An Unfamiliar Job Market
Redundancy is difficult for everyone, but one of the worst affected groups are those who have been in their job for a long time and have not been in the labour market for maybe ten years or more. I meet people on a daily basis who feel unfamiliar with the job market and say that this is hindering their prospects of conducting a successful job search.
So what has changed?
The most obvious innovation has been the emergence and boom in online job boards. They are far more than electronic versions of newspaper recruitment sections; they are interactive, bring many more benefits, but also several threats. One of the hardest things for job seekers who are not familiar with online boards to come to terms with is that many employers do not acknowledge applications sent through the portals. However, this is hardly surprising, given the much higher number of applications they receive, which is in itself a function of the ease with which one can apply for a job online.
Then there is the networking boom- both online and face to face. Networking has always been the most successful way of getting a job but it is only recently that we have really become aware of its power. Networking is now an essential part of any job seekers tool kit, but also an activity that many people are uncomfortable and unfamiliar with.
Job interviews have changed too. They are now far more sophisticated, bearing no resemblance to a fireside chat. There are now telephone interviews before the main interview, assessment centres afterwards and meet the team selection days. Again, if you have been out of the job market for a long time the first job interview you are invited to will seem an unfamiliar activity.
Then there is the CV. If any aspect of the job search process cries out for modernisation it is the CV. But even though there is much wrong with the conventional CV as a means of communicating your abilities and needs, modern CVs are far more targeted and sales-like in style than ever before.
So for someone who has not looked for a job for number of years, the job market place is an unfamiliar place. Fortunately, familiarising yourself with contemporary job search techniques is only a matter of learning how to do it. It is a training process. It is what we do at Career Energy, very successfully. Give us a call.
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Tags: CV, Interview, Labour Market, networking, Online Recruitment
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October 28th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
You make some great points here.
Many older people who have been laid off are in unfamiliar territory. Every aspect of the job search has evolved and they may be ashamed to ask for help and guidance. The best we can do is make resources and advice as readily available as possible.