During the COVID-19 pandemic, many industries took an unfortunate hit. However, several of those industries have picked right back up in the last year or so. Specifically, the world of professional services and administration has been booming, from both the hiring side and recruiting side. At Green Key, the Professional Support team has grown with talented new recruiters and more jobs to fill.
Stephanie Wetton, Principal at Green Key and one of the heads of Professional Support in New York, reiterates the expansion of the team. “Our team has grown tremendously over the past year. Once vaccines and mandates were in place, human resources and professional support hiring saw a strong increase beginning in Q2 of 2021. It hasn’t slowed down! We are now a team of ten recruiters, mostly NYC based, focused on the candidate experience. We place professionals across all industries, from entry level through director level. Our team is incredibly motivated, caring, and knowledgeable about the fluctuating market demands.”
Flexibility and compromise
While the professional support market is flourishing, there are still obstacles recruiters must navigate. Candidates, who have gotten accustomed to working from home, are fighting hard for remote or hybrid positions. However, many companies, especially those requiring front desk or executive assistant roles, would prefer their employees to work on-site. Because of this, recruiters in the industry have to urge their clients to be flexible, while also encouraging their candidates to go into the office.
Clare Wright, Principal at Green Key and one of the other heads of the team, says, “Professional support and human resources candidates today want it all. They want a strong salary, excellent benefit coverage, generous PTO, and a flexible work schedule. And why shouldn’t they? One of the main takeaways from the pandemic is that most people want to be able to balance work and their home life. It’s still a candidate-driven market and they’re willing to wait rather than accept the wrong opportunity that doesn’t fit their needs or lifestyle.”
The challenge comes in the compromise. In big cities such as New York, many professionals are hoping to ditch the daily commute, which allows for more time with family and fewer safety concerns. Clients are realizing if they don’t budge on this concept, they risk losing quality candidates and even increased productivity. Alternately, being in-office helps to build relationships and potentially make more money.
Team growth
Despite the new hurdles, Stephanie and Clare have facilitated their team growth and development over the last couple of years. Many of their new recruiters came from different industries, such as talent & casting agencies, with transferable skills. Some have even worked as executive assistants before, which gives them unique insight into the needs of their candidates. Paired with Stephanie and Clare’s combined 25+ years of experience, they’ve been able to train their team to be invaluable resources to their candidates. The client database has expanded to a more national presence, allowing them to fill more jobs and put those skills to the test.
“A lot of candidates are trying to make a career switch right now,” says Clare. “That applies to recruiting too. There are tons of jobs to fill and we are always looking for new talent.”
If you’d like to learn more about the Professional Support division at Green Key, or you’re interested in a career in recruiting, visit our Join Green Key page to connect with us today!
