Recruiters rank highly in survey of importance

Jo Faragher

Recruiters have been ranked third in a list of professions that finance professionals consider important – with respondents claiming they are more loyal to individual consultants than agencies. 

According to the survey of mid-to-senior finance workers, by Communicate, four-fifths considered their relationship with recruiters either important or very important, placing them third – behind their doctor and dentist, and ahead of their lawyer, accountant and mortgage broker.

Just under three-quarters (72%), however, revealed they are more loyal to their preferred recruitment consultant than to an agency, while 63% said there were too many recruitment agencies in the market.

This loyalty obviously does not stretch to particular agencies, with 81% approaching several agencies about their next move. 

When it came to filling roles in their own departments, 42% claimed that working with an agency does not always ease the pressure, with 37% of respondents saying staff turnover in agencies was too high.

Asked what they valued in a recruiter, the finance professionals mentioned industry and sector knowledge, useful networks, honesty and frankness, and the ability to provide an assessment of candidates’ strengths and weaknesses.

Negatives included being mis-sold roles, not receiving feedback, and being pigeonholed to a particular sector. 

James Lock, founding partner of Communicate, said: “Recruitment is a people-centred industry, so it is gratifying to see the importance professionals place on their relationship with recruiters. As a sector, we work hard to build relationships and deliver a service that really makes a difference to people. Clearly, this is highly valued by clients and candidates alike. 

“As with every profession, there are things which can be improved, but I definitely feel the industry – historically plagued with a poor reputation – is mending its ways. Certainly, to take Communicate as an example, we rigorously train our consultants in-house to ensure their industry/sector knowledge is tip-top and they understand the importance of client/candidate experience.”