Job seekers should prepare to change direction or miss out, survey warns
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Job seekers should prepare to change direction or miss out, survey warns
Jobseekers should be prepared for change when looking for new employment, with new data from Right Management showing nearly half (47%) of jobseekers change industries to land a new role, the same proportion change job function, and another ten per cent change location.
Right Management’s Career Transition Candidate Survey is based on responses from over 400 participants of its career transition programs, between July 2009 and May 2010. It suggests that jobseekers need to be flexible when searching for new opportunities.
Tim Roche, Career Management Practice Leader at Right Management, says that with skills shortages on the rise, jobseekers may be presented with better opportunities if they broaden their search to include relocations or a change of industry or function.
“There are many industries facing critical skills shortages and companies will consider candidates with skill sets that could be transferred to a different field. This presents more opportunities for jobseekers willing to look outside their traditional roles and current locations when considering a new position.”
The survey also revealed that the number of people accepting a pay cut when starting a new role has continued to grow from last year, with 44 percent of candidates brought in on lower compensation compared to their previous role (compared to 41% in the same period from 2008 to 2009).
Mr Roche suggests this increase can be attributed to the residual effects of the global financial crisis.
“Salaries came under pressure in 2009 and some candidates were forced to take salary cuts to ensure they had a job at all. These conditions are certainly easing, but it’s going to take a while for salaries to return to levels seen before the crisis, and jobseekers should be prepared for that.”
Networking remains the most successful means of finding a new job, with 34 percent of job seekers finding a job through this search tactic. The proportion of jobs found through print advertisements dropped in the last year (19% compared to 24% in 2008-2009), while the percentage of jobs secured via direct approach to the company rose (12% compared to 9%).
“Employers are naturally going to be more cautious about the number and quality of people they hire after a period of uncertainty and instability. They are looking for loyalty and genuine interest. Personal recommendations made by someone in a jobseeker’s network are going to mean a lot more than a generic cover letter.
“Similarly, direct approaches to the company can pay off because it demonstrates you are particularly interested in that organisation and are being proactive in securing the job you want rather than a job that happens to come your way.”
With news of a return of skills shortages, Mr Roche warns jobseekers not to become complacent or overly confident when it comes to their job search strategies.
“The job search process takes time and effort, but the rewards can be great if it’s done well and can lead to unexpected job opportunities. A skills shortage makes it no less necessary for job seekers to use several channels to find the best job available,” said Mr Roche.
He adds that despite small movements, much of Right Management’s career transition data suggests the fundamentals of job searching don’t change.
“Over the past two years, job seekers have faced an average of four employer interviews before landing a job, and there continues to be a wide variety of ways into employment, from networking through to recruitment agencies. So the message is to spread your net wide, be willing to adapt and of course, be persistent,” Mr Roche said.