Apr 10 2009
Jobs that are in high demand - despite the recession.
It is ironic that Hays, the recruitment specialist that has announced 900 UK redundancies in the past year, has published a list of the most recession-resilient jobs. The listing of roles for which there is high demand at the recruitment firm includes underwriters, claims staff and internal auditors. There is also incredible demand for high end financial advisers with companies like Edward Jones - recently voted one of the top companies to work for in the world!
Recruitment consultants are not on the list but anyone with experience in cost cutting and restructuring is. But it is more than a question of dusting off your calculator and retraining - employers are looking for experience gained in several companies, says Paul Venables, finance director of Hays. “Now is not the time for inexperience.” Those that have been working in procurement, outsourcing, restructuring, credit scoring or compliance will find their time has come and they are in high demand.
Anyone with the operational knowledge and experience to help companies to cut their expenditure will be snapped up, says Mr Venables. “We are able to place procurement professionals with good experience straight away. Most companies are looking to reduce their discretionary spending by at least 10per cent. Those companies that have procurement professionals want more and those that haven’t want them,” he says. “There is a common theme: if you have experience of re-engineering or cost reviews whether that is in pensions, HR or the legal profession then there are jobs.”
There is also a growing demand, within the big accountancy firms for administrators, insolvency and bankruptcy experts. “The accountancy firms are moving into these areas and hiring,” he explains. Finance directors and credit controllers who know how to collect cash are an available asset too. Hays increased its own head count for credit controllers from 65 to 90 last year and it is finding that other companies are following suit. “If you are a credit controller with five years’ experience who has worked in a number of companies then we could place you within two weeks,” he says.
Meanwhile many big banks are dropping demand for mortgage originators and replacing it with demand for people with credit-scoring analysis experience. “Risk-based analysis is back in vogue,” says Mr Venables. The most buoyant City sector though is insurance: “It is no problem to place experienced underwriters,” he says. Many of these roles are dependent on the recession but one private sector profession - in the public sector it is business as usual - which is holding up despite the economic meltdown is IT.
Programming is resilient both here and abroad, adds Mr Venables, and those with “good Oracle and knowledge-based systems experience” are always in demand. Presumably to work on ways to replace expensive humans with cheaper technology. To browse for available positions in any of the above sectors please visit www.employersjobs.com - or if you’re interested in applying direct for a position with Edward Jones as a Financial Adviser please go here!
