Companies are increasingly recruiting staff themselves - not just as a result of the credit crisis, but also due to the further advance of network sites like LinkedIn.
According to the Dutch sector association for recruitment and selection agencies OAWS, in the course of 2009, this trend will halve the number of recruitment and selection agencies. Nevertheless, Chairman Peter Velseboer is not worried: "This clears the dead wood. The leading firms have hardly experienced a loss in turnover."
Quality will become more important
The Netherlands has around 2,000 agencies. At the end of the year, only a thousand or so will remain. Peter Velseboer: "Companies will continue to engage recruitment and selection agencies for the specialist and more senior-level positions. However, the firms who offer limited added value stand to fall by the wayside. Incidentally, behind the scenes, the sector association has for some time now been working on more stringent quality requirements for its members. This will lead to even more distinctive profiles in the sector." Ron Jansen, managing partner of Executive Search agency Ebbinge & Company and OAWS member, emphasises that talent will always be scarce. But "the credit crisis has led us to change our selection strategy. For example, it has presently become more important for a candidate to be able to deal effectively with changes." Peter Velseboer: "In other words, the credit crisis doesn't necessarily form a threat for our sector; it can rather present an opportunity to become even more professional."
For further information, please contact Rutger Groenewegen, T. +31(0)20 5 725 725
About OAWS
OAWS is the official Dutch sector organisation for recruitment, selection and executive search agencies. The OAWS membership works towards the ongoing professionalisation of the sector, through the development of its own regulations and guidelines and through recommendations and consultation. An independent Supervisory Committee monitors whether the OAWS members adhere to the organisation's Code of Conduct. The OAWS association celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008.
