Experience is key when SMEs recruit

From a survey of over 750 users of UK business information website FreeIndex, 60 per cent said they would rather employ experienced workers than recent graduates, when it comes to taking on staff, irrespective of cost.

With the steady rise in UK unemployment stabilising and the economic recovery picking up pace according to the Office of National Statistics, businesses look set to invest in recruitment.

Martin Turner, managing director at FreeIndex, says, “UK unemployment currently sits at 2.47 million so it’s great to hear that this figure isn’t going up.

"Businesses are beginning to get back on track and are looking to employ experienced individuals.

"For skilled workers who have found themselves unemployed as a result of the economic slump, this is quite a confidence booster, particularly as many of them will be up against new graduates for jobs.

“Every employer wants to recruit the best person for the job, however SMEs don’t necessarily have the resources to fully train a successful candidate – they prefer someone who is experienced, who can walk into the job and knows what they are doing.

"And they’re prepared to pay for this.”