The balance of power in the executive recruitment market is swinging back to candidates, according to major industry recruiter Hays Insurance.

Senior Regional Director Jane McNeill says the surplus of candidates that employers experienced for much of 2009 has gone, and top candidates in particular are again in demand.

“In the post-global financial crisis workplace employers now have less choice, and are even taking steps to minimise the impact of future skills shortages,” she said. “For candidates, particularly top talent, this means they have some power back.

“Candidates are starting to objectively examine job vacancies in far more detail than they did during the financial crisis. They are now more focused on their career and will evaluate a vacancy to make sure it will provide the progression they want.”

Ms McNeill says candidates are again seeking more information about a job’s responsibilities “to work out if it is a step up, or at least a step in the right direction”.

“They want to know if clear career paths are offered. They’re also reaching out to their networks to see what others say about the company.”

Top candidates are also in the best position for 18 months to haggle over salaries and conditions, she says. “Some employers are starting to enter into such salary negotiations once again for top talent, although this trend will take time to be evident across the board.”