One minute we’re in March 2020, being told to isolate – we blinked, and now we’re approaching 2022. Can you believe it?
A lot of people have put their career plans on hold during the pandemic, which is completely understandable – staying afloat was the best most of us could do – but what now? Although (unfortunately) COVID is still around, at Beam we believe 2022 is the perfect time to un-pause your job hunt and get back out there.
If you’re thinking of job seeking in 2022, there are some trends you need to be aware of, but before we start – it is good news. 2022 is definitely a job seekers market!
Remote Interview Processes
If you’ve already had a couple of interviews in 2021, you’ll have noticed a lot of companies are doing the interview process entirely online. This is great if you work Full Time, and struggle to commute somewhere that could potentially be a waste of time. Having interviews on your lunch break, or before or after work, whilst at home is super ideal. It means you don’t raise suspicions in your current role, and you can also schedule multiple remote interviews a day – if you’ve got the offers.
Don’t worry, remote interviewing will still tell you what you need to know about the company, and you should still get a feel of the business and the people in it over camera. Sometimes in the final round, employers will eventually invite candidates into the office, and by this point you’ll feel at ease after seeing them online. The good old joke about feeling as though you’ve seen them before is always an ice breaker!
A Candidate-Driven Market
Yep, job seekers, you’ve got a lot to be happy about – this is your time to shine! There’s thousands of jobs out there, all needing to be filled, and not enough candidates to fill them. There are plenty of reasons why this is a good thing, and we’ll explain them in the points below, but we can’t stress enough, this is your time to be brave. Apply for roles you think you’re underqualified for, or something a little out your comfort zone.
You never know what employer is going to read your CV and come back to you asking for an interview!
More Company Perks than ever
With it being a candidate-driven market, recruiters are going to feel the pressure. There needs to be a lot more ‘company perks’ than usual for them to stand out amongst the many jobs thrown on the LinkedIn and Indeed pile.
Job seekers have spoken, and they want flexible working options, such as hybrid and remote working, and they want clear boundaries set on where/when they’re expected to be in the office.
UK job seekers looking for office-based roles are most interested in positions that have clear hybrid working rules, provide home office equipment and offer career development opportunities. These are the findings from the 2022 Global Culture Report* which analysed the perspectives of over 38,000 employees, leaders, HR practitioners, and executives from 21 countries around the world, including over 2,500 from the U.K.
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Higher Salaries
There are a lot of labour shortages – and just like the points above, with the market being so competitive, businesses’ need to keep up. Not only will you most likely get a higher salary for a role now than you would’ve if you had applied back in 2019, but you also have a better chance of getting a role you may not have been offered.
Now couldn’t be better to apply for your dream role, even if you feel a little less experienced for it. A lot of candidates in 2022 may find themselves in roles higher than the Entry-Level jobs they’d usually go for.
So, our advice, don’t shy away from any Junior or Senior roles, even if you believe you’re at entry level. You can’t see who else has applied for the role – and you never know, you may have the most experience!
Faster Hiring Processes
This is always a positive. A lot of us are all too familiar with the 3-4 rounds of interviews, with a task in between, followed by a couple weeks of waiting around for feedback. It’s tiresome, and truthfully, employers can’t be sure you’re going to be there to wait for the results!
In 2022 companies will need to act fast so they don’t lose any potential candidates. With this call of urgency, you may get more of a feel as to whether they like you or not. Little clues may show. Keep note on things like whether they ask you who else you’re interviewing with, or if you can wait a certain amount of time for the next interview. These clues might be subtle, but they have a lot of meaning behind them!
We hope this post has prepared you with what’s to come in 2022, and remember, it’s your year – be selective, but use the opportunity to find the perfect role for you. Trust us, there will be lots to choose from!
