Almost every industry is experiencing change in 2024, with the consequences often involving cost-cutting, downsizing, restructuring, and redundancies.
In a climate of job uncertainty, even if you're currently employed, should you be actively looking for a new role — just in case?
Recruitment expert David Page shared some sage advice with Seven Sharp.
How would you describe the current job market?
"It's been a challenging 12 months. [There are] pretty mixed opinions depending on which sector or segment you're working in.
"There's been a lot of restructuring going on in some of the large corporates, but what we've seen more recently is some of the small to medium [businesses] wrap that up as well — now they're looking to get on and look at what their staffing needs are in the future.
"Employers in the last eight weeks have been reaching out to us saying, 'We're feeling more confident about the economy; we're keen to have a conversation.'"
Is it OK to start job hunting while still on a payroll?
"Yes, absolutely. I think it's a really important thing to do to continue planning your career. You should always be thinking about what your next career move is. Part of that is looking at what the landscape is out there in the job market – really understanding what the opportunities might be and what you need to do to upskill and take advantage of those opportunities.
"People often say you're more employable when you've got a job, and it's easier to get a job when you've got a job. But the reality is, it's also quite attractive to employers when you're out of work and looking for an immediate start."
How important is a CV in 2024?
"CVs are absolutely still a thing. I think the key is don't scattergun your CV out there to multiple people. It's really important that you talk to your networks and trusted advisors, work with your recruitment partners; understand what's happening in the landscape and be really selective about who you're working with and who's working with your CV.
"The other piece that's probably changed if you haven't been looking for a long time is the social media element to recruitment these days.
"Platforms such as LinkedIn are a really important part of the job landscape; understanding how to present yourself around places like LinkedIn is really important.
"Also, it's important to go back and look at what you've been doing in the past and how you present yourself."
Should you apply for a job when you don't meet all the requirements?
"What we've learned from research is that men are more likely to apply for roles without having that full range of attributes. They feel more comfortable applying for roles where perhaps they only have some of the attributes, whereas women and non-binary applicants often feel less confident.
"What we've seen in the market recently is a lot of companies and organisations working hard with their recruitment teams to understand how they can better support those people."
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