I’m sure that The Clash didn’t have your career choices in mind when they wrote “should I stay or should I go”, but in conversation after conversation with both clients and candidates it continue to be a major theme.

Candidates continue to worry about the uncertain economy, and even if their current employment is in flux with layoffs or cost cutting happening they remain hesitant to even look at new positions much less actually leaving as they frequently site LIFO (last in first out) as a “real” concern. Of course, this is impacts companies by having a reduced candidate pool in what most would think would be a great time to hire with unemployment up.

For candidates this situation can be remedied with more information. First off most organizations no longer use the seniority model (LIFO) as the preferred method to make cuts as more have gone with a highly targeted business/product line mentality. Additionally, remember to really investigate the new company, check their financials and see what their direction is moving forward, and above all take note that while most companies may be down there are those that are still growing and that can only solidify them as positive places for your career growth once the economy rights itself.

As for all those companies that thought hiring talented IT pro’s was suddenly going to be easy…well let’s just say sorry. While unemployment is up, IT employment has remained very solid throughout most of the country so don’t be deceived into thinking you’ll be seeing floods of high caliber resumes on your desk as more and more of the companies we’re talking to are having difficulties with specialized needs or specific skills sets and are still actively seeking the assistance of recruiters to source the talented folks they want to see.