"graduate recruitment is down and expansion has slowed.....but roles are still out there"

I expect, like myself, most people in property have heard enough bad news to last them a considerable time. Because of this many are under the impression that recruitment has stopped or has been “put on hold” across the board, which is not true.

The imperious growth of the larger property consultancies has been unprecedented in recent years and therefore any slowing or reduction can feel on the outside this way.

 The facts are that roles are still available but the competition for positions is greater and the standard of candidates in the market seems to be higher.

Also salaries have not increased in the vast amount of cases and indeed in some areas have reduced to levels we were seeing at least 18 months ago.

 This means that candidates must be able to sell their skills to prospective employers and present better quality CVs and interview performances.

Yes, graduate recruitment is down and expansion has slowed and in some cases stopped especially in the larger consultancies, with many property firms’ quotas dropping, but roles are out there and movement within the property market is continuing.

Indeed, some employers are taking the long-term view and cashing in on the increased numbers of quality and qualified candidates, many of whom will seek the benefits when we revert to business as usual.

Companies less recognised by the Property market which have in-house departments now have better market conditions to recruit and are acting on this whereas before they may have had stiff competition when recruiting staff.

A specific skills shortage within certain sectors and this is still abundant and will be more evident when the property market begins a growth period again.

We have recently produced a comprehensive salary and car allowance survey in which a large amount of our clients have confidentially participated of which we are very thankful. Please email info@beachbaker.co.uk or call 0117 985 6909 and we will be happy to provide you with a copy.

Sept 2008 - Rupert Stuart-Baker, Director