase of the Positive Phrase of the

Quarter:Quarter:Quarter:Quarter:

“I am choosing not to

participate in this

recession!”

How better off might we be

if we all took this

approach?

Briscoe Bulletin “ P A R T N E R I N G O U R C L I E N T S

W I T H T H E I R M O S T I M P O R T A N T A S S E T ”

Market commentary from Brian Briscoe

P A G E 2

The Team at Briscoe Search and Consulting is

pleased to announce that Brian Briscoe,

founder and Managing Director of Briscoe

Search and Consulting has been honoured at

the annual 40 under 40 awards hosted by the

WA Business News. The 40 under 40 awards

are an annual award evening to honour

Perth’s top business achievers under 40 years

of age. In recognising Brian’s achievement,

WA Business News stated “Starting from

humble beginnings, no support network or

prior experience in the recruitment industry

Brian has successfully grown a phenomenal

network of decision makers in Perth who trust

his business with their most important asset;

their people

decisions. Brian

has grown Briscoe Search & Consulting by

partnering with SME’s in a wide range of

industrial and commercial sectors and by

building strong, personal relationships with

them all.” It’s fair to say that the award is also

great recognition for what the company and

team are committed to, as well as our

fantastic portfolio of clients!

Many outstanding figures were

presented with awards and the

calibre of each and every winner

was outstanding — so congrats to

all the high achievers.

The fact is, WA has gold, gas, oil, and a wealth

of resources which will always be in demand.

We also have only 10% of Australia's

population and consequently, what happens

on a national economic front often carries a

degree of irrelevance to WA — hence caution

in reading is vital when national stories run!

As the RBA awaits the effect of its monetary

policy and the government’s stimulus

package, Western Australians can take some

satisfaction from a depressed currency and a

unique situation that are both bolstering

demand. A devalued dollar is making our

exports, particularly minerals and energy,

affordable to the rest of the world.

The SEEK Employment Index for WA which

represent the ratio of new ads placed to

applications in WA shows a fall of 6.2% in ads

whilst applications rose 9.0%. Despite these

recent changes WA remains a cut above the

nation in the ratio of new ads to applicants.

“The “U” Turn ahead”- WA Specific Good News NAB ECONOMIST

The NAB’s January

economic outlook for

Australia has con-

cluded that Australia is

most likely headed for

a “U” shaped recovery. Whilst some figures

that have been appearing lately are negative,

the evidence does point to an eventual

recovery, and that will most likely be in the

second half of ‘09 and carry on into 2010.

PREMIER BARNETT

Notwithstanding the current state of the

Australian economy, there do exist stark

contrasts between WA and the rest of

Australia. Premier Colin Barnett going so far

last week as to say “We can be a

counter-cyclical force in this recession.”

China’s latest growth forecasts (8% quoted in

the headlines last week) also show some

realistic reason for optimism with the WA

economy.

CANDIDATES Want to be

found? Tips from an Ex-

ecutive Search Consultant.

When speaking to

potential candidates I am

often asked the question-

how did you find me? Our

researchers utilise a

variety of methods to find

the right person to call;

internet searching is one of

the techniques.

To increase your online

visibility, here are some

tips:

• Firstly, Google yourself

to see what your

current presence is.

• Get a LinkedIn profile.

Linkedin.com is an

online networking tool

used globally.

• Put your resume

online, create a

VisualCV, and Blog.

• Present at a

Conference

• Endorse others that

have published online.

• Get involved in online

forums in your area of

expertise.

• Show you are a

thought leader in your

field by publishing

articles or being

quoted in articles.

Shireen DuPreez is a

Consultant with Briscoe

Search and Consulting.

She has worked as an

Executive

Search

Consultant

in the US,

UK &

Australia.

Suite 8/281 Hay St

Subiaco WA 6008

08 9489 3333

www.bscgroup.com.au