Hiring Trends: 2021 Comeback Year
The impact of COVID-19 has been devastating for businesses and candidates alike. Millions of people either lost their jobs or left them. Others are merely drained from 2020. As for the employed, according to a recent survey by LinkedIn, more than 75% of people said they were in their current jobs more for stability than anything else. Meanwhile, 15% said they were waiting for the job market to improve before looking for new work, and another 14% said they were too burned out to switch jobs.
Although forecasting job and hiring trends in 2021 is a bit of a challenge as we approach the unknown, dealing with uncertainty in just about every aspect of life has become a skill that many have mastered. We believe that it is a great time to get back on the horse and dive deeper into an aggressive job search. The potential to reach a new normal is approaching quickly. 2021 is poised to be a big come back year for both hard hit industries and job searching candidates.
Although we may see high unemployment numbers, we also see high job openings. Here are some of the hiring trends we are seeing in the kickoff of 2021:
1. New skills
Skills are the new currency in the 2021 workplace. The disruptions introduced by COVID-19 have forced many organizations to take a closer look at their business and reevaluate roles and skills they are looking for as they build out their workforce for the business of tomorrow. Many companies seek candidates with skill sets that set them apart and promise to help catapult them in the post-pandemic world.
If you find yourself in between jobs, there is no better time than now to take a look at areas for improvement. Determine which skills you currently possess and lack. Once you have done that, you can begin skill-building. Whether you take a course or enroll at YouTube University, whatever it is, educate yourself. And remember not to write off your soft skills. Expand your personal development and work on skills that will transform your professional performance such as becoming an effective listener or improving your emotional intelligence.
2. Network
Try not to roll your eyes. Although overstated, the importance of your network cannot be stressed enough while in the midst of a tedious job search. It's easier than ever before to network now thanks to COVID-19 as there is no expectation to meet in person. Scheduling a Zoom call may be much simpler.
Reach out to people from your past or people who work in industries you are interested in. Form meaningful and genuine connections with those people and you’ll be surprised at your ability to jump-start your job search efforts.
3. Social Sweep
Take this time to do an audit on your social presence and your marketing collateral. Your social media presence such as your LinkedIn profile should be updated regularly in proportion to your resume. Take this time to be active on your LinkedIn and display your thought leadership. This is a great way to stay top of mind for potential employers and people in your network.
As for your marketing collateral, you could argue that your resume is marketing material as you are essentially selling yourself. Make sure that your resume is up to date. Expectations for resumes have changed quite a bit this past decade. In order to align yourself with those expectations, make sure to use data to translate success and showcase your relevant skills plus teamwork skills.
Keep in mind that aggressive job searches don’t include rapid firing your resume to every open position that comes across your hiring dashboard. On the contrary, you should be thoughtful and strategic. This will require self reflection and research. We expect to see a rebound this year. As the talent landscape begins to regain pace, position yourself effectively to embrace change and adapt.