Hazy job criteria clouds recruiters

Employers in London are lowering their chances of recruiting the right candidates in an already tight market because they are unclear about what they are looking for.

That is the conclusion of a study commissioned by training and enterprise council for central London, Focus. Skill Needs and Recruitment Practices in Central London, published last week, found that one in 10 employers in the capital claims they are recruiting people without all the skills they require.

The study acknowledges a lack of generic skills among the workforce but says the main problem is the failure of employers to decide exactly what skills they want before the recruitment process begins.

“There is, without doubt, a skills framework within which all employers recruit,” said Dominic Hanley, senior researcher at Focus. “This includes factors such as communication skills and teamwork.

“However, the specific needs in these areas will vary according to occupation and the level of the position.”

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The research analysed 15,000 job adverts in London. Follow-up interviews were conducted with 2,000 employers.