Preparing for the Talent Market to Turn: Alex Heard Talks Transformation

Alex Heard has joined the Allura Partners Transformation & Change division. In a recent interview with him, it became evident that his arrival signals a strategic move to enhance an already thriving business unit.  

During our discussion, Alex provided valuable insights into the evolving landscape of the transformation recruitment market. His perspective sheds light on the intricacies and nuances that shape this dynamic environment.  

Alex's presence will significantly bolster the team's capabilities as Allura Partners prepares to navigate this changing environment. His expertise promises to be instrumental in steering the team toward continued success. 

Q. Where do you see the transformation space sitting at the moment? 

Reflecting on the past 18 months, it's undeniable that we've been managing one of the most challenging markets in recent years. 

In conversations, customers, candidates, and senior recruitment leaders have all compared the current market to the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). Although unlike the GFC, which offered candidates the option to pivot across industries less affected, the current landscape presents a different set of challenges. 

Q. You’ve addressed the ‘elephant in the room’, What are the positives? 

The good news: I do see light at the end of the tunnel.  

By way of background, I always like to gauge current market conditions on how the banks are approaching their workforce planning. In my opinion, other industries keep a close eye on the banks and will mirror their hiring strategies.  

Over the last 18 months, we’ve seen a huge focus on transitioning their core from contract to permanent/max-term staff, as a risk management strategy in anticipation of looming economic uncertainties. 

Having met with numerous stakeholders in the market and compared our response to market downturns with that of Australia’s older siblings (the US and the UK), it's evident that Australia has gleaned valuable lessons from past experiences. While we have come close to the edge, our resilience continues to shine through, as we consistently bounce back from adversity. This resilience, coupled with strategic adaptations in hiring practices, instils confidence in our ability to weather the storm and emerge stronger on the other side. I think we started to see this in Q2, and we definitely have a stronger pipeline of work planned with Allura Partners clients for Q3.  

Q. What changes are we likely to see in the way businesses approach transformation? 

In short, and in my opinion, I’ve noticed businesses looking to maximise their value for investment or get more ‘bang for their buck’.  

In some cases, clients are looking to merge project and product delivery. The agile candidate market has also picked up after a few quiet years. Clients are specifically targeting candidates who not only possess expertise in implementing the methodologies but also hold a strong delivery background, ensuring the smooth execution of transformational initiatives. 

Q. What does this mean for candidates; how can they best position themselves?   

Today, clients seek what I would describe as a more adaptable mindset; individuals with a diverse range of industry experiences. So, I advise my candidates to be open to exploring different industries and to treat their experience like they might handle their share portfolio, with a key focus on diversification.  

After working in my first role, I had a closed mindset – I really thought that it was only the banks/financial services that offered the large-scale and exciting programs. But I’ve learned that there is much more out there. With the banks about to kick off some huge transformations, which will no doubt lure back candidates with extensive banking delivery experience, I think things are going to loosen up even more – we will see a less candidate-heavy market. 

Of course, I do appreciate diversifying your experience isn't an easy thing to do, especially in current market conditions, however it’s something candidates should think seriously about.  

Lastly, I advise my candidates to connect with their recruiter every couple of weeks to either get a quick market update over the phone or to grab a coffee to help strengthen the relationship. As there is a new wave of candidates on the market every week, it's a great way to keep yourself front of mind. 

Q. What excites you about your new opportunity with the Allura Partners transformation team? 

Allura Partners has a superb name in the market and has gone for the lean and experienced approach, which is exactly what I was looking for. They have a very impressive management team, with an extensive network at the executive level. That’s something I will leverage off, and it will also benefit my candidates and clients.  

I look forward to working with my new team and assisting Allura Partners on the journey to being the market leader in projects and transformation! 

If you are interested in progressing your career within Transformation & Change or you want to build the team you need, reach out to Alex here.