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Flexible work arrangements have become increasingly popular in recent years, as more and more employees seek a better work-life balance. It often sits high on a candidate’s agenda as it can have a significant impact on your career and personal life. Below are some things to consider as you plan to negotiate flexibility in your role. Know your options Before you start negotiating, it’s important to know what your options are. There are many different types of flexible work arrangements, including part-time work, telecommuting, job sharing, compressed workweeks, and flexible schedules, working from other locations. When you are applying for a role, try to find out early on what options are currently available to you. Work with your recruiter to uncover what level of flexibility the business offers and discuss some of the options you are considering. Identify your priorities Once you know what your options are, it’s important to identify your priorities. What is most important to you? Is it working from home a few days a week, or having a more flexible schedule that allows you to attend your child’s school events? Knowing your priorities will help you negotiate a flexible work arrangement that works for you. If there are specific personal reasons (childcare, commuting), that you are comfortable sharing with your recruiter/employer then an open approach often helps build a rationale for the flexibility. Be prepared When you approach your employer about flexible work arrangements, it’s important to be prepared. Write down the reasons why you want a flexible work arrangement and how it will benefit both you and the company. Be ready to provide examples of how you will be able to maintain your productivity and meet your work responsibilities. If you are working with a recruiter, be open about your need for flexibility early in the process rather than a late-stage negotiation, so they can advise you on the best approach, investigate what options are currently in-place in the organisation, or help with negotiations. Be open to compromise Negotiating flexible work arrangements is all about finding a solution that works for both you and your employer. Be open to compromise and be willing to consider alternative solutions if your employer cannot accommodate your initial request. Remember, the goal is to find a solution that benefits everyone involved. Follow up Once you’ve negotiated a flexible work arrangement, it’s important to follow up and ensure that everything is going smoothly. Keep your employer updated on your progress and be open to feedback. If there are any issues or concerns, address them promptly and work together to find a solution. Our ways of working have changed dramatically in recent years and it’s thrown up some significant challenges for employers. Whilst flexibility may be high on your agenda, be mindful that individual flexibility arrangements may be difficult for your employer to navigate. Ultimately the goal is to reach a solution that benefits everyone so a carefully considered, open and balanced approach is key.

In 2022, the topic of the "talent shortage" dominated news headlines. We went from The Great Resignation to The National Talent Shortage, and businesses were focused on finding good talent. As we begin the new year, let's reflect on the big recruitment themes of 2022 and what we can expect for the year ahead. Boom-time for candidates: The market in 2022 was driven by candidates. Generally, salaries increased 7.6%, with some companies reporting increases of up to 20%*. Although this created a wonderful opportunity for candidates on the move, it also resulted in high budget pressure, high turnover within teams, and false economies of wages and inflation. There’s always a flip side! Highly competitive recruiting: To attract talent, businesses and agencies need to raise their game. The result has been clearer job descriptions, innovative benefit structures, and quicker recruitment processes, as well as the ability to think laterally about talent (part-time, returning to work, remote work). These have been some of the positive side-effects of robust competition. Flexibility: Welcome to the post-covid workforce! Never before have we had so many briefs with a “work from anywhere” option listed on the brief. Flexibility has been a contentious issue for many businesses as they find their optimal working arrangements, but we are certainly seeing a greater number of remote working options, and we have been recruiting beyond the traditional Melbourne/Sydney talent pools this year. It’s been a big win for candidates living in regional areas and of course, working parents have also benefited from greater flexibility than ever before. No Brits? We certainly noticed a lack of international talent. Before Covid, there was steady supply of specialist skills (CRM, Digital, Analytics) often covered by international talent coming into the market. Contract roles were often filled with talented backpackers looking for short-term work. Whilst we are starting to see a slight increase in international talent over the last few months, there’s also been a recognition that we can’t rely as heavily as we once did on importing talent. It’s been a fascinating recruitment year and one we consider “out-of-the-box”. As we start 2023 we foresee: A softening market due to more international talent hitting our shores (migration intake has been reset from 35,000 anually to 195,000). Unemployment forecast to rise by 1% to 4.5% Some shifts starting to emerge with senior candidates coming back into the market. Increased number of candidates wanting roles with that offer the opportunity to work overseas. Flexiblity and hybrid work policies refined. A continued focus around how people can integrate work with their lives. What does all this mean for you? We feel that there’s still tremendous opportunity for candidates in the market and this should continue into 2023, albeit perhaps not at the frenetic conditions we have seen this year. We encourage you to keep close to the market, understand your worth in the market and think about your next career steps. If you want to kick off the next year with a focus on your career, book some time for a Career Chat with us. Take 15 minutes to re-fresh your market understanding, gain a recruiter perspective on your CV or answer any burning career questions! We’d love to hear from you.