Recruiters are missing a trick by not forging closer links with outplacement firms, which have access to candidates primed and ready for work. That was the message from Caroline Swain, UK managing director of outplacement specialist Lee Hecht Harrison (LHH), speaking at the Recruitment Society earlier this month.

She added that recruiters often misunderstood the role played by outplacement firms, which are paid to take individuals out of firms (such as people made redundant).

Those individuals then undergo training, coaching and career consulting to ensure they are equipped to tackle the job market.

“Recruitment companies should send us their vacancies or come and see who we’ve got to help them get a job more quickly,” said Swain.