Providing human resources to meet industry specialisation Eventful times are upon us all. Deregulation and technological developments have fundamentally changed the operations of businesses across the globe. At the same time service levels and return on investment, from the perspective of both customers and shareholders, are subject to increased examination. Clearly a very different industry structures have emerged over the last decade as customers embraced the new technologies, such as telephone call centres and Internet banking. Despite these remarkable changes strong career options are emerging. The available choices of academic and professional qualifications have grown substantially since the early 1990s. Education standards at entry level have risen significantly over this period – a far cry from the school leaver, job-for-life approach once heralded. The demand for technically competent candidates is most positive and reflects the need for successful systems upgrades that underpin the significant technological developments in the sector. A clear message emerges for the candidates and clients; it is essential to understand both the macro environment, the skill and knowledge set required before making a move. Recruitment providers can greatly enhance career prospects for informed and skilled candidates and ultimately meet the productivity requirements of the employer in the current marketplace. Regardless of global and local prospects for the future, one central observation remains – employers will continue to seek highly skilled and qualified candidates in a competitive market place. Degrees of Choice embraces this expectation and the challenges in recruitment that lie ahead.