There have been major changes in the UK economy since the Covid pandemic began and Brexit came into effect. This has transformed the job market in a variety of ways. Firstly, this has left several sectors lacking enough workers to fill vacancies. This has meant that there are now a record number of jobs available at 1.2 million. However, at the same time, unemployment has reached a 3-year high at 4.5% as the job roles don’t quite match up with the skills of the population on hand to work. Furthermore, since Furlough ended in September, 1 million people have been thrown into limbo, forced to find new employment.
If you’ve recently come off furlough or been made redundant and are worried about how you’re going to make ends meet this month, get in touch with one of our friendly advisors at Debt Support Centre. We can help you to apply for an IVA that will put an end to lenders chasing you for payments and enable you to pay off some of your debts in monthly amounts that are affordable to you.
There have been a lot of changes to the market recently. However, it’s important not to get overwhelmed, as whatever your circumstance, there are usually always options available. So, here are 5 tips to help you find the right job in the current climate.
Find out where’s hiring
To improve your chances of finding a job you need to know which industries have vacancies so that you can apply there. The 10 sectors with the highest number of vacancies are:
- HGV drivers
- Nurses
- Programmers and software development professionals
- Care workers and home careers
- Primary and nursery teachers
- Chefs
- Sales and retail assistants
- Cleaners and domestics
- Metal working production
- Carpenters
So, think about which of these you could qualify for and give it a go. If you wish to enter a new sector you’ve never worked in, determine how skills that you have developed from your last job could be transferable to a different one.
Learn a new skill
Don’t overlook job opportunities just because you’ve never tried something before. Many employers are currently willing to train people due to the shortage of those already qualified. So, if you’ve always fancied trying something new, this could be your perfect opportunity. Today’s job market is made for people who can adapt to an ever-changing climate and mastering multiple different skills is a great way to do this.
Shop around
With the availability of jobs reaching a record high, this gives you the freedom of choice. Therefore, if you’re looking for new employment, be sure to assess all your opportunities to work out which is best. The internet is an incredible source of information about potential job openings. So, be sure to make profiles on job websites, such as Linked In, to make yourself as visible as possible to employers.
Be bold and go for gold!
Also, don’t be afraid to make potential employers aware that you have other options available to ensure you get the greatest deal possible. If you’ve got your eye on a specific company, then approach them directly or find out if they hire through a particular agency. Alternatively, if it’s a specific job role you’re after, get in contact with someone who already does that job and ask them how they got there.
Ask for more!
If you have managed to keep your job during the pandemic, then it may be the perfect opportunity to ask for a pay rise or an improvement to your working conditions. Many employers are aware of the difficult circumstances people have worked through and want to reward their employees. Also, if you are working in understaffed sectors then your employers may be willing to pay more to prevent you from leaving. For example, the average salary in hospitality and catering has gone up by 18% and for all jobs paying £25,000 or less has gone up 14%.
By: Maggie Elliott
