Is flexibility the key to finding the right opportunity or employee?

 So you have your sights set on that ‘perfect’ job. You may have studied for years or specifically chosen a career path, or you may just think you deserve to do the job you love, but how realistic is this in today’s job market?

Equally as an employer, are you guilty of a blinkered view of the ‘best person’ for the job and ruling out potential talent?

As recruiters we see from both sides how important finding the right opportunity or person can be, and part of our remit is to manage these expectations and challenge people on what they see as essential criteria to their search.

In an economic climate with so many unemployed, you would think that there is a massive shortage of jobs, which isn’t the case. Any search on Google on the job sites will show you a vast range of opportunities, all of which are sitting there waiting to be filled. So why aren’t they? There are potentially many reasons, but flexibility is definitely a factor.  

Clients need to recognise that there is a lack of skills and provide a platform for candidates to develop and learn in order to gain the necessary experience. Although potentially costly in the short term an excellent answer for both the business and economy in the longer term. Whilst candidates with none of the relevant skills required need to stop applying blindly to every role within a commutable radius and start looking at their skill set and seeing if there is a realistic way to transfer them to an alternative industry or trade.

Although there are certain roles that need very specific experience and training, especially at the senior end, this isn’t the case in a great deal of roles. Remember sometimes the best person is the ‘punt’ you are willing to take and sometimes a career is carved from the most random of applications.

We know flexibility isn’t a miracle cure to our countries fiscal problems, if only it was that easy, but it’s certainly is a good place to start.