Why It’s a Great Time to Look for a New Job
Why It’s a Great Time to Look for a New Job
It’s fair to say 2020 was the year we’d all like to forget.
It brought us multiple lockdowns, widespread job losses, financial challenges and career prospects that were, at best, pretty grim.
But is 2021 a different story? Experts say yes.
We’re watching companies mobilising and tweaking their business models, and many are actively seeking new staff – making a great time to be job-hunting. Here are just a few reasons why.
1. Some industries are actually growing, despite the pandemic
According to the National Skills Commission, there’s a call for skilled workers in everything from cyber security to labouring, healthcare to call centres. Ecommerce has also enjoyed huge growth in the past year, so if you’re a retail worker, you’ll want to get on board that gravy train.
In the case of online retail, Covid has caused a significant shift in how consumers shop, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics finding that online sales rose 55 percent in December 2020 compared to the previous year.
2. It’s never been easier to retrain and upskill
The internet has completely transformed how we learn and educate ourselves – you can even do an entire university course online now – and that gives job-seekers a huge opportunity to upskill, stay relevant and ensure you have the right skills when job opportunities do come up.
Similarly, our research found that employers offering on-the-job training had happier and more productive employees – so here’s hoping more and more companies will be getting on board with learning and development.
3. The future of work is flexible
Sure, not all jobs can be done remotely or from home, but some can – and the silver lining of the pandemic has been that employers view flexible work arrangements as a genuine option for many employees – and better yet, a way to hire and retain top talent.
In fact, in our recent Feel Good Index Report, we found 59 percent of employers are providing a range of flexible work options. That’s great news for job-seekers who may be more productive working from home, have a disability that requires flexibility, or live in a regional area.
4. Skills shortages could make you more in demand
Tourism and hospitality are famously struggling to fill positions, due to issues such as the ongoing closure of Australia’s borders, and a lack of accommodation in regional towns. Across the country, this is leaving around a 30-35 percent shortfall in staff.
As a job-seeker in these verticals, you could have your pick of various dream jobs, so now’s the time to start looking around or talking to recruiters to see what’s available.
5. Diversity, equity and inclusion are in the spotlight
If you’ve long struggled in workplaces that put these issues in the too-hard basket, the good news is that things are changing. Employers are waking up to the need to have tough conversations, are looking at how their company culture stacks up and working through the entrenched biases that may be in place.
And although it definitely won’t happen overnight, we can hope that in time, workplaces will be places where all employees feel valued and supported, are given a voice and have equal access to opportunities.
But wait, what if I’m still employed?
You should always have your ear to the ground, even if you’re employed and happy in your current role. You never know what might happen; a toxic new manager could be hired, or cut-backs could see you suddenly unemployed, so future-proofing your career is a smart move.
Plus, interviewing for a role when you’re currently employed can be much less pressure – you get to test the market, assess your current value to employers – and knowing you have a job to go back to may give you the confidence to ask for a higher salary.
Conclusion
If you’re hesitant about looking for a job or wondering if you’ll be successful – especially after what we all faced in 2020, that’s completely understandable.
However, as companies start to ramp up hiring, and industries hit epic levels of growth, it could actually be one of the best times to dust off your CV and find a great new role you love.
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