The freight industry jobs market, always a good indicator of the health of the sector, was in a bit of a downward spin in the first half of the year. This as the industry continued to suffer from the global recession, which was especially bad in Europe – SA’s major trading partner – and volumes and values for members of the freight trade had slumped. But it has now had a recovery, according to executives in the recruitment market who talked to FTW. The current job market has definitely taken a knock in the past few months, according to Terri Smith, MD of Tiger Recruitment. “However,” she said, “we are seeing more and more opportunities coming to light.” With regard to trends, Smith added that there was still a definite need in the projects departments which are forwarding into Africa. This as well as an ever-increasing demand for excellent sales/client services individuals. Jackie Roberts, director of Bertlie Recruitment, was even more upbeat. “The job market is booming at the moment,” she said, “and there is a wide variety of positions available from junior to executive levels.” She agreed with Smith’s view of trends in the jobs arena, and told FTW that projects and Africa were a huge focus for many freight forwarders currently. “There also seems to be a constant need for really qualified business development executives (BDEs). However we are finding this skill very scarce as the good candidates are buried in excellence.” And that “buried in excellence” is definitely a distinct trend in the current jobs market, according to Roberts’ fellow director and partner at Bertlie, Natalie Barrass. “Candidates with the right background are currently in the happy position of being to be able to ask for pretty substantial salary packages,” she said. “And, in turn, they are often using these to get even better offers from their present employers.” There is however a rather less-than-usual brake on availability levels. “Such is the demand, the current fast pace in which the process is being completed – the time between application and final acceptance for new posts – that it is causing some candidates to hesitate. The time is so short that many start to stutter and often choose to stay where they are.” But all three of our interviewees are extremely happy that – despite certain challenges – they are all succeeding in handling a very exuberant market place. “Long may it last,” said Barrass. “It shows that the freight industry is a healthy place to be.
