ith each passing year the job market landscape continues to
change thanks to the changing economy, technology and consumer needs. With 2016
here and underway we cannot help but wonder what this year will have in store for
us, especially when it comes to the job market and hiring trends. Right now, it
seems as though the job market will continue to improve throughout next year as
it did in 2015. Ziprecruiter.com has ranked the Albany-Schenectady-Troy area as number 4 in its list of top job
markets for 2016 with its top 5 industries being Healthcare, Insurance, Retail,
Events and Hospitality/Restaurant. We can agree there, and can add that we personally
saw more Technology and Accounting jobs coming through our office in 2015 as
well. The article mentions that “low job competition and unemployment point to
Albany’s continued economic success in 2016”. While this may be true for some
industries, competition in the job market for many job seekers is still tough. Companies
want the best employees, and in order to attain one of those positions job
seekers will need to be presenting themselves as the best candidate out there.
Many companies hire in the first quarter as a result of new
hiring budgets; that has influenced many people who are currently employed to
be on the lookout for new opportunities. Job seekers are more open to moving jobs
today than they have been in recent years. They are not only more willing to
look, but also more confident in their ability to attain a better job, even
with a “skills gap” or a still rebounding economy. Due to this continued
upswing in employee movement, employer branding will continue to be very
important for employers in 2016. Job seekers are not desperately looking and
willing to take the first bite, those endowed with desired skill sets, seek out
the positions and employers that are more fitting to their values. To attain
them, employers need to first attract them.
The downside to this is that competition for job seekers is
still very high and employers still want the best of the best. There is no real
change here, but the means of acquiring employees with the skills and desired
traits is evolving. Companies are shifting their hiring practices to find and
hire talented employees that they can mold into top performing employees. Improving
technology has continuous effects on the way we work (in all industries, things
are changing and will continue to change), the ability to continuously learn
and take initiative to grow is extremely important as a result. The motivation
to learn and perform well now and for the future are important traits to have
as a job seeker in 2016. However, this does not mean that employers are not
going to be selective about who they hire; beyond skills, cultural fit is
increasingly important in improving employee engagement and performance. As
this past year has shown us, there has been an increase in the amount of time it
takes to make a hire, which is likely to continue in 2016, as these traits are
sought after by more and more employers.
Employers and recruiters have been introduced to an
increasingly wide variety of resources in which they can search for and acquire
talented potential employees. Since both employed and unemployed job seekers
are the ones using these resources to find their next best opportunity, there
is continued need to improve personal branding online this year. Finding your
niche and just staying in that little area will not cut it anymore. Branch out,
become influential and resourceful to communities outside of your niche to
broaden your horizons. Note that, referrals are still a top method used by
employers to find quality people; it’s all about who you know or who your
network knows. Don’t sell yourself short, back up that referral with what you
have online, employers will be looking.
If you are looking for a new job in 2016, be wary of casting
too wide of a net as a job seeker. By doing this you may not find the best
opportunity. This is not to say do not look in unexpected places, it just means
to put in the work and apply to the best opportunities, customize your resume
specifically for the job you are applying to, connect and communicate with
employers and their networks. Do not just blindly apply to anything within
reach. Look for the opportunities that can help you to grow professionally,
that align with your career goals. 2016 brings a clean slate and a new hope to
finding the perfect fit!