A 2022 online poll of Australian workers by leading recruitment company people2people has revealed that over 40 per cent are looking to change jobs or make a career change, a three per cent increase from pre-Christmas results. Recruitment expert and Group Managing Director Mark Smith predicts that the “Great Resignation” will still happen in Australia but may be delayed.
If Omicron has got you rethinking your career path, it could be time to brush up on that CV to see what transferrable skills might make for good business.
Here are Smith’s top tips to spruce up your resume.
Seven things to bear in mind when writing your CV this year:
COVID gaps in employment history
“Any gaps in your CV, be it COVID or any other reason, transparency is essential. Hiring and recruitment managers are likely to find out in one way or another if a job seeker’s career timeline doesn’t stack up,” he says. “In the context of the pandemic era, the last two years have been challenging for businesses that have gone through waves of redundancies and restructuring. A gap in your resume doesn’t hold a stigma.”
Vaccine status
The COVID era has thrown a new spin on resumes and covers letters.
“Adding your vaccine status to your resume is your decision,” Mark Smith says. “But be prepared, as some employers will ask for it during the recruitment process.”
Transferrable skills are key
While it is better to switch generic qualities for skills relevant to the jobs you are interested in, bear in mind that transferrable skills are becoming increasingly requested by employers.
“In the past two years, organisations had to adapt to a fast-changing workplace environment. In this new context, skills that enable you to adapt to a new situation will be highly sought after by employers.”
“Many transferrable skills are what we call soft skills (communication and teamwork, for instance), and it’s important to back them up with real-life examples. This will only make your application stronger.”
Tech savviness is essential
“In the same vein as transferrable skills, COVID restrictions have forced us to work from home more often. In those instances, Smith says tech-savvy professionals will make everyone’s life much easier.
“Make sure you highlight the systems you are comfortable with and your ability to learn new ones, as this could mean shorter training periods and a better ability to pick things up with new software and platforms.”
Working from home expectations
Mentioning your ability to work from home in your resume may broaden your opportunities, so highlight it.
“If you are open to working fully remotely, you could also investigate jobs in other states of Australia,” adds Smith.
Achievements
An oldie but a goodie.
“Not enough people write about their achievements, even though they are the best possible way to showcase a skill they have gained throughout their career.”
“Look up the STAR method – Situation, Task, Approach and Results – and use it as much as possible. This allows hiring managers to quantify your skills.”
Career change
Between ten and 20 per cent of Australians are looking for a career change in 2022, according to people2people’s online survey.
“When looking for a career change, your resume might look out of place when applying for jobs. That is why including a summary or a cover letter explaining why you are making such a career change will increase your chances of getting the job.
“You could also get on the phone with the hiring manager and explain your career intentions. This will help them understand your journey and draw attention to your application,” Smith says.
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