Whether you’ve been unemployed and looking for a job through the pandemic or are planning to leave your current role in 2021 or in the near future, it’s no secret that hiring has changed in many ways. From remote onboarding to a shift in where we network and look for job opportunities, there have been fundamental changes in how we get our next gigs. And even as the promise of vaccines and immunity give us a glimpse into a future where we’ll be back in the office again, some things are here to stay.
“During the several months of the pandemic, we basically saw a lot of rules around how work gets done, be broken, or fall by the wayside,” says Stuart Woolmington, Chief Strategist at DIGGER. “People worked in radically different ways, whether that’s crossing functional silos, whether that’s teaming, whether that’s working in different industries in different sectors, assuming new roles very quickly.” And once you change the way you work, it can be tough to go back to the old way of doing things, especially if the new way works.
As the pandemic era gives way to a hybrid approach to work, the way we look for jobs will remain changed too. Here’s what job hunters can likely expect in the “next normal” in 2021 and beyond:
1. Your Digital Presence will matter more
With remote connections still the primary way candidates connect with recruiters and hiring managers, they need to be diligent about their digital presence. Companies will increasingly find candidates through the content they develop online, and their professional online profiles on Online Employment Marketplaces Chris Engel, COO of DIGGER, an Employment platform that helps companies find candidates and connect jobseerkers to the right jobs, agrees. Candidates need to “move the focus from their résumés and place it more on developing their digital footprints to get noticed,” he says.
Clean up your social accounts, curate or create relevant content, and develop content—such as a blog post, introductory video, or contributed piece—that will demonstrate your thought leadership and give you an edge, he says. “Sure, a résumé is a nice-to-have and required for some applications, but it’ll just be table stakes in the 2021 job market and not enough to outshine a competitor,” he says. Added to your social activities, makes sure your Professional Profile on employment marketplaces such as DiggerApp is updated.
2. Employers will search for skills and experience (Capabilities)
As roles are reimagined, and companies need employees with skills such as problem-solving and adaptability, those skills should be evident on your online professional profile and in any content you create. DIGGER's technology actually then tell you, based on your skills and experience (capabilities), here are all the different types of jobs that you might be equipped for within the organization. Here are the multiple different career paths that you can start to take. And, so it starts to open up a brand new dialogue.
3. Key Industries Will Be Booming
Hiring trends are likely going to vary depending on industry and company size. Bigger companies that have enough cash flow and booming industries like tech and healthcare may see hiring surges, while smaller businesses or those in impacted industries like service and hospitality may hold off hiring until the economy proofs more stable. That means that 2021 may be the year to step out of your industry comfort zone or take the leap into a career pivot—especially if you want to increase your chances of landing a job more quickly or if you were already considering a career change.
Here are some key industries to watch, according to experts:
Tech: Largely because they don’t rely on physical storefronts for business and can often operate almost entirely online, as most of their employees can work from home.
Healthcare and health tech: The healthcare and tech industries will continue to expand to make society more health-conscious and reliant on technology.
Fintech: Even before the pandemic, the financial services industry was trending toward online banking. COVID accelerated the transition away from a brick-and-mortar presence, so we’ll likely see more jobs in the online banking and fintech sectors
E-commerce: You know all of that online shopping we’ve been doing? It’s had an impact. We’re going to see an increased focus on e-commerce and consumer goods, as there’s been a rise in people buying products rather than services.
Customer service: An increased demand for customer service representatives across a variety of industries, but most notably software (as companies continue to rely on virtual business and remote work) and retail (as consumers continue to do the majority of shopping online).
Renewable energy: This industry has been trending upward for a while as we’ve become increasingly aware of the climate crisis. And it looks like climate change will be a top priority for the new presidential administration, so it’s likely that we’ll see growth in the green energy space.
How to Adapt
Determine whether you need to pivot. If your industry is expected to continue to grow, you’ll want to focus on making yourself the strongest candidate possible. This could mean taking on a project to keep your skills sharp, increasing your networking efforts, or reevaluating your professional profile. But if most (or all) of your experience is in an industry that’s been hard-hit by the pandemic, like hospitality or travel, you might want to consider looking for a job in a new space where many of your skills would translate, like e-commerce or virtual customer support.
Identify your transferable skills. Take stock of the skills you have from your previous industry and determine which skills will be most relevant and transferable, and think about how you might build or enhance them. Partnering with a career coach for help crafting a compelling message about your transferable skills.
Do your research. When making a career pivot, it’s important to learn as much as you can about the role or industry you’re looking to move into. Look at...job postings and think about how your skills relate. Every industry has its own terminology, so make sure you’re using that terminology on your resume.
3. Temporary, Freelance, & Contract Work Will Be on the Rise
Companies might rely more on temporary and project professionals during uncertain economic times. There might be more job posts that fall under temporary and contract categories throughout the year since businesses are cautious about hiring full-time employees. If you haven’t had success finding a job, temporary work can be a great short-term solution. It can also bridge a gap on your resume and build some new skills.
4. Remote Work Is Here to Stay
The pandemic has altered the way many employers think about remote work, and it’s unlikely that the number of people who work in an office will ever return to pre-2020 levels. But that doesn’t mean we won’t be returning to our cubicles at all. Most likely, some companies will embrace remote work in their next chapters, others will want workers back on-site, and still others will look to hybrid and flexible models. In the meantime, many organizations will also continue to conduct their hiring processes remotely, regardless of what type of stance they adopt on remote work in the long run.
5. Recruiting Will Continue to Become More Automated
Hiring teams are increasingly turning to automated systems to help them manage the influx of applications, i.e DIGGER. For job seekers across all industries and levels of seniority, it operates like a dedicated recruiter. That means presenting strong fit job opportunities, proactively pitching potential candidates to employers, and providing job seekers with updates on the status of their applications. This makes job seekers feel supported while searching for work. Some of these new technologies also scan cover letters and even chat conversations for relevant keywords and use them to determine whether or not a candidate might be a fit for the job they’ve applied to.
6. There Will Be More Competition Overall
With unemployment and remote work on the rise, the once shallow applicant pool has now deepened. This means more people are now applying for any given job posting. That can make it harder for you to stand out from the crowd. It can also mean that you could be in for a longer job search.
How to Adapt
Polish your resume, cover letter, and DIGGER profile. Actually, don’t just polish them. Make sure they shine like a newly bought diamond ring. In a competitive job market, investing time in perfecting your resume, cover letter, and DiggerApp Profile will be more important than ever. You should also make sure your social media accounts are job-search friendly and update your portfolio or personal website (if you have them—if you don’t, consider making one!).
Think about creative ways to stand out. Can you learn a new skill? Self-publish an article? Create an impressive or unique personal website? “If you’re looking to enhance your skills or build up your resume, consider taking on freelance work or a pro-bono project if you can afford to. Employers appreciate candidates who go the extra mile to stay sharp and keep up with the industry.
Embrace up-skilling. We’re in an up-skill world - Ensure that you’re staying a step ahead of the trends and that your skills don’t become obsolete as things continue to change.” There are a plethora of sites that offer free or affordable online classes for job seekers looking to brush up or add new skills to their resumes.
The last 20 months have not been a walk in the park, and 2021/2022 will likely continue to cause uncertainties in the workplace. But even though there might be some challenges ahead, there are also many reasons to look forward to the new year.
If you’re ready to start job searching, go ahead and utilize DIGGER. It’s the only job board that lists all the online vacancies in one place, which means you’ll never have to hop back and forth between websites to scan through ads and apply for jobs!
Can I use the DiggerApp on my phone?
Yes! Download the Digger App from the App Store or Google Play, to search and apply to jobs right from your phone. You’ll also be notified when you receive a message from an employer, be first to see new job postings, and can apply to jobs in two clicks with Quick Apply.
Find opportunities that fit what you are looking for on the DiggerApp. Link to create a FREE account. When you create a profile on DiggerApp.io, be sure to add these skillsets in your bio to stand out from your peers !
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