Comms Council: Four fifths of agencies unable to find experienced staff
Eighty per cent of agencies are unable to find suitably experienced staff, according to a survey published by the Communications Council.
The announcement:
September 9, 2011 –
80% of agencies are unable to find suitably experienced staff, according to survey results published by The Communications Council today.
The shortage is most prevalent in junior (1-4 years) and mid level (4-7 years) positions with the most acute shortages occurring in account management, followed by creative and digital.
52% of agencies that responded have 5-10% of positions left vacant at any one time due to the difficulty in finding suitably experienced replacement staff.
Agencies cited three main reasons for the shortage; a lack of candidates, followed by a lack of competencies or skills in prospective candidates, followed by a lack of experience in new recruits.
In the majority of cases agencies are responding by appointing people with less than ideal experience that have the potential to grow while 41% of agencies are also filling their skill gaps through hiring talent from abroad.
Daniel Leesong, CEO of The Communications Council said: “These findings highlight the real challenge our industry faces with recruiting and retaining staff. We’re seeing a large drop off between entry level and mid level suggesting challenges for agencies to retain staff long term.”
“More research needs to be done to fully understand the underlying reasons for the mid level staff shortages but our research shows there are three main factors –intra agency and client moves, a desire for a change in overall career or a career break (overseas, or otherwise).”
“It is, however, encouraging to see that agencies are largely satisfied with entry level candidates and we are pleased programs like the Graduate Trainee Program, AWARD School and Adschool are a major contributor to providing the new crop of talent each year.”
Source: Communications Council press release
That’s because (a) agencies don’t mentor, nurture or train young people and (b) the older experienced people who can achieve achieve that goal for agencies are never hired because they’ve committed the unpardonable crime of being over 40!
When agency hirers get over this unhealthy adolescent obsession, they and the industry will mature, and the quality of output along with it.
User ID not verified.
I shall open a little can of worms here & say the reason that agencies can’t find experienced staff is because they don’t WANT to.
They want “cool” (note the inverted commas) young hip things that fit what they deem to be their ‘culture’ and then whinge incessantly about the talent shortage with the hip cool young things not having a bleedin’ clue what they are talking about, can’t back it up with experience in any case, and don’t have the respect of the client who is in fact paying their salary.
We “oldies” get snapped up in a heartbeat by savvy business owners as we add value & sit on a respected level with clients, driving more business in the process!
I’m sure there are some great young things out there, as a previous client though, and now agency side, I’d much prefer to work with someone older with more experience than the grads who come out thinking they know it all — while driving my brand into the ground.
User ID not verified.
Maybe there’s a shortage of junior staff because you “oldies” don’t want to give graduates a chance. They have no experience, so you don’t hire them, despite their attitude and aptitude for learning. And then you wonder where all the experienced juniors are out there.
User ID not verified.
Mike and CanoWorms are right – it’s extremely ageist out there. Just ask a head hunter if they can or will sell in someone with experience…. you’ll get some surprising euphemisms for “you’re too old”
User ID not verified.
@Catch22 – that’s right, we don’t hire grads with no experience, as our clients prefer having experienced team members on their side. As I said though, I’m sure there are some great grads out there, and if I ever have a need for someone in the agency as a junior – I’ll certainly be seeking someone with aptitude & the correct attitude. One problem is that most grads don’t like to think of themselves as “juniors” …. Another problem is that my clients, who actually pay the bills – not the agency owner, is the one that demands experienced people so that they don’t end up having to drive the process themselves.
User ID not verified.
I prefer an agency person with some experience.
I’d prefer the ‘oldie’ to some glamourous dolly bird with a great rack and nice arse, or some hot young dude with nice pecs and a cute smile.
I get kind of annoyed when I see 25 year old account directors and I can’t tell you how sick I am of some beautiful young lady account manager bullshitting their way through something.
Yes they are pretty to look at and yes they turn heads when we walk through the office looking for a meeting room, but seriously I get sick of having to either rewrite all the copy we get cuz it’s crap or we get ideas that may pls some snotty creative, but aren’t what we need.
Focus on the client’s business and you will have a long time client.
User ID not verified.
Speaking specifically on the account management side of things (where the most chronic shortages apparently are.
Why in the name of all things holy would any smart/talented/experienced marketer remain working for an agency as a suit? Surely they just trot off to client side & make double the money & work 30% less hours?
User ID not verified.
Maybe it has something to do with the terrible pay… Obviously everyone’s got to start somewhere but if you’re on a minimum wage, have just moved out of home or have recently bought your first home as many young people are then you’re not going to be as likely to take a low paying job in an agency when there are jobs going for double the wage on the client side of things…
User ID not verified.