Job market assessment by recruitment experts Hays

We asked John Martin, a senior consultant with Hays - a leading recruitment expert - for an insight into the current job market for planners:

• What is your assessment of the job market at the moment? Where are the opportunities?

Over the last year we have seen a strong demand for all levels of town planning professionals in both the public and private sector including experienced interim staff. The demand for permanent professionals has been affected by recent local authority changes but they are currently looking for people with strong public sector town planning experience including in the specialist areas of development control, policy and enforcement. The demand for senior level planning professionals has also grown in the public sector. Team leaders, managers and heads of service are now needed to ensure departments and budgets are effectively managed and to provide appropriate support, training and mentoring to junior staff.

• What should employers look for when deciding which recruitment agency to use?

When employers are looking to work with a recruitment agency it is important to work with industry experts who understand the local market for town planners.

It is also key that a recruiter has access to the best candidates and is willing to invest the time to understand your exact requirements in order to establish who will be best suited.  It is imperative that you are confident your recruiter is carrying out the proper checks, including securing references.

• What should planners look for when approaching recruitment agencies to help them find opportunities?

Before you meet with a recruiter you should think about what you want from a new role. You should do some research to see which recruiters are advertising for the type of roles you are looking for. The better a recruiter understand your current situation and long term objectives, the more help they can offer. You should be honest about your reasons for leaving your current role, your salary expectations, and how far you are willing to travel. If recruiters know what you do and don’t want, they can make sure they don’t put you forward for unsuitable roles.

• What advice would you offer to planning graduates with little or no planning experience?

Ideally, they should have secured a sandwich placement year during their degree programme, which would have given them a good level of experience that could be quickly used after graduation. Failing this, trying to secure unpaid internships or temporary work can also provide the essential foundations to a career in planning.

• What CV advice can you offer?

Make sure your CV is not too long, 2-pages is normally the acceptable length. Take time to ensure there are no obvious mistakes. Limit yourself to the most relevant experience and list employers/job roles and qualifications in reverse chronological order. Ensure you include specific planning development and project experience and your achievements. You will need to include company name, a brief overview including their product or service and which industry sectors they operate, your past job title, level of person you previously supported and responsibilities – stick to this format consistently throughout.

John Martin is a Senior Consultant with HAYS, recruiting experts in Town Planning, Property & Surveying for the Public and Not For Profit Sectors. Contact: JohnMartin@hays.com