Is now a good time to look for a job?
2020 has been a year of challenges. We have heard more than once “I am happy to just have a job”. There is some truth in this, the Technology and Data and Analytics areas haven’t been as badly hit as some industries, and from a job seeker point of view have been relatively buoyant in the back half of 2020. The organisations that we are speaking with seem relatively confident that they will be hiring contractors or permanent people in 2021. You may be asking yourself over this holiday period, is now a good time to look for a job? Here are some things to consider.
Christmas rush
People tend to take breaks at this time of the year, spend time with their families, they are often in places with no or limited internet in New Zealand, there are not as many actively applying for jobs as you may think. This year there is less people coming back from overseas to visit families for Christmas, so those people won’t be applying for jobs either. There are people applying for jobs, but there is not usually a crazy influx for job seekers spending the Christmas break on Seek applying to everything.
If you want your CV to stand out maybe it is a good idea to have it in a recruiter’s inbox when they return in January. They will have time to review it, and time to speak to candidates. You might not get an immediate reply, but if your CV is good you will get a response. If you want to have your CV in my inbox you can send an email here.
What do you want out of a new job?
This is an important question to figure out. The grass is not always greener on the other side. What is it that will drive your decision to move? Money, responsibility, location, size of company, a change in tools or technologies, culture; are all drivers for people, some jobs may offer all or some of these, so it is worth asking yourself how many of your boxes do you expect to tick to make you move? How soon in your new role do you want these boxes ticked?
Perhaps research businesses in the space that you are interested, follow these on LinkedIn, understand if there are roles available and are these businesses good to work for and do their values align to your own?
What can you expect out of your current job?
It is a good idea to think about your current company and industry to gauge how stable your position is, do you have a chance of satisfying your needs/goals in your current company?
It is also worth considering if you work for a company who listens to your concerns, if you even feel like you can voice them. Sometimes a company might be able to address challenges if you are not happy or fulfilled. A company might be able to quickly offer more money, but often take longer to address structural or cultural issues. Are you prepared to wait for change if they are able to make adjustments?
Is your current company likely to make a counteroffer if you receive an offer elsewhere? If so why are they not making these changes now. Would you stay even if you do receive a counter offer? Would anything really change?
Motivation levels/complaints
If your motivation levels are dropping, or you find yourself complaining constantly about your current job when you are not in the office, it might be an indication that you need to look for a new job. It is worth reflecting on these questions, and with Christmas just around the corner deciding if you just need a break or would a change of scenery increase your motivation. External conditions can affect your motivation, but motivation is also a function of your own drive, it is worth reflecting on if there is something you can be doing to increase your own motivation, or to reduce the things you complain about. Do you understand what motivates you, if you don’t you could be in the same trap within a new organisation.
What is the contract market doing?
The contract market has slowed in 2020. Many companies have either moved contractors to permanent or hired permanent employees to replace contractors. This is creating more challenges for companies looking for contractors, and good permanent employees. Several of our clients have begun indicating that they will be looking for contractors in the New Year, an expected uptick in the contractor market will impact the permanent market, as we will see career contractors moving on from their recently acquired permanent roles to return to the contractor pool in 2021. We will see a lot more movement in the market in general in 2021, and significant opportunity should you decide to seek another look for a new role.
Personal circumstances
Of course, you will consider your personal circumstances before looking for work. It is a good idea to look at your 5-year plan, are you going to get there in your current job? Will your new job get you there in 5 years, or will you have to move twice? These are good questions to consider from both a professional and personal point of view.
For some they are in a position where they can relocate for a role. It is worth considering the stability of the company or industry, taking a risk might offer more upside longer term. You might even take a pay cut to learn new skills or for a growth opportunity.
Personal circumstances are likely to be different for everyone, but a big factor when deciding to look for a new job.
There are a lot of questions to ask yourself when you are thinking about moving jobs. In the industries where AugmentX are focused, the market is buoyant, and there are good opportunities available and we are expecting more in the New Year. Good people are always in demand. We are always looking for superstars in the Data and Analytics industry, if you are looking to move in 2021 you can register your interest with us.