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The current economic downturn may be hitting the jobs market, but it is still essential for employers to recruit the best talent.
And thus explains why the 12 judges on the Recruitment Advertising Awards (RADS) panel have had so many entries to review this year, 520 in the 17 categories of the competition.
Rob Smith, chair of the judging team, explained that despite tough times in the market, the aims of recruiters remain the same, and they have to raise their game even higher: "It is about how organisations are using their brand to attract and recruit more skills into the business. Employers are having to be much sharper," he said.
He said originality was one of the key criteria but the judges are also interested in how recruitment advertising fits into a company's whole business strategy.
"It is no longer just about recruiting new people. It is about advertising and promoting the employer's brand. Recruiters have to understand the candidate," he said.
The extensive two rounds and three full days of judging will produce a winner in each category as well as an overall Best Work of the Year Award.
According to Smith, the eventual winner will be the advert that best demonstrates the modern recruitment process: "It will be something unquestionably original and at the very top of its trade in art direction, use of copy and how it works with its audience."
Despite the 'wow' factor that many ads aspire to, it is still essential that the overall aim is fulfilled and they get the right people and the right skills into the business.
Jamie Zuppinger, European resources manager at retailer Claire's said: "Ultimately it has to recruit the right type of people for the role it is trying to fill. That's its fundamental role."
Gill Davies, recruitment manager at T-Mobile added: "You don't want innovation or something new just for the sake of it. It has to be functional and fulfil its job as a recruitment advert."
Pauline Moignard, an HR consultant, is on the panel for the second time after a break of six years. In that time she said the standard has risen dramatically, with the growth of the internet playing a significant role.
She added that the public and private sectors have almost swapped places in terms of recruitment budgets and the methods used to attract new staff.
However, she said
