Research conducted at Recruiter’s recent Wealth Forum revealed that recruiters tend to favour licensing over Chartered status as having the greatest positive influence on the industry’s image.

The research found that 45% said they believed licensing would make the most positive difference to the image of recruitment as a professional industry, with 21% favouring Chartered status, 11% saying neither and 23% saying both.

Respondents were also asked if their affiliations with or memberships in industry organisations — APRC, ATSCo, REC, Recruitment Society or TEAM — were a decision factor for clients in deciding whether to work with their companies, and 67% said yes, 27% said no, and 7% did not belong to any groups.

Other questions and their results:
* Do you believe that having Chartered status would increase the perception that recruitment is a legitimate professional industry?
Yes - 67%, no – 20% and don’t know – 12%.

* Which individual credentials, held by your consultants, are a decision factor for clients in deciding whether to work with your company?
University degree – 4%, REC qualifications – 0%, CIPD qualifications – 2%, professional experience within the specific industry sector – 73% and none of the above – 20%.

* Does cost play a decisive role in determining whether or not your firm joins industry organisations?
Yes – 58%, no – 42%.

* For more details on the Recruiter Wealth Forum see Recruiter 14 November