Do you want some good news? Employers in most sectors of Irish business say they are planning to hire new staff over the coming months, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.
Employers in the electricity, gas and water sector are forecasting the strongest hiring pace, followed by the pharmaceutical sector and the restaurant and hotels industry.
In terms of regional spread, employers in Connaught are reporting the strongest hiring intentions, followed closely by employers in Munster and Leinster. Dublin employers say they anticipate some job gains while Ulster is also holding its own.
While we have seen positive hiring intentions in recent months, this is the first time since 2008 that we are witnessing such a consistent upturn. That was the same year Barack Obama was elected and our own Daniel Day Lewis won an Oscar for There Will Be Blood.
Eight years later we appear to be finally back on track. Ireland is now the fastest growing economy in Europe and with several recent job announcements, there are now a lot more opportunities around.
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So if you’re planning on changing career in 2016, here are 5 tips to help you along the way:
Start updating your CV straight away
Make sure it reflects your most recent achievements and projects from the past year. Begin to target your job search by setting up Google alerts for your target industry and prospective employers. This way, you will learn more about the key players in the marketplace and may be able to predict when new job openings will become available.
As the world’s largest professional social network, LinkedIn now plays a big part in finding a new job. You can optimise your profile by adding a profile photo of yourself in professional attire and also by including your job title and company name in your professional headline. This will help you to rank highly in search results when potential employers are looking for suitable candidates.
Speak with a recruitment consultant
Trying to work out the next step in your career is not always easy. Sometimes you need to talk through the opportunities, see what your options are, and work out what kind of role would be best for your needs. At ManpowerGroup Ireland, this is what we do every day.
Recognise your skills and be flexible
Analyse your skill set and see how it can be improved to either stay in the industry you are already in or adapted to enable you to move to another sector.
The latest survey shows that employers in the pharmaceutical industry are reporting strong hiring intentions during the second quarter of 2016. Good communication skills are vital in this industry sector as you are often working in cross-functional teams.
Other relevant skills include managing time effectively, meeting deadlines and being adaptable. Flexibility is a key quality that growing industries and companies look for in candidates as they want people that can adapt to change and are not stuck in their ways.
Consider your lifestyle
Employers in the restaurants and hotels sector have reported the strongest year-on-year employment forecast of all those surveyed. A career within this industry will normally involve shift work and, while this might not seem appealing at first, it does have it benefits.
For example, you might be able to save on childcare costs if you choose a role that offers a night shift. Shift work can also benefit those who do not want to get caught in peak hour traffic on their commute. In most cases where shift work is applicable, there are fewer working hours as they will include adequate breaks and relaxation periods.
Play to your strengths
Even though the job market is picking up, employers want to ensure they are recruiting the right people into their organisation. Talent is the single most important factor in a company’s success.
Business growth will now come from having the right talent so make sure you do not get complacent when attending interviews. Fail to prepare and you prepare to fail.
Cara O’Leary is sales director at ManpowerGroup Ireland
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