You’ve done your prep – now it’s go time
Here, Sarah Ellis, founder of careers consultancy Amazing If and author of The Squiggly Career, gives her expert advice on which industries to target, and top hiring managers explain how to catch their eye…
Reflect on your own habits
Struggling to think of industries that are still hiring? Start by thinking about what you’ve been doing more of this year. We’ve been shopping online, exercising via Instagram and spending more time at home, relying heavily on water and electricity. We’ve used technology to connect with loved ones, consumed home entertainment and, of course, come to understand the value of healthcare and public-sector services. These are just a few clues as to which sectors are doing well right now: utilities, activewear, e-commerce, subscription services, technology and health. For a closer look, check out Deloitte’s heat map* – it analyses how different industries are faring.
Bigger might be better
Big companies, such as Microsoft, Facebook, British Gas and the larger supermarkets, have thousands of employees doing a huge variety of jobs – their very nature means they employ more people, therefore you might find they offer more opportunities. Generally speaking, bigger organisations also offer more chances to move between roles, so even if you don’t land your dream job right away, there’s more scope to pivot.
The creative industries aren’t off-limits
Want to go into advertising? Research each agency’s clients and apply to jobs at firms whose client rosters haven’t been so affected by COVID-19. Fancy a
role in beauty? High-street brands might be having a hard time, but since lockdown began in March, the number of Beauty Pie subscribers has doubled.† The lesson? It’s definitely going to be harder to get into this field than it was last year, but creative companies are still hiring – you just have to dig a bit deeper.
You don’t need to be an industry expert
Most companies have lots of different functions, so think about how your broader skills are transferable and show that you’re adaptable and open to learning new things. Remember: lots of job specs are wish lists rather than definitive descriptions of the skills you actually need to do the role, so if you can do a few of the things in the list and you’re curious to learn more, go for it.
Don’t let location stop you
There will now be more remote jobs available – for example, the charity Action On Hearing Loss recently announced it’ll be giving up its London HQ to move to flexible working long-term. So if you’re a graduate in Newcastle who couldn’t previously afford to move to London for work, you now might not have to. How freeing is that?
Escape the competition
I’m seeing a rise in the availability of international roles. If there’s a huge boom in the industry that you want to go into but it’s in a different country, target your job search to that area – and if there’s an overwhelming number of jobs in one specific country, you could even consider learning the language in your spare time. For example, if you’re really interested in fashion e-commerce but are finding it’s too competitive in the UK, try looking for similar roles in other European locations.
Beware “shiny object syndrome”
Don’t be attracted to a company just because it looks cool on Instagram or they have a slick office. Instead, ask yourself: “What am I going to learn in this role?” Some less glam companies have incredible opportunities, so try not to compare yourself to a friend working at a glossy brand
– they might not enjoy it. Just because you can’t see the downsides doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
“THERE WILL NOW BE MORE REMOTE JOBS AVAILABLE”