Where the job market is at and how to keep your job search on track

Now we’re past the halfway point of 2020, many of us are still finding our way through COVID-19’s impact on the way we live and work.

That looks different for everyone – in some parts of Australia people are returning to the workplace, businesses are reopening and there’s a glimmer of normality again as restrictions lift. In others, people are again dealing with lockdowns in response to a surge in cases. And in many industries, people are facing job loss, reduced hours or working differently.

The upheaval has left many people wondering about their future or what to do next when it comes to work. If that’s you, you’re in the right place.

Here’s a look at the latest trends in the job market, plus tips to help you get your job search back on track or make positive changes at work.

A quick look at the job market

The latest SEEK data shows in the fortnight ending 5 July, job ads were at 66.6% of pre-COVID levels. In the past fortnight, there’s been growth in most states and territories except Victoria, which has seen a decline of 6.1% with job ad volumes 55.9% of pre-COVID levels. A return to lockdown restrictions that includes metropolitan Melbourne is expected to delay any recovery in Victoria’s job ad volumes.

The industries with the most job ads on site, which are close to pre-COVID job ad volumes, are: Healthcare & Medical (87%), Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics (88%) and Community Services & Development (99%).

How people feel about their job prospects

Optimism in the job market remains steady overall, according to research conducted on behalf of SEEK. However, this is less the case for people aged over 55. Less than half (46%) of people in that age bracket are feeling optimistic about future employment prospects, a drop of 14% between May and June.

Younger workers aged 18-24 on the other hand, are feeling more optimistic (65% in June) and more secure in their current roles compared to the general population (74% vs. 62% in June respectively). However, they are also feeling less in control over their working lives than they did a month ago (down 10% since May).

1 in 2 agree that ‘there aren’t enough jobs out there’ in June and this number drops slightly for younger workers aged 18-24 where 44% agree.

How to get the edge in a competitive environment

A lot of people are in the job market right now, which can make things more competitive. But there are steps you can take to help you stand out – even if you don’t have much experience.

Attitude and mindset are two things employers are looking for right now, according to Dean Davidson, Executive General Manager at recruitment firm Hudson.

COVID-19 turned everything on its head and as organisations adapt, they’re looking for people who can prove they have the ability to thrive on change.

Do you have resilience? Enjoy autonomy? Feel comfortable being creative? Not afraid of the unknown? These sorts of skills can be a valuable business asset during troubled times.

“On paper people will look similar, so find what you have that makes you different so you stand out from the pack,” says Davidson.

These tips on how to stand out in a crowded job market could also be helpful: they include finding relevant examples to demonstrate your skills, and finding your unique selling point.

Finding opportunity in tough times

Now could be a good time to make some small, positive actions that could set you on track to your next opportunity. Reviewing your resume is one step – this free resume template could help if you’re not sure where to begin. You could also take the opportunity to think about your transferable skills – these could help you to make the move across into a new role or industry. This transferable skills checklist could help you get started.

Once you find a role you want to apply for, focus in on your skills that relate to it. Present your potential new employer with a highlight reel – what’s most relevant – rather than pages covering your whole career history, says Karly George, Principal of Candidate Engagement at BHP. She advises picking out the most relevant parts of your resume that you want to be known for, then shaping it to match the job you’re applying for.

If your organisation offers a career transition service after job loss, it may be just the support you need to get your resume ready, identify your most marketable strengths or explore new options.

“Open-mindedness to change and thinking laterally is key right now,” says Davidson. “Going through a career transition is an emotional experience. It can be beneficial to seek the expertise of someone who doesn’t have the emotional investment you do who can help you to look at things differently.”

A career path is not linear

George says at a time like this it’s important to remember that a career path will make turns, sidesteps, backward slides or giant leaps. If you’re unable to take the road you want now, embrace the one that is in front of you.

“Remember that what we are experiencing is not the norm,” she says. “This is just a point in time, this is not necessarily going to be your whole life.”

Go in with the right work ethic and attitude, says George and you may even find yourself in a better place than if you’d stuck to your original path.

Looking into how you can make a sideways career move could also be worth considering.

Finding ways to work differently

For people whose working lives have been impacted in other ways through the pandemic – for example, through having to work from home – they may have found themselves thinking about working differently, like working from home more often in the future.

For other people, it might have been a time that’s meant juggling work with additional caring responsibilities – and continuing to do so for some time yet. If this is you, you might be thinking how you could adjust your work schedule to make juggling work and carer responsibilities that little bit easier.

Make it clear to your employer that you’re confident you can still deliver on your role, Davidson advises.

If you want to work from home more often in the future, or make changes to your hours or roster, George recommends coming up with a plan – before you go to your boss – on how you intend to make it work for both you and the company.

“Managers are busy, they have a lot going on, so they like solutions,” she says. “If you can show them you’ve thought it through and considered the company’s interests it can make it harder for them to say no.”

If you’ve learned new things about the way you work during the past few months and want to make a change, this article explains how to tell your boss you want to work differently.

Finally, if you’re in a situation where you’ll have to keep working remotely for some time still, it could be a good opportunity to refresh the way you approach work-life balance and structuring your day, so that you can prioritise your wellbeing for the time ahead.

Source: Independent research conducted by Nature on behalf of SEEK. Interviewing 4800 Australians annually.