A lot has changed over the last two years particularly when it comes to the job market. When Covid-19 first hit us, we saw an understandable decline in vacancies and worse, a lot of redundancies. At one point, we were dealing with hundreds of candidates for a single role and that was not a great place to be for recruiters, candidates, or businesses alike.
As we headed into 2021, there appeared to be a shift. More vacancies were opening up, but there weren’t so many candidates. Many were furloughed and we suspect, riding out the storm before deciding to embark on a new career journey.
But 2020 and 2021 did something else. It showed us a very different way of working. It gave employees the chance to gain a little work/life balance. With many working from home, there was almost an awakening in the British public with employees deciding that they didn’t actually need to do that commute or miss their children’s bedtimes, they could in fact have it all.
As a result, the job market has changed dramatically.
Before the pandemic, it was rare to find a remote working role. Unless you were looking at network marketing or leaflet dropping, it was unlikely you would find anything to suit your needs. Now, this is not the case. There are hundreds upon hundreds of remote working roles because it’s not just the candidates that have seen the light.
Businesses have also changed. Organisations have realised that they can trust their staff. In fact, in many instances, their employees were more productive with the new arrangement. They also realised that they could dramatically cut their costs with so many working from home and their mindset changed from not even contemplating a remote working strategy to actually embracing it. This has opened the doors to more flexible working, hybrid working, and full-time remote working.
With that in mind, we thought we would share a few tips to finding your dream role in 2022.
1 – Understand the role you are looking for
Don’t rush in. Take time to really understand what it is you want to do and whether or not you have the skills, experience, or qualifications to do it. Think about the role carefully, visualise it and be confident in your ability to get it.
2 – Target
Just like a business would have a target audience, you should have a target business. It may not necessarily be the business you end up working for but by understanding who they are, what their culture is, and how they operate will help you to understand other organisations that you would like to work for.
3 – Write your CV for the role
There is nothing worse for a recruiter than to receive a generic CV. One that you have obviously sent to ten other employers. They want to know you are really interested in them if they are going to take your application further. Amend your CV for every role and write a different cover letter every time. Yes, it’s time consuming but the effort will pay off.
4 – Research
Before you come face to face with the interviewer, research the company you have applied to. Get to know who they are, how they operate, look at other team members so you get an understanding of the type of personalities that fit. Use LinkedIn, Companies House, and their website for information.
5 – Don’t’ just settle
If you are offered the role, consider whether what they are offering is exactly what you’re looking for. We are not saying there isn’t room for compromise, but you should have an idea of what you want from the start. Remember it’s not just about remuneration, it could also be about the working culture and the employee benefits.
6 – Update your LinkedIn profile
Many employers these days will head straight to social media to look at a candidate in more depth before interviewing them. Make sure you give them something great to look at. Take time to look at your LinkedIn profile and make any changes needed.
7 – Practice
Before attending an interview, practice your answers. It’s likely that it will be some sort of competency-based interview so have examples of your experience ready. Don’t get caught out on the day.
8 – Be interested
An interview isn’t just an opportunity for you to impress the business, it’s also an opportunity for them to impress you. Ask questions that show you are genuinely interested in the business and the way they operate. Don’t wait until they ask if you have any questions, if the opportunity arises, take it, but don’t interrupt.
9 – Be early
It’s not good enough just to turn up on time to an interview. You should aim to get there a minimum of ten minutes early. This shows good time keeping and eagerness for success.
10 – Be confident
Employers don’t just want to see what you can do on paper; they want to know that you believe in yourself. If you are a nervous person, consider looking into relaxation techniques so that on the day, you’ll thrive.
We predict that 2022 is going to be a fantastic year for job seekers but don’t be complacent. If you really want the job, you need to be willing to put the time and effort in to securing it.