Executive recruitment specialist HARPwallen is predicting an increase in interest in short-term project-based assignments and flexible roles as the travel and hospitality industry prepares to emerge from lockdown.
Kristina Wallen, group managing director, said: “The global shutdown of our industry has forced both organisations and individuals to truly focus on what it is they do.
“Whether this is processes within a multi-national, an individual who has used the past three months to re-evaluate what their future career might look like, or the shift in need for change management skills to be dropped into a business to adjust to the new normal.”
Wallen said there was also a pool of people affected by recent redundancies who would not normally be available and had the potential to start work immediately, a change that had been noticeable in relation to the company’s Flex-Exec Register, which specialises in filling interim, project and non-executive roles.
“This is an ideal opportunity for businesses to organise their talent pool in line with market trends, changing priorities, and really hone in on hiring the skills they want, when they want them, for the length of time they need,” she added.
“Never before have we had the chance to properly stop and take stock as an industry. The Covid-19 crisis has shattered our sector; but this is the time to think about how we want to rebuild it and reshape it to ensure businesses and individuals are in the best place possible for future success.”
Wallen said: “The team and I, like the rest of the industry, are beginning to return to the office. It is going to take time, but there are green shoots which is cause for optimism.”