LOOKING FOR A JOB IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE? NOW ISN’T THE TIME TO BE TOO SELECTIVE

With unemployment in Australia climbing to more than 7% and tipped to rise further thanks to COVID-19, it’s clearly a tough job market right now for those looking for work. 

For each accounting or financial role advertised, there are hundreds, if not thousands of job applicants going for the same position. Competition is at an all-time high so if you are one of the few businesses doing well throughout the pandemic, now is the time to capitalise on the rise in experienced professionals actively searching for employment.

But what if you are one of the many seasoned professionals struggling to find work? It might be time to adapt to the new ‘normal’ with your job search, embracing the hunt in a different manner to what it might have resembled pre-COVID-19.

We’ve come up with some tips on how you can adapt to the current job environment to ensure you land a job in this competitive market.

Widen your search

In the current job climate, it’s important to apply for more roles than you normally would. Job seekers don’t have the luxury of waiting around to see what will fall into their lap – now is the time to be proactive in finding a job.

Sometimes the reality is that it’s a numbers game. This means not only should you be applying for multiple roles, but you should also have people advocating on your behalf for roles you may not even be exposed to. This can be done through your professional networks and with a recruiter working on your behalf. 

At 3113 Consulting, we like to give our candidates a few targeted options so they can make informed decisions throughout the entire job seeking process. This means engaging with a number of companies so as not to miss out on any potential opportunities while waiting for other firms to make a hiring decision.

Think about your transferable skills

It seems that overnight there has been a change in the demand for different industries – some, such as e-learning and technology in general are booming – whereas others, like the entertainment industry, have tapered off completely. 

Now is the time to think about your transferable skills and how they can fit into a new global job market where different strengths in different areas are required. 

As companies seek new ways of doing things through this time of upheaval, creativity and innovation are two skills that have been sought after during the pandemic. New inventions are born out of austerity, and businesses will look favourably on those who can innovate and come up with new ideas. 

So if you’ve previously implemented a change in the workforce, which improved productivity, or had a burst of creativity that won new business, make sure to mention these achievements on your CV - front and centre!

Don’t forget to invest in your personal development

If you are one of the unfortunate ones to have lost their job during the pandemic, now is not the time to sit on your laurels. While you might be spending a substantial amount of hours actively looking for work, also invest in your own personal development so you can continue to grow professionally.

To do this, reflect on where you’re at in your career and take some time to plan the career goals you want to achieve in the next one to five years. 

Planning how to make the next step in your career will enable you to become more clear-minded on the kind of job you want and whether you have a skills gap that you need to attend to.

To do this, analyse the skills that are needed for roles you’d like to apply for (check job advertisements and LinkedIn profiles of those already in these roles for a great insight) and mark off any skills you already have. Then identify any skills you are lacking and think about how you could train or upskill to become fully qualified for the job roles you seek.

For example, if you want to take on a more managerial role, consider training in project management software so you are ready to take the lead on larger ventures.

Consider your salary expectations

For many businesses, hiring during a pandemic can be a leap of faith and something many organisations might be sitting on the fence about. If you manage to get a job interview during this period of uncertainty, don’t shoot yourself in the foot by going in with high demands.

Sure, negotiate for what you are worth but now might not be the best time to ask for an inflated salary when so many businesses are struggling. If you want more money, first secure the position, and then prove yourself in the role and save the salary conversation for a later date.

In terms of salary increases, it might also be tempting to want to move from professional accounting services into a more commercially-focused role for a possible rise in income, but now might not be the most suitable time. 

While you may have recently completed your chartered accountancy exams, making the move into commerce could have you competing against those previously working in higher management roles who were made redundant due to COVID-19. This could put your CV at the bottom of the pile. Instead, apply for roles you already have experience in. Remember to consider the market as a whole, and identify your place in it.

Prove you are open to change

As many businesses have needed to adapt to swift changes throughout 2020 to weather the pandemic storm, you too must prove yourself as being open to change. Showing you are an adaptable employee who can rise to a challenge will put you in good stead for many roles. This might mean commuting further than you once would have or working with clients that are not in familiar sectors. With many companies embracing remote working recently, this means you are more likely to be judged on your outcomes rather than the time you spend sitting at your desk. 

Show you are efficient at working independently by discussing any projects you have worked on remotely and how you effectively hit difficult milestones without one-on-one guidance. If you’ve had to embrace change management in a previous role, which led you to learning new technology or managing stakeholders in a certain way, explain to any potential employer about how you rose to the challenge and used your resourcefulness to succeed.

Many firms are hiring staff they know they can rely on to adapt to change quickly and with a positive attitude, proving they are flexible, proactive and able to problem solve independently.

Embrace the 'new normal'

It's clear that it is time to start looking at the way we apply for jobs as the world is rapidly changing and we need to keep pace. Making yourself adaptable to these changes will give you an increased chance of success when applying for your next role.

If you would like to have the best chance at securing a good role with our specialist accounting and finance recruitment team working for you, don't hesitate to email me directly on [email protected] to arrange a confidential chat.