QUESTION: 2010 - what will this mean for you / recruitment?

[Paul Jacobs]

2009 has literally been a year of the Ox for many. But as we near the Chinese year of the Tiger (read all the terms used), 2010 may be looking slightly more positive for the recruitment industry.

What does 2010 going to mean for you? For the industry? What do you predict? Will social media / social networking feature prominently in your plans? What have you learned from 2009 that will make you better / stronger in 2010?

[Andrew McNaught]

2010 means no more 2009! I have learned to only worry about what I can control otherwise you'll wind up in a straightjacket.

I'm looking forward to seeing the development of technology in recruitment, I suspect the next 'big' thing is around the corner.

[Kevin Chappell]

Yes 2009 has been, um, "character building". But as long as you were able to shift quickly with the market, it wasn't too bad. Many carried on regardless and there have been many tales in our industry of "What do I do now? I've had it so good for so long, I really don't know what to do. The phone used to ring, it's very quiet now...". Really. As you say, all the signs point to better things. The positive out of 2009? Cowboys (and girls) and ratbags predominantly gone.

The Year of the Tiger... Well the fire's died down a bit, the thieves seem to have gone, and the ghosts of the past seem to be just that!! 2010 will mean continuing to adapt and ensuring that we offer value and added value. More of the same? No. The recession has taught clients to be more savvy and as an industry we hadn't been stepping up to the mark and we have suffered as a result of it.

Social networking is an interesting one. Supposedly the new way of finding people. The telephone achieved that in its time, as did email. Yes social networking brings people together more easily, but it also can be used to easily create false impressions. I may be wrong, but I don't think it's the panacea that everyone thinks it is. It's a good way to find people, but then what? That's where we come in, which is really no different to how it has been.

The lesson from 2009? As long as you're agile and prepared to shift and change to what the market demands, then you can survive and grow. And as an industry, we need to change.

[Fay Robin Samios]

2010 means the year that our nursing agency becomes national and we continue to develop our strategic alliances internationally. For nursing the dreaded GFC hasnt had a huge impact we haven't grown but remained steady at 2008 figures