Today’s jobs market is perhaps the most uncertain it’s ever been in history. With the incessant reliance on technology, the financial insecurity caused by COVID-19, the increasing use of automation in the workplace, and now the global energy and cost of living crisis, the modern job seeker faces tough times trying to find reliable, future-proof employment.
The shape of things to come
Where once employees could be relatively sure of staying in the same role for life (often with the same employer), recruitment experts now suggest today’s workers will likely change jobs multiple times throughout their careers – and often completely change the role they perform.
The rise of the machines
As businesses the world over look to integrate more with tech, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) in everything from manufacturing and production to typical office-based tasks, so the squeeze on jobs will become ever tighter. While many industry experts suggest some jobs have yet to be created through the rise of tech, most agree that the sophistication and capabilities of robots and computers are beginning to usurp many roles that would have traditionally been performed by humans.
Industry 4.0 – the fourth industrial revolution
This increased integration with computers and automation by firms the world over is leading many industry analysts to suggest we could be on the cusp of a fourth industrial revolution – also often called Industry 4.0. Certainly, one thing is for sure – the speed of development and increased capabilities of technology is transforming the modern workplace and enhancing the productivity of companies globally. Of course, while this is all great from a business perspective, the growth of tech in the workplace is also rendering many roles redundant and leading to an altogether new phenomenon – that of the so-called ‘pointless job’.
Ways to increase your chances of employment
While it might seem all doom and gloom for today’s job seekers, recruitment specialists suggest there are many ways you could improve your employment prospects. Competition is fiercer than ever for vacancies – to the point that firms can pretty much pick and choose and are spoiled for choice – but the key is to find ways to differentiate yourself from your rivals.
Below are just a few tips from employment experts that could increase your chances of finding the ideal job that offers career security.
As a starting point, try choosing a career with stability: As noted above, it’s widely believed that today’s prospective employees will change employer and job multiple times throughout their career – mostly through no choice of their own. However, if you want to find more stability in your work life, you would be well advised to focus on jobs that offer true stability and longevity. For example, while tech is undoubtedly transforming modern policing techniques, we’re still a long way off the concept of Robocop, and studying a policing degree could give you a future-proof job with a structured career ladder to climb.
Get additional education or training: Not so very long ago, any extra-curricular training you might have wanted to pursue would have involved physically traveling to and attending a course in person. However, with the tremendous growth in online learning and internet-only courses, it’s now easier than ever to expand your skills and knowledge base – at a fraction of the cost of traditional, in-person study. Online courses also have the advantage of allowing you to study when and where you like and at a pace that suits you. Expanding your education and learning new skills is a sure-fire way to stand out from other applicants when you’re looking for work.
Improve your communication skills: Pretty much any job you look at is going to involve at least some level of interaction with other workers, so honing your communication skills and learning how to articulate ideas is a great way to impress your interviewer, manager, or boss. Good communication is key in team-working, and if you can understand, interpret, and convey ideas, you’ll be far more likely to be recognized as a valued member of a company.
Learn the skills of good team-working: Just the same as the point above about communication, it’s very unlikely you’ll take on a job that doesn’t involve working with others to at least some degree. Working as a team can be highly rewarding and will improve your productivity if you approach it correctly and learn how to get the best from others – as well as yourself.
Get better organized and learn to maintain your focus: Having good organizational skills in your job is key to getting things done quickly and effectively. For example, even just keeping a tidy desk and not having to search around for tools or important documents will massively increase your productivity and reduce potential lost time. Also, if you’re better organized, you’ll find it much easier to stay focused on the task at hand and not become distracted by other things. While good organizational skills come naturally to some, for most people, it’s a talent they have to learn. As a starting point, spend some time doing a desk clear-out (or any other environment where you work) to find a home for your most important files, kit, and tools.
Learn to become better at self-motivation: Ask almost any boss what qualities they love to see in their employees, and you’ll pretty much always find that self-motivation and the ability to just ‘know’ what needs to be done and when comes top of the list. Managers and company owners are focused more on the bigger picture of a company and are tasked with driving the direction a firm takes. Consequently, the last thing they want to have to do is chase up employees and constantly check they’re working as they should. Being more self-motivated, having the confidence to make decisions, and possessing the ability to perform your responsibilities without supervision will go a long way to impressing your manager or boss and convincing them you’re a valued and important member of their team.