The inexorable rise of non-agency recruitment is countered by a big “nothing” from Agencies.

When you spend every waking minute analysing the possible outcomes for the recruitment industry over the next decade and you have a brain so limited in capacity as mine, you end up hearing the old cliché ringing in your ears:
“You can’t halt progress!”

I believe this to be true and short of a post apocalyptic return to the Stone Age, which actually seems frighteningly more likely than it did a week ago, I suspect that In-House, Social Media et al will continue to rise and rise.

So what have Recruitment Agencies done about it?

Well…er…nothing! Well they’ve talked about it a bit!

There are several initiatives underway that by playing a small supporting role to the traditional agency-client model, can only make using the recruitment sector a more attractive, effective and efficient proposition for Employers. For Agencies they offer a viable alternative to the cold-call and a type of new business radar hitherto unavailable. These include: TalentPuzzle and Vacancy-Clearing but I suspect none have received the open-armed support of the agency sector they might have hoped for. (Full list posted at http://vacancy-clearing.com )

It does surprise me too that any proposition that involves Recruiters paying even a small amount plummets off the scale when it comes to making a commitment. This is why Vacancy-Clearing has adopted a free-for-recruiters strategy. I wonder how the IOR (Institute of Recruiters) whose LinkedIn group rocketed to 4600 members will fare when it starts to ask for subscriptions.

If you operate in a market that has its fair share of rogues then you are bound to carry with you a healthy dose of scepticism. I don’t blame Recruitment Consultants who do. However compare that attitude with the whole-hearted way in which Employers are embracing and investing in In-House and Social Media. They are forging ahead whilst we are still frozen in the headlights.

I blogged to this effect suggesting Recruiters needed some concerted effort to improve their channels to market and received this reply from a well-known American blogger and recruiter: “Sounds like socialism. Not in my life-time sport!” Well she is from Texas!

So what are Recruiters going to do about it: cooperate and adopt new channels to market or bury their heads?

Comment by Sandra McCartt on March 17, 2011 at 12:53pm: No apology necessary David. Texicans never take anything personal, we just slap the shit out of you back then we'll all go have a drink or a cheeseburger and laugh about the whole thing. If you are having sleepless nights over something that minor you are way too bunched up.

Comment by David Palmer on March 17, 2011 at 1:25pm: Haha maybe I am I'm British afterall!

Comment by Ken Forrester on March 17, 2011 at 1:42pm: Interesting concept, and I hope it works. Sure recruiting is changing and recruiters need to change too. But for a new recruitment model to gain traction, the top recruiters and true influencers need to embrace it; then the trickle-down effect can take place. Kind of like "going viral". The "build it and they will come" strategy has become saturated in the new era of social media.

Comment by Ty Abernethy on March 17, 2011 at 1:49pm: Interesting site you've launched David. I definitely think your model is much more recruiter focused than Bounty Jobs (which is a very good thing). I see the benefit especially to an independent recruiter trying to function with minimal time for business development. For many established recruiters this model won't work as well, but there are lots of recruiters out there that could potentially benefit a ton from it. And the cost savings for a company will definitely appeal to employers, especially if you can develop a strong recruiter network. Best of luck David!

Comment by David Palmer on March 17, 2011 at 2:03pm: @Ken @Ty

Thanks for the positive comments. We think its a useful free resource for Recruiters but there is an element of "use it or lose it" going to kick in if we don't get the "going viral" effect soon!