Estate agency recruitment specialist Zara Lewis claims there has been a rise of nearly 40% in permanent vacancies during the first quarter of 2011.
The vacancies span all areas of the industry, including sales, lettings and new homes, plus office support roles.
Richard Knight, managing director of the agency, based in Farnham, Surrey, said that residential sales positions have overtaken residential lettings roles for the first time since January 2009, and there has been an increase of 33% in sales roles compared to the first quarter of last year.
He said there was ‘undoubtedly a market for talent’.
Placements made by the firm divided roughly one-third corporate estate agents and two-thirds independents, with 37% of placements made with corporate estate agents and 63% with independent firms.
Knight said this has changed dramatically since quarter one of 2010 when 72% of new vacancies came from corporate clients.
He said: “The majority of our new positions have been to strengthen existing teams. It is encouraging to see many of our clients expanding their teams rather than replacing staff.”
But the company, which says it has registered 21% more applicants since last year – mainly in London and the south-east – says salaries are static.
Knight said: “Salaries have remained at similar levels to last year. However, sales branch managers’ salaries have sneaked up to a now average basic salary of £22,600.”
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Comments
We are also seeing an increase in sales role although our focus is solely on the new homes sector. There are more sales roles on our website than any other discipline with some good examples here http://www.careersinhousebuilding.co.uk/category/sales.html
We really think the housing job market is improving but it will be a long road!
Anna,
Had a big lanky tool burst in here the other day, no tie, that dodgy grey suit / brown shoes combination that seems to be popular amongst these chaps that use ‘products’ in their hair and hadn’t had a shave but did want a job, he just forgot to do a CV / letter / think about it first / dress properly……………….
Anyway, to my point, nice article but feels like one of those hearing aid adverts in the back of the Sun, at first sight it looks like a news story but stone me its really an advert, should have ‘advertisement’ at the top and Zara thingey should be getting an invoice for the trouble……………….hands up who reckons this recruitment firm will have advertising on here pretty soon? Still nice filler while they get the artwork done
Roz / Nat – shame on you, make em pay like the rest!
Jonnie
We have just advertised a vacancy and will be interviewing this afternoon and tomorrow.
This morning a young lady walked into the office to enquire about the position. She told us she didn't have a CV as her pc had problems. I said 'if you can't type one up then write one by hand and pop it in before lunch'. She then asked what she should put as a 'focus'. I gave her the ad and she then asked if I could help a little more as she didn't have a pen or paper. Somewhat bemused by now, we offered her a desk, pen and paper. After about an hour she said she would finish it elsewhere and bring it back as she wasn't sure what to write.
After she left I went back to my desk to see one of our 'old hands' sitting opposite. When I asked what she was doing she said she might as well do the interview for her too!
If it turns out to be 'candid camera' I wouldn't be surprised.
In a village you have to be gracious with everyone but I did feel my limits being tested.