A third of UK employees believe that employers look badly on jobseekers that have been made redundant, but 35% of employers are actively targeting redundant workers from rival firms, according to research from Jobsite.

The research also shows that 12% believe the myth that employers take a “last-in, first-out” approach to redundancy.

But over a third (35%) of HR managers are looking to hiring to get them through the downturn and enjoy rapid recovery as the economy improves and 53% are also still engaging in general recruitment.

Keith Potts, chief executive of Jobsite.co.uk, says: “Job losses are dominating the headlines, but not all companies are shedding staff or freezing recruitment.  It’s easy to see how job hunting myths can come to fruition when candidates are under increased stress.

“However, our research shows that in this difficult time, many businesses need talented, committed employees more than ever. We would recommend candidates who are unhappy in their current roles look before they leap – researching their perspective employers thoroughly.  At the same time we would also encourage people to have the confidence to follow their career aspirations. Even in a downturn, there are excellent opportunities out there.”