It’s been hard to ignore the fact that the January Football Transfer Window closes today; everyone wanted to know where Beckham might end up, will the Premiership be boring without Balotelli and will Arsenal actually sign a player instead of selling all of their best players? Bidding is left to the last minute like a popular item on eBay.  So whilst players are rushing about the country in private helicopters, the adorning football fans hold their heads in their hands frustrated. 

It’s a nail biting time but we know from a commercial perspective, last minute transfers makes for better deals for the clubs. The players also benefit from the shorter negotiation period. I wonder if the same can the same be said for last minute recruitment? Who gets the better deal when it comes to quick decisions?

In the recruitment world, as in football, things can’t always be pre-planned; and isn’t that what makes it interesting and more exciting!  Recruiting talent is about securing the right skills for your organisation but also someone who wants to work for you, as much as you want them. And if you know what you want and can recognise it quickly, this when you stand out from the crowd. We rarely get feedback of a process being too short. Engagement in the recruitment process is not always about how many people you meet. It’s about impact.

In an ideal world having just the right amount of time to recruit the best talent should produce a win/win situation and you know that a new member of the team is on their way to your organisation to make sure that you don’t end up in the relegation zone!

Kerry White is a Consultant in the Manchester office at Macmillan Davies Hodes focusing on permanent HR assignments