Creative Strategies for Jobseekers

Navigating a Tough Job Market: Creative Strategies for Jobseekers

A recent article in The Guardian paints a bleak picture of the UK job market, with 1.5 million Britons struggling to find work. The article highlights the extreme competition, low pay, and mismatch between employer expectations and applicant skills that many job seekers are currently facing. Some job seekers are calling this the worst job market they have ever experienced. Some of the key issues raised in the article include:

Extreme competition: Hundreds of candidates are vying for every role.

Weak vacancies: Vacancies are at their weakest level since August 2020. Employer demand for permanent staff has been contracting for the last 17 months.

Low pay: Many salaries are failing to meet current living costs, with employers increasingly seeking to pay less for more work.

Underemployment: Many skilled individuals are forced to take low-paying or part-time jobs for which they are overqualified.

Impact of AI: Some roles are being replaced by AI, reducing the number of available vacancies. Some of the most affected roles are: editors and proof-readers, copywriters, translators and interpreters, bookkeepers and accountants, graphic designers, customer service personnel, market research analysts and 
financial analysts.

Mismatch of expectations: Job seekers increasingly want or need remote, hybrid, or flexible positions because of living costs and childcare yet more employers are demanding that employees return to the office.

Creative Job-Seeking Strategies

Given these challenges, job seekers need to think outside the box. Here are some ideas for being creative in your job search:

Consider temporary or contract roles: When permanent positions are scarce, consider short-term contracts or project work to leverage your skills and experience and make ends meet.

Upskill and gain additional qualifications: Upskilling will make you more competitive in the job market. No matter what your budget is, there are plenty of ways to learn new skills. Identify any skills gaps and plug them with short courses or micro-credentials. See this blog post for online learning ideas: Best Online Learning Sites. You can also  access LinkedIn Learning courses if you have LinkedIn Premium (even on the free trial).

Consider opportunities outside traditional job boards: With many applicants applying for the same roles, explore networking, industry events, and directly contacting companies.

Adapt your CV: Now more than ever, it’s crucial that you tailor your CV to the job requirements. Include all the matching skills and experience you have too increase your chances of making it past AI tools that seek to match candidates to role requirements.
Be open to different types of roles: Some have found work opportunities on a freelance basis and in more junior positions.

Highlight your soft skills: With the rise of AI, emphasize uniquely human skills such as creativity, communication, and problem-solving.

Consider government and industry training programmes: In England, skills development programmes such as Skills Bootcamp and traineeships and apprenticeships can be a great way to secure training and/or combination on the job training and employment.

Consider remote work: Look for opportunities that allow you to work from home which may be geographically away from where you live. 

While the job market may be challenging right now, creative and persistent job-seeking strategies can help you stand out from the competition and find meaningful employment.

If you are being made redundant, ask your employer about the possibility of being provided with outplacement support as part of your package. Outplacement provides career transition support to help you into your next role. This usually includes career planning, job search strategy, identifying skills and strengths, help with your CV, applications and more.

Need help with any of the above? If you are interested in career coaching or outplacement support, get in touch for a free discovery call to learn how working with a qualified and experienced career coach can help you land your next role.