Healy Hunt now offers search services for Human Resources roles. We have placed several senior HR professionals over the years but are now specifically focusing on this professional arena. Associate Director, Luke Snowdon is heading up our new practice and will provide the level of passion, integrity, emotional intelligence and tailored service that our clients have come to expect. He has dedicated his last 20 years to Executive Search and Recruitment and has deep HR specialism and we are naturally excited to welcome such a valuable new member to our team. While we aim to service our clients across Financial Services, we are also able to take on search engagements for other industries, especially in professional services.
“I’m delighted to have joined a respected search consultancy like Healy Hunt to lead and build out the HR practice. I’ll be working on mid to senior-level searches across all HR disciplines with new and existing clients.”
Luke Snowdon
Human Resources in 2022
There is a buoyant HR job market in London and it is very much candidate led. Human Resources has become increasingly strategic over the past two decades with a trend towards specialisms including talent acquisition, workforce planning & retention, reward, diversity equity & inclusion, well-being, compliance, administration, learning & development and data analysis; all of which have led to larger HR departments. The pandemic has accelerated change in employment, including the adoption of new hybrid working practices and a sharp increase in turnover in what has been dubbed the “Great Resignation.” While HR positions have experienced increased churn themselves, it is the range of new challenges that has really seen demand outstrip supply for generalist roles like Business Partners, Heads of HR and the specialist areas listed above. As a result, remuneration packages have been increasing in value and Reward Specialists are actually among the most in-demand resources.
Hybrid Working and Recruitment
Managing an HR selection process is labour intensive right now as most candidates have options, and although we have developed considerable expertise in screen-based interviewing, it is harder to read body language and develop rapport when people are not in the same room. We have also seen an increasing trend for the buyback of candidates where, realising the value of their resource, an employer will offer an employee an enhanced package to stay rather than accept a new role elsewhere.
In terms of working styles, the majority of HR professionals we speak to want to get back to the office for the chance of greater face-to-face time with managers, colleagues, staff and candidates. With restrictions set to end, this will soon be possible, dependent on employer policy, the development of which will have extensive HR input. We also welcome this development and look forward to meeting candidates and clients.
HR is more varied and strategic than ever before, with regular direct involvement at every level of large businesses and with search consultancies like ours. Our move into this area is a significant step for Healy Hunt and our clients. We look forward to enhancing our client relationships further in 2022.
