17/52: Out of work? Here's some tips for #TheRecovery.
The reality is many, many people in Australia have suddenly found themselves unemployed at a time when very few job opportunities exist. Don't despair, however, because the job market is going to recover and what's more, you'll be back in demand. How long will this take? Whilst no one knows how long it will take for the recovery to begin generating new jobs, the IMF predicts Australia’s GDP will expand by 8.4% in 2021 after falling 7.2% in 2020. The IMF believes we are in the worst of the recession now and the recovery will begin in the September quarter.
Australian Calendar Year Economic Growth (1960-2021).
Image: www.theconversation.com
So assuming the IMF's World Economic Outlook report has accurately identified that a recovery is coming, what should you be doing to make sure you're job-ready?
1. Update your CV
Your resume is going to be the key tool you have to land you interviews. Consider this, most hiring managers scan a CV for 10 seconds before making a decision to read on or reject. Is you CV going to be read or rejected?
Stratacon have put together some great tips and a free, downloadable resume template here. The template follows the same rules I spelt out in the 2011 video below, which is just as relevant today...Same guy, different look!
2. Build your network
If you're sitting at home waiting for your next gig, now is a great time to use tools like LinkedIn to build your network. Research the industries, companies and individuals you want to work for and reach out to them. Google 'How to build your network using LinkedIn' and you'll find plenty of useful tips and articles. Have a look at LinkedIn Groups and how these special-interest 'clubs' can help you to connect with leaders in your profession. Here's a guide to Groups.
3. Learn a skill
For many people, this will be the first time since school/uni they've had an opportunity to do further study or upskill. Whether you're a Draftsperson, Site Manager or Project Manager, there's a skill out there that will make you more attractive to a future employer. Review job ads and position descriptions for your profession and seek inspiration to pick up an in-demand skill. Some 'hot skills' for design and construction from 2019/20 include Revit, Prince 2, report-writing and client-liaison skills.
On the same theme, there are also a lot of courses and subjects being offered for free via major universities. Check out these free courses from Harvard University or this list of free courses collated by Ed.
There's plenty of doom and gloom out there right now, especially if you're out of work, but I want to encourage you to focus on being job-ready when the biggest recovery since the 1960s begins in Australia. Now is the time to update your CV, build your network and learn a new skill.
#constructionjobs #therecovery #upskilling #resumetips #networking #linkedin #52Frames #Blog