New survey reveals jobseeker trends

Jobseekers should be prepared for change when looking for new employment, with new data from Right Management showing nearly half (47%) of jobseekers change industries to land a new role, the same proportion change job function, and another 10% change location.

Right Management's Career Transition Candidate Survey is based on responses from over 400 participants of its career transition programs, between July 2009 and May 2010. It suggests that jobseekers need to be flexible when searching for new opportunities. It also suggests the industries facing severe skills shortages may benefit if they can tap into these flexible workers.

Tim Roche, career management practice leader at Right Management, said that with skills shortages on the rise, jobseekers may be presented with better opportunities if they broaden their search to include relocations or a change of industry or function.

"There are many industries facing critical skills shortages and companies will consider candidates with skill sets that could be transferred to a different field. This presents more opportunities for jobseekers willing to look outside their traditional roles and current locations when considering a new position."

The survey also revealed that the number of people accepting a pay cut when starting a new role has continued to grow from last year, with 44% of candidates brought in on lower compensation compared to their previous role (compared to 41% in the same period from 2008 to 2009).

Networking remains the most successful means of finding a new job, with 34% of job seekers finding a job through this search tactic. The proportion of jobs found through print advertisements dropped in the last year (19% compared to 24% in 2008-2009), while the percentage of jobs secured via direct approach to the company rose (12% compared to 9%).

"Employers are naturally going to be more cautious about the number and quality of people they hire after a period of uncertainty and instability. They are looking for loyalty and genuine interest. Personal recommendations made by someone in a jobseeker's network are going to mean a lot more than a generic cover letter," Roche said.