Looking back on our Silver Anniversary
This month, weâre incredibly proud to be celebrating 25 years of Headliners. It was on the 9th day, of the 9th month back in 1999 that Headliners began its journey, albeit as Headcount Interim Solutions back then! With a strong team of two women and a baby, the foundations built by Clare and Susan last millennium stand strong today, with the pair still an integral part of Headliners in the current day.
We are incredibly grateful for the trust that our clients have shown over our journey of 25 years, as we have grown to offer interim and permanent recruitment solutions for opportunities over all level positions. We continuously strive to provide you with top-class talent, whether that be blue chip internationals or local start-ups. To every client that has been a part of our journey â thank you.
Looking back on the last 25 years, quite a lot has changed. There have been several recessions, various recruitment booms (that are also tricky to manage!), a financial crisis in the late 2000s and a global pandemic in 2020/21, which led to our best-ever year in 2022/23.
Change in the last 25 years hasnât stopped there. Not only in the recruitment industry, but the digital and marketing industry that we recruit for is now unrecognisable compared to 1999. Adjusting to industry developments has seen Headliners excel in recruiting for those roles that seem impossible to fill, that has led to us proudly displaying an extremely high placement rate.
As we take a quick adventure throughout the key changes in the last 25 years, weâre delighted that you can celebrate our journey with us. Whilst youâre reading, have a think if you recognise these changes in your part of the business world!
A Journey in Marketing and Digital Recruitment Since 1999
A 25 Year Evolution in Recruitment
Who remembers a recruitment landscape of newspaper ads, walk-ins and word of mouth? Eventually, technological advancements took over the âretroâ approach to recruitment. Now, databases started to be built up on a PC, or sometimes just a rolodex! When Headliners began our journey back in 1999, our processes had vast differences to the possibilities of todayâs tech.
Paper was once the dominant resource when it came to placing talent in positions. Jobs were posted in magazine ads and community boards, with CVs and cover letters being printed out to be distributed into the hiring managerâs hand. For the pioneers amongst us, those CVs may have been faxed! The common aspect of this now-dated process was how painstakingly slow each stage took for all parties.
As the World Wide Web found its way into the mainstream way of life, workflows were streamlined and the advertising, searching and applying of positions was revolutionised. Websites that advertised jobs allowed a wider audience to be reached, with smaller companies being able to find better talent. Emails became a staple of communication, with fax machines dying out.
Once social media began the new wave of online communication, the opportunity for networking was rife. Employers were able to perform more advanced searches, and potential employees were provided with a platform to demonstrate their talents.
Software and advanced automation then came into the fold. With data and metrics becoming more advanced, employers were presented with more efficient managing processes that reduced the pressure on HR teams. CV parsing, automated communication and candidate tracking was introduced, transforming recruitment possibilities.
Closer to the modern day, the accessibility of artificial intelligence programs enables the possibilities to screen CVs, initially assess candidates and schedule interviews. With improvements helping to streamline to the candidate experience, the recruitment process continues to develop
Have a look at a more detailed breakdown of the last 25 years of recruitment on our website! Feel free to talk to us if you need recruitment solutions that include efficient processes for you, your business, and potential candidates.
Technological Milestones that have Transformed Recruitment
Technological advancements in the last 30 years have played a key role in changing the recruitment landscape. Whether itâs advertising positions, candidates applying, or even companies showing off their working culture, the foundations of how recruitment functions have drastically improved.
1993 â The introduction of the internet
The basis of everyday life as we now know it was launched back in 1993. The world wide web was introduced with the goal to âgive universal access to a large universe of documentsâ. For recruitment, this initially began as an opportunity to post job opportunities online to reach a broader audience. Jobsites and information websites acted as an online bulletin board, allowing the knowledge of job postings to become more widely received and to increase the speed of hiring for new positions.
1998 â Google is born
With a search engine now in place, the internet was able to become more mainstream. This improved the ease of searching for positions and advertising them. Potential employees were able to more freely to search for positions.
2004 â Social media is introduced
The development of social media platforms transformed communication and interaction. Jobseekers were able to network with people that theyâd never previously had access to. This presents employees with new opportunities, and employers to discover new talent. With the growth of social media, this also presented businesses with the opportunity to present their brand culture online, to help draw potential employees into working for them.
2009 â The iPhone is launched
Back in 2009, we saw market leading smartphones released. This increased the opportunity for employees to apply to positions even more. People were able to access the internet through a device in their pocket, meaning that they can search for jobs anywhere, at any time.
2020 â The global pandemic
Digital transformation was accelerated under the global pandemic. Remote work and online video communication became normalised, leading to flexible positions becoming available and what employees more frequently seek. Remote and hybrid working opportunities are now being presented by employers, as this is now seen as an incentive to talent after the pandemic. This approach has now not only been normalised but has forced companies to change their processes to accommodate this.
If youâre looking for recruitment solutions that have adapted to candidate preferences and also fit the needs and wants of your company, see how we can help you find top talent.
How Recruitment Has Needed to Adapt in the Last Decade
Digitalisation has put the power of the recruitment process into the hands of employees with developments in recent technology. The ease of applying has been more accessible than itâs ever been before. In a matter of seconds and a few presses on a touchscreen, your CV can be submitted to a job listing found online. This highlights the need of top-quality job specs to attract the right talent, who have the skills that employers desire.
Vast choices of online platforms allow potential employees to have a wide choice when searching for new positions. This means that recruitment processes for employers need to stand-out, and need to be advertised in the right places, to appear in front of the right people.
The ability for online working and communication has led to an increase of hybrid and remote work. Employees are also on the hunt for these positions, with popularity of work-from-home options exceeding since the pandemic. Whilst offering these positions can attract the best talent, it also needs to be on terms that work for you.
With the ability to apply for positions easily and quickly, heads can be turned if companies have their recruitment process and promotion of their company spot on. Whilst this is a positive in terms of poaching talent that are happy to leave their current position easily, this also means that employees can easily leave you. This underlines the importance of a strong recruitment process that analyses talent that will settle into your company.
Why has developments in recruitment meant that companies need recruiters? Employee demands, ease of applying and broad choice means that your recruitment process needs to be the best, to find the best. Using recruitment solutions that have adapted to the change in securing top talent will provide you with the best chance of finding the best candidates for your roles. Talk to us today if youâre in need of recruitment solutions that have adapted to the developed, competitive climate of recruiting.
Summarising a Fantastic 25 Years
As weâve sat down and had a look back at the history of Headliners and the recruitment industry, itâs clear to see how far recruitment has come. Looking at current developments and emerging technology, it also fills us with excitement about how the future will progress.
Weâve always prided ourselves on our ability to stay one step ahead, provide recruitment solutions that exceed expectations and return high-level talent for your positions. The trust that our clients put in us, we aim to return tenfold. We align ourselves with your culture and needs to grasp a full understanding of your requirements so we can find the perfect candidate for your position.
With a track record and placement rate that speaks for itself, weâre beyond proud of the success that Headliners has seen since 1999.
If youâre looking for top recruitment solutions, weâd love to have a chat have a chat and we hope you can be part of our journey for the next 25 years!