Technology both an aid and a burden

Marker says the introduction of technology and recruitment databases has been "a massive aid and tool to our industry".

However, "it's also been something that can, and has diluted the consultative aspect of the recruitment consultant's job, because instead of relying on memory, and applying your instinct to match the right person, they go into the database and it's throwing out 40 or 50 resumes and they say, 'ok, top five I'll send them to the client', as opposed to [deciding] from an emotional view, 'are they the right person for the client?'.

She adds: "People can get lost in the database as well, they can be entered in and then lost, because search criteria is based on what is put in... So it is a huge advantage as a tool, as long as it's not used as a solution to our clients' needs, because the manner in which we apply this tool can also be a disadvantage."

High turnover suggests some lost "diamonds"

Marker says the high consultant turnover in the recruitment industry has emerged over the last 10 years, coinciding with Australia's economic growth and the increased demand on recruitment firms.

She says, "I would question if everyone, hand on heart, could say that they've really got a training plan for their people, and I think that the industry is losing people we shouldn't be losing, because they're possibly not performing quickly enough.

"Not everyone performs at the same rate, so we could be losing some diamonds out of this industry because we're not putting the time into train, coach, develop and understand the difference between training and coaching an individual.

"Coaching is recognising how people learn and delivering to them in a manner that meets their needs. Training is certainly something that you can do with a team of people or an individual, but coaching is really demonstrating your knowledge and sharing your experiences in a manner that those individuals can say, 'yes I understand, I get it'."

Industry should be better promoted

Marker says recruiters should "really focus on promoting our industry as a profession worthy of consideration as a career - get into the universities, get into the colleges and say 'have you thought of this?'.

"I don't think that we do that well - I think that an awful lot of people fall into recruitment. I don't think we promote this wonderful industry and profession as well as we should."