2022 Employment Trends and Tips / Let’s be honest … for the last two years, a few words have been thrown around so much that we could be happy never hearing them again. You know the ones: agility, flexibility, pivoting. It’s like we have all learned some fancy acrobatic tricks on the COVID high-wire.
We decided to have a look at what value these finely honed abilities will have in the 2022 employment market.
What employment trends are evolving for this year? And what tips will help you take the next step in your career? Whether that be a promotion, a new job, or a complete change of industry here is what you need to know for 2022…
5 Big 2022 Employment Trends & Tips
Listen to this article on The Churchill Education Experience podcast…
Trend #1: 3 in 5 Australians Considering Career Change
According to LinkedIn survey data, three in five Australians are considering a career change. In the last quarter of 2021 job vacancies were at their highest level since the start of the pandemic.
This phenomenon is known as The Great Resignation.
It is due to many factors: Covid regulations, a retiring baby boomer generation and to a greater demand by employees to do work that enriches them.
In the past, most people would line up a new job before they left the current one. Not anymore. People are prepared to jump ship to create a happier life – and everyone’s perspective on what makes a happier life is different.
Whilst some industries such as retail, hospitality, travel, and leisure have been hit hard, many other industries such as finance, construction, media, marketing, and sales are thriving.
And job opportunities are opening quickly.
A very fluid employment market means more opportunities to move into your dream job. Many sources are also calling it an employees’ market – in which employers must offer appealing benefits and remuneration to retain skilled people.
Tip: Put your best foot forward
Give yourself the best possible chance of achieving the new job or promotion of your dreams. Here are five things you can do right now to get ready:
- Update your resume – make sure it follows latest best practice and highlights all your skills and achievements. Use our free step-by-step guide.
- Write an engaging cover letter that connects and gets you through to interview stage. Follow our free guide: 8 Essential Tips to Creating a Great Cover Letter.
- Make sure your social platforms are up to scratch (more on this below).
- Prepare for your interview.
- Research the company
- Have some smart questions to ask.
- Be ready to provide examples of your achievements.
- Refer to our Interview Tips guide for more.
- Upskill or get qualified: Upskill if you need new skills or knowledge to score the job of your dreams. AND if you already have the skills but not the qualifications to show them, book a free assessment and find out what qualifications you are eligible for through Recognition of Prior Learning (no further study required).
Trend #2: Ever increasing hybrid / remote work
Covid necessitated the ability for businesses large and small to introduce a hybrid / remote working model or close, and this trend is set to continue into 2022. In fact many say that hybrid work models are the ‘new normal’. For the team at Churchill, we all have the ability to work from home and a hybrid work model is now embedded in our company.
Tip: Leverage remote work opportunities and skills
More remote work positions mean you have a greater chance of finding a job that can give you the flexibility to work around the needs of family. It also expands your opportunities, as now more than ever before, you can work from anywhere, instead of being limited to job openings in your city or region.
Because of the increase of hybrid and remote work, employers are increasingly looking for people with remote work management skills.
Humans are social creatures. The new challenge is creating and maintaining team cohesion and corporate culture virtually. This requires a new and unique set of interpersonal communication and leadership skills.
“If you’re applying for a company that offers remote work — whether your position is in-person or not — make sure to highlight accomplishments related to managing employees or teams remotely, since it’s a skill set many employers are finding themselves desperately in need of.”
– Resume Worded
Trend #3: The influence of technology and AI
With the rise of remote work, tech skills are even more important for a wider range of industries. One of the biggest changes is the dependence on digital tools.
Whilst it is true that AI has taken away some jobs, it is also creating new ones.
We have watched on as online grocery shopping took off through click and collect. Whilst self-serve checkouts seemed to move out the role of a check out operator, there are now positions picking and packing your grocery list for you.
“In France alone, the internet took away over 500,000 jobs over the last 15 years, but it also created over 1.2 million.”
– Bucksco Today
Will there be more changes to jobs through tech? Absolutely.
Is this a reason to panic? Not at all.
Instead, it is important to embrace technology and look at it like a new colleague on your team.
Tip: Keep up with tech – lifelong learning
Make sure you learn new software apps that you hear people mentioning. List tech skills on your resume. Upskill if needed. There are free and paid courses for countless tech platforms.
There are even new qualifications that highlight the value of digital skills.
You can utilise RPL to turn your existing experience into qualifications such as BSB50120 Diploma of Business (Digital Transformation).
This qualification reflects the emerging priority of organisations in ensuring they have management of their data and digital platforms.
In your working life, you will have noticed that the functions in a business continue to grow and change.
One shift that readily comes to mind is the impact of technology on business operations over the years. Once, if we had talked about technology, we would all have thought of the IT teams that helped us when our computers were on the blink. Now, technology runs most systems in a business and touches every function.
Where some businesses may have lagged in this area, 2020/2021 and COVID-19 highlighted that digital platforms were a necessity and propelled organisations forward swiftly into the digital world. For that reason, the Diploma of Business (Digital Transformation) is a widely transferable qualification across industries and sectors.
You can utilise RPL to turn your existing experience into the Diploma of Business (Digital Transformation).
Apply for a free RPL assessment now.
Trend #4: Social media is an important employment factor
If you are applying for a new job or promotion, you must also shine up your social media presence. In addition to looking through your resume and cover letter, employers will also check your social media accounts for a more rounded view of an applicant. It is therefore important to pay attention to how you are showing up on your social platforms.
Tip: Spruce up your socials
Take an objective look at your social media platforms. If you were an employer would you hire you?
One of the most important platforms to be on when it comes to employment is LinkedIn. Think of it like a personalised professional webpage highlighting the best of you.
To set up a LinkedIn profile from scratch, or improve your current profile, follow our free guide: How to create a great LinkedIn Profile.
Trend #5: The growing importance of workplace health and safety
Employee health and safety will continue to be a top concern in 2022: During the pandemic it has been more important than ever to support employee burnout and mental health concerns.
Industry research and our personal experience tell us that Work Health and Safety qualifications are in high demand, and this will continue throughout 2022.
WHS jobs are opening in an increasing number of industries as these skills become more and more important, and remote work brings new and unique health and safety considerations.
Tip: Maximise your WHS skills
Be sure to list any WHS skills and achievements on your resume, and more importantly, qualifications.
This is a highly competitive profession, so it is vital that you ensure your experience is reflected by national qualifications.
View our WHS qualifications here.
If you would like to find out what qualifications you are eligible for in WHS, Leadership and Management, Project Management, Business, Security and Risk Management, Human Resources, Logistics or Government Investigations we invite you to apply for a free assessment…
