Prepare for Work

Tips For Graduates Seeking Work

Keep CV up-to.date and post online
Actively participate in online groups you think potential employers will be reading
Be realistic about remuneration
Set up your own search engine-friendly blog and update it every day
Be prepared to relocate
Obtain commercial experience
Know what added value you can bring to an employer
Be flexible!

How To Survive The Recession In ICT

This is an economic crisis full of uncertainty. Experts are divided as to how long it will last, and what - if anything - will provide a solution. It seems to be affecting every sector, and for many working in the ICT industry - or those training to enter it - a previously secure profession appears under threat.

Mixed Messages

The good news is that although the ITC sector is experiencing problems, it is still far more vibrant than many others, such as finance, construction, tourism, hospitality, and more that have all suffered major setbacks. But even some of these stricken industries are recruiting according to Steven Lewis, Managing Director of The Network, a major online recruitment organisation. Turning to the ICT sector, there are still vacancies being offered and filled - but quietly. "The shutters are down, but behind the scenes, a significant amount of recruiting is going on," explains Lewis.

Other sources appear to give some grounds for optimism. An article at Info World states that the large figures for US ICT job cuts announced do not reflect the reality of the current situation. Meanwhile Network World recently announced large numbers of US jobs and internship are still becoming available, even though the overall picture is still far from ideal.

New figures from a poll by the UK's Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), have shown that IT recruiters are still optimistic about the future, despite the effect of the economic downturn on the UK labour market. The results were supported by research from the REC's 'Demand and Supply in the IT Sector' report, which showed an increase in the number of workers within the ICT sector over the Q2-Q3 period, despite advertised job vacancies falling for the third consecutive quarter.

Regional Opportunities

So where else are jobs to be found? Although it is impossible to highlight precise hiring hot-spots, there are clear regional differences in the level of vitality that the ICT job market is currently experiencing.

New Zealand and Australia's economies enjoy a degree of independence form the rest of the world and as a result are not feeling the same level of pain - but are beginning to. On the positive side, there is also ongoing investment here in ICT, as well as the rest of the Pacific Rim, including Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia.

Across Europe, the picture is a very mixed one, often depending on the fragility or otherwise of the ruling government, and widely varying economic conditions. And as we've seen, there is certainly a degree of optimism in the UK. Lewis also believes that the recently agreed G20 measures will help to stabilize the region, and therefore boost its employment markets.

The former Soviet Bloc, including Eastern Europe, continues to be attractive to employers, some of which are continuing with plans to move their operations East, despite political upheavals. This, admits Lewis, is partially due to the low salary expectations in those countries, as well as the high level of education and training.

Equally, India's ICT talent pool is still top of mind for corporations, although workers there "are beginning to realise their income potential," says Lewis.

Some regional linguistic advantages are also becoming apparent. Francophone Africans and Canadians are being selected for jobs in France for example, as some companies there seeks to take on a more cosmopolitan image, and take advantage of distant talent.

Evolving Recruitment Strategies

An alternative strategy to corporate relocation is targeting talent more accurately in their country of origin, and enticing them abroad. According to Lewis, this means that employers are making recruitment more low-key and discrete, and instead of loud, blanket campaigns, they are increasingly on the look-out, online.

As a result, if you want to get hired in today's market, you must be willing to relocate, and increase your online professional profile as much as possible.

Recruiting online has a number of advantages for companies that need to hire, the most important being cost-effectiveness. Having a good online profile is more than keeping your CV relevant and up-to-date., Although that is important, it also means being involved in the right news groups and discussion boards to keep up with the latest developments.

Also, ask yourself what could be of interest to your potential future employer online. Seek out those online communities that fit, and participate in them regularly. Social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and even Twitter can also be used to give you an edge over other candidates.

Essential Added Value

Back in the off-line world, potential candidates should be aware of the added value they can bring to a company. That might be language skills for example - and not just English. Recent graduates and students can boost their value-added by taking on internships and job placements to gain commercial experience.

And in the real world, you should also have a realistic idea of your market value, and set your expectations accordingly. As for trying to predict the immediate future, most advice seems to be saying "don't". Employers are adapting to changing market conditions quarter-by-quarter, and if you are currently job hunting, you should too.

About | Contact | Useful links | Job Portal