As our clients return to the office post the holiday break, we are beginning to take a few calls asking, is it time to bring on that new person?
Nick Hodgson Recruitment Lead at Brannigans shares his thoughts.
The team at Brannigans are always happy to sit with our clients to help map out what skills you need, what level of experience required to achieve your business objectives, and when/ what will trigger the hire.
That aside we think now is a great time to hunt for your next hire for several reasons.
New Year resolutions aren’t just about living cleaner and losing a few kilos. We see a spike in the number of proactive calls we get from candidates. They are driven by several motivators such as looking to relocate or wanting to be more challenged.
Summer is a great motivator. We receive calls from kiwis who have been home to visit whanau and friends over Christmas and have decided that perhaps it is time to come home more permanently.
The economic outlook is looking better. According to treasury’s December budget update we can expect around 3% annual real GDP growth projected over the next three years anchored by net exports and interest rate cuts. ANZ recently announced, business confidence surged to a 30‑year high of 73.6 in December 2025, up from 67.1 in November indicating the most positive sentiment since March 1994.
With all of this in mind remember that timing is everything. With recovery underway, competing employers will be on the hunt for talent; delaying hires heightens risk of losing out on high-calibre candidates.
You can leverage off your business confidence to attract ambitious professionals seeking growth and stability.
Final take: If you or your leadership team is debating whether to hire that new person, the data says now is the moment. The economy is tracking upwards, confidence is at multi‑decade highs, and your competitors are already acting. Bringing the right hire on now won’t just boost capacity it sends a powerful signal to stakeholders that your organisation is investing in its future.
Give me a call, I’d love to chat.
Executive Recruitment Lead:
🔗 Nick Hodgson
