Has there ever been a better time to talk?
Covid-19 is right at top of everyone’s list of problems at present. We are all trying to find the best way to work through the situation we find ourselves in. There are moments in the day when it seems like this has been part of our lives for months and that it will never end. It will.
Most of our clients are working from home and missing the camaraderie of the work place, some are working every hour humanly possible to repatriate people and settle claims, some have been asked to take pay cuts and absolutely everyone is shrouded with uncertainty. Whilst no one is in a good spot personally or professionally at this moment in time, there are a great number of people who have the added concern of not having a job to go to at all. This is having a huge impact on people’s health, livelihood and general wellbeing. It is a horrible time for so many people but not having a job heightens the situation so much more.
We are working with a number of individuals across a spectrum of experience and knowledge who, for varying reasons, are immediately available and looking for their next role. A lot of people timed their job search to coincide with the commencement of the new fiscal year as it is usually the most productive and successful time of year when it comes to securing a new role in the insurance industry. Employers know what budgets they have to work with for the year ahead, they can see how Q1 has gone from a calendar year perspective and you generally have a good idea as to where you are as a business. In the 18 years that I have worked in insurance recruitment, March and April have always been the busiest months and the best time to secure a new role. This year is very, very different.
What we are saying to our clients is very simple – keep talking to people. We are all in this together and the more we talk, the more bearable this situation will be. From a business view, the role you were thinking of recruiting may have been put back a little, your year to date almost certainly isn’t going to plan and you are no doubt already hoping 2021 is going to be a better year – it seems very strange saying that at the beginning April 2020 but unfortunately it is true.
We all have phones and have access to use Webex, Zoom, Skype and Google Hangouts. The facilities are there to keep us all in touch and talking. There has never been a better, and easier time to talk then now, as most of us are working from home and have more flexibility in our day, so let’s make the most of it.
Keep talking to each other and keep each other’s spirits up!