HR professionals have reported that nearly half of all job seekers (43 per cent) are willing to take a pay cut and more than a third (39 per cent) are prepared to step down and take on a more junior role in order to land a job in these tough times. The study, commissioned by local online noticeboard and leading jobs site Gumtree.com, surveyed the HR Industry and job seekers to reveal the changes occurring in the employment market as threats of more job cuts loom.
With the threat of large scale public sector job cuts, one in five (19 per cent) HR professionals across the UK have also seen a surge in applications from those trying to move from the public to private sector. More widely, 37 per cent have seen applicants trying to change careers.
The good news is that 85 per cent of HR professionals would consider an applicant without directly relevant experience if they can prove that they have the right skills for the role, signalling that jobseekers can widen their search and apply for more varied job types.
Speaking about the changing face of the jobs market, careers expert and author of ‘How To Get A Job You’ll Love’ John Lees said: “We are in very interesting times; the traditional rules about applying for a job are changing. While many recruiters are prepared to consider those with a different career history, over half of candidates fail to correctly identify their core skills which is a fundamental barrier to not shining in an interview.
“Thousands of people are expected to see their jobs disappear over the next 18 months. Despite the good news emerging about unemployment figures there is going to rocky times ahead, especially for those in vulnerable public sector jobs.”
To help job hunters get ahead in the jobs market, John Lees has created five simple guides to help candidates using Gumtree get the job and give them the best chance to stand out from the crowd. These will be available on Gumtree.com.
Top tips from John Lees on how to identify your skills to prove your worth in an interview include:
- Sit down with a colleague of friend to really identify your skills and achievements - these can be from outside work as well as from a working role
- Don’t just list skills, use mini-narratives which provide clear evidence of where you used skills and what you achieved
- Learn to ‘translate’ your skills – they only become transferable when you describe them in a way that a busy employer finds attractive
- Decode organisations carefully - match your CV and interview language to fit
- Identify examples of where you have made a real difference, added value, saved time or money, or delighted customers
Commenting on the site’s new job offering, Sam Taylor from Gumtree.com said: “Not many people know that Gumtree.com is already one of the UK’s biggest jobs websites. In July of this year alone 2.7 million job seekers used site.
“We all know that navigating the job market can be a minefield but the report shows that, according to HR professionals, there is light at the end of the tunnel as far as re-skilling is concerned.
“Our new guides will help candidates realise their potential making it quick and easy to secure their ideal job.”
To see current job opportunities or to read the advice guides visit www.gumtree.com.