What Recruiters Are Saying in Q1

We surveyed executive recruiters during the First Quarter about what they were seeing happening in the executive job market. Here are toplines of what we found:

Executive recruiters are less bullish on the executive employment market. Thirty-five percent were confident or very confident that executive hiring will improve in the next six months. This Recruiter Confidence Index is trending down from 51% confidence at the end of January and 64% in October 2021—the recent peak in recruiter confidence.

Recruiting Trends

• 82% of recruiters said companies are willing to accept remote candidates
• 87% of recruiters said top candidates have more than one offer to consider
• 44% said companies are taking less time deciding on candidates
• 80% of recruiters said they were looking for new ways to find candidates

Additionally, our Executive Job Creation Index also plummeted from +12 at the end of January to zero; it was +39 in October. This indicates recruiters expect the executive job market’s strong run will be weakening over the next six months. Since the invasion of Ukraine took place while the survey was being conducted, it is hard to understand if this market uncertainty was the prime reason for the change in confidence. One thing that is certain is there has been a shift in recruiter confidence in the executive market away from a “seekers’ market.” We will keep you posted as we end the first quarter of 2022.

Search firms haven’t found recent months an easy environment in which to fill their assignments at the executive level. We’re seeing a surge in recruiters using our exclusive network to help identify top executive candidates for companies looking to upgrade talent, so if we can help you position yourself for your next opportunity, let us know. Even if you aren’t sure exactly what that Next Great Next will look like for you, we can help you determine what’s really going to excite you and how to get there.

William Flamme

William Flamme is ExecuNet's Associate Director of Content Marketing, where he develops engaging job search, career path, and leadership insight to build ExecuNet's brand recognition as the leader in senior-level executive job search and all matters career.

He delivers executive-level content across the various properties under the ExecuNet brand, amplifying the power of ExecuNet's expert voices and shaping the content strategy.

Prior to joining ExecuNet in 2008, Will earned a master's degree in education and taught fifth grade and sixth grade. As a teacher, he deepened his appreciation for the written word and mastered skills necessary for managing writers who sometimes view deadlines as homework. It is his training as an educator which allows Will to take complex ideas and make them simple for busy executives to understand and to execute.