We have been watching the market shift over 2009 to being an Employer’s market and companies with projects to staff and jobs have been able to cherry pick from the best talent available. They have also become more careful about getting the right person and need increasingly higher approval levels, so decisions often take longer. From the Jobseeker perspective, startup ventures and jobs requiring extensive travel or commuting which were previously unattractive have become quite viable in the absence of any other choices.

However it is also true, that the skills in demand are not necessarily where the previous cuts were made. The candidates that Employers want are in many cases still gainfully employed. Employees are understandably cautious about changing jobs in the current economic environment. It will be interesting to see into 2010 whether low or even zero pay rises translate into sufficient malaise to stimulate the number of workers changing employers?

So advice from Purple Squirrel in these challenging times if you are still one of the unlucky ones without work, then try to remain positive and do not see what is now happening in the industry as a reflection of your ability or future potential. Get your CV polished and register your availability. Leave your current employer on good terms and always get a reference. Sieze opportunties to retrain and extend your skill set, even register as a student and add another degree. At Purple Squirrel we will use our skills, also as former engineers, to do our very best to connect you with as many relevant job opportunities as possible. Remember that competition will be fierce so try not to lose heart.

Popularity: 27% [?]

As Summer gives way to Autumn, in engineering companies up and down the Country, the ritual annual budget planning activity is well underway. Engineering Manager looks at the number of projects being requested and tries to reconcile with the number of heads in his department – knowing full well that he will be expected in 2010 to do even more, with less.

Chief Economist at KPMG, said recently, “Despite the recent flurry of more upbeat economic news, many firms still lack confidence in the recovery and continue to expect tough times ahead.”

“Most striking is the large number of firms planning to defer or cancel pay reviews. This conservative approach indicates that business remains unconvinced that current economic green shoots will lead to sustainable healthy growth in the near term,” he said. Average pay increase expectations have dropped below the rate of inflation to 1.7 per cent.

According to the CIPD, unemployment is is still on course to top 3 million in 2010. And it is far too soon to rule out another avalanche of redundancies later in the year as companies struggle to balance their year-end books.

Purple Squirrel can see that in some specialised engineering niches, there is a hiring demand. It will be interesting to see into 2010 whether employees become disgruntled with minimal payrises and more inclined to make the leap into anew company.

skills are in demand, for now at least, cautious budget plans seem to be the way ahead.

Popularity: 28% [?]

Yesterday was a grim day for the World and a grim day for the UK Automotive industry. On the same day as terrorists were running rampant in Mumbai, contractors of the Midlands were waiting in trepidation for the news whether they still will have jobs in the New Year.The news when it came for 850 Midlands based men and women in engineering, IT and manufacturing in Jaguar Land Rover will doubtless have come as a shock to some.

Tough financial times have required clear and decisive action by leaders of our automotive industry. Car sales in August were for Jaguar Land Rover back to 1966 levels. Their product line is all targeted at premium and luxury vehicles typically the first to take a hit in sales during a recession. Purple Squirrel has the inside story that they are in development of a number of hybrid drive, fuel economy and downsized derivatives – but these simply can’t come quickly enough. What will be going on now behind the scenes is a prioritization of resources to advance these projects as quickly as possible.

It is the same story in Ford if not worse. They have recently cut 150 UK contractors based in Essex, are moving work from UK to North America. I also read there are discussions about selling Mazda, currently the centre of engineering for small and medium vehicles, presumably so those jobs can go back to America too?  When I worked at Ford back in 2000 they used to tell us the share price was under-valued at $14 per share. Today the share price is Ford share price is on the floor at $2.40. This crisis all started with the run on fuel prices and the banks falling earlier this year.

All of the car manufacturers are taking a hatchet to their production volumes cutting output, extended holiday shutdowns. The automotive industry leaders that I talk have already cut their contractors and cut back on plans for expansions. For now they are trying to hold the ship together and reduce the fixed and variable cost base as much as possible.

A recession such as which we are now seeing will soon have the “Ripple Effect” not just through the logistics and supply chain but also beyond.  Obviously families now facing the prospect of reduced or no income, will not be hitting the shops no matter how tempting the sales, but it goes much further. Leisure sector, housing, holiday sector, even into nursery schools who will see a drop in demand if now one parent will be home to take care of children. One wonders how deep it will go and when the turnaround can come?

Popularity: 36% [?]

UK employers remain cautious about their hiring plans in the last months of the year with more than eight out of 10 intending to keep staffing levels the same. The growing caution is reflected in overall hiring plans being the weakest in nearly 10 years (since Q1 1999) and the weakest Q4 result since 1992.

Employers have faced difficult times since the credit crunch, rising fuel prices and wider economic and confidence worries really took effect last year. Automotive industry had it’s worst August for new registrations since 1966. Automotive production output is being scaled back. This uncertainty is being reflected by new recruitment plans being put on hold and with slightly more employers now looking to reduce their staffing numbers than add to them.

Many employers anticipated these more challenging conditions and have taken steps to ensure their businesses are as robust as possible. Employers have also focused on training and improving workforce productivity. Even as we see redundancies in the labour market, the majority of employers want to avoid reducing their workforce. This should allow them to benefit from any pick-up in the economy.

It is not clear how long the current business climate will last. In the current conditions, it is not surprising that many businesses are not predicting any increase in hiring and are using temporary and contract workers to meet short-term demands.

Popularity: 84% [?]

To discriminate or not? That seems to be the question being posed by Harriet Harman, Labour’s deputy leader and equality minister, who launched the new Equality Bill last week. (more…)

Popularity: 36% [?]

On Monday 30 June 2008 UK Border Agency will fully implement Tier 1 of the new points based system. On that date they will complete the roll-out of Tier 1 (General) worldwide (more…)

Popularity: 91% [?]

Purple Squirrel, a new Recruitment Consultancy that was founded by Engineers to serve the niche hiring needs of engineering, technical and industrial sectors, today announces launch of it’s new website.

“The website now provides Jobseekers, Employers and Contractors with online access to our range of recruitment services, says Yvonne Paige, Proprietor and Recruitment Director”.

A former successful Engineering, Programme and Business Development Manager, she has previously held high visibility posts in some of the world’s largest corporations. “After I had my family I just wasn’t satisfied with the level of roles accessible to me. Like many people I have always privately wanted to start my own business. Recruitment is an ideal way for me to use my industry experience to the benefit of my former peers and colleagues, 95% of companies struggle to find candidates for their job vacancies. The UK credit crunch is making that situation worse as people are fearful about their ability to sell and relocate for a new job and yet many potential candidates are struggling with fuel prices and long commutes.

I am always being asked why on earth I picked the name ‘Purple Squirrel’. Well all industries have jargon, recruitment is no different. I learned that a Purple Squirrel was the recruiter’s term for an elusive candidate with the exact qualifications to match the client role. I immediately liked the fact that it was different, memorable and a name I could build a brand around.

Purple Squirrel is definately a career choice and I am hugely optimistic and positive about the future.”

Popularity: 100% [?]

The study, published by the Chartered Management Institute, DWP and Institute for Employment Studies examines the career aspirations and job-search methods of a range of diverse groups in the UK.

Report urges employer action to boost recruitment from diverse groups (more…)

Popularity: 72% [?]

“I wish there were more hours in a day!” How many times have you heard — or said — that? I’m not sure where the hours go, because it never seems like I have much downtime — not that I know what relaxation is anyway. (more…)

Popularity: 14% [?]

Fans of the hit TV show will know that now it’s official: Who Lies Wins. Recruitment sales manager Lee McQueen last night beat 15 other candidates and has been crowned Sir Alan Sugar’s £100,000-a-year apprentice, despite telling a huge whopper on his CV – and, more unforgivably still, being caught.  He claimed that he attended Thames University for two years when he had stuck it out for just four months.

However, his admission that he lied on his CV has provoked controversy.

He is by no means the first high profile job candidate to be caught out embelishing his qualifications: below is a selection of the most infamous cases

Name: Alison Ryan

Job: Communications manager, Manchester United

Claim: First-class degree from Cambridge

Truth: She got a second class degree and had been banned from practising as a lawyer

What happened: Ryan got the £125,000-a-year job after being interviewed by Sir Alex Ferguson but was sacked after lies were exposed.

Name: Patrick Imbardelli

Job: Chief executive of the Asia Pacific arm of UK-based InterContinental Hotels Group.

Claim: Two degrees from Cornell University in the US and one from Victoria University, Australia

Truth: He attended classes at both universities but did not graduate from either

What happened: Imbardelli resigned

Name: Ronald Zarrella

Job: Chairman and chief executive of Bausch & Lomb

Claim: MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University Truth: Mr Zarrella did not have an MBA and was exposed by a business website

What happened: He offered to resign following an “error of judgement” but the board backed him to continue. Forfeited a bonus of more than £500,000

Name: James Stocks

Job: Chef at top Scottish hotel Balbirnie House in Fife

Claim: Worked for Marco Pierre White and Gordon Ramsay

Truth: They denied knowing him

What happened: He admitted “beefing up” jobs he had done at previous restaurants on his CV and resigned.

Name: David Edmondson

Job: Chief executive of electronics retailer Radio Shack

Claim: Degrees in theology and psychology

Truth: He only completed two terms at the Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College in California

What happened: He resigned but received a payout of more than £500,000

Lee McQueen was clearly by the end of the Series the right man for the job and we say to him congratulatons. However, as ethical recruiters and members of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, we have to advise our candidates that “Factual Discrepencies” or Fibs are not at all to be condoned. Yes of course your CV is a sales document but if the Employer is going to make a hiring committment to you as a permanent staff member you can be sure that checks on ‘details’ will be made. So if you were thinking of putting a little extra polish on your CV, please don’t. If like Lee, you were meant for that role, it will be yours anyway without the need for a lie.

Popularity: 75% [?]