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Finding a recession-proof job
- August 14, 2020
The COVID-19 crisis has now officially sent the economy into recession and impacted numerous careers. The economy has shrunk 20.4% compared with the first three months of the year.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the economy bounced back in June as government restrictions on movement started to ease.
On a month-on-month basis, the economy grew by 8.7% in June, after growth of 1.8% in May.
Naturally, the majority of us are on edge right now, but it's important to know that while searching for a job during a recession isn't easy, it's not impossible.
Here are some tips on what you can do to make yourself employable:
- Build up your skill set
Regardless of the industry you work in, there are always more skills to learn — new tools, new approaches, and new ways for your career to develop.
Besides your technical skills, make sure you are also working on your soft skills. From communication to time management, you want to be able to reference these skills during a job search.
Lastly, don't forget to focus on your transferable skills— especially if you find yourself making a career shift due to the economic downturn.
- Start networking
It's much easier to find a new job through internal referrals than through the application process. Get in touch with old contacts and work on developing new ones – especially in companies where you would like to work in the future.
- Prioritise exploring over applying
If you're going to be looking for a new role in the next six to 12 months, it's likely there will be lots of other people looking for jobs at the same time.
Explore different roles and different avenues and find out details about the roles that interest you. This is preferable than just applying for something because the job title looks good.
- Start job hunting for recession-proof jobs
Some jobs are inherently more suited for recessions than others, with the most recession-proof careers being positions within industries or companies that tend to thrive during economic downturns.
Industries that are typically more recession-proof include education, law enforcement, medicine, and public utility services.
If you don't work in one of those fields and don't want to switch, you might instead focus on employers that are likely to make it through a tough economic downturn relatively intact.
- Celebrate your successes – however small
Applying for jobs can be gruelling, especially if it feels like you keep getting knocked back. Make sure you celebrate all of your small wins, and all of these small successes can build up your confidence and resilience.
If you are on the search for a new job, then get in touch on 0207 043 4629 or send in your CV to recruitment@thegraduateproject.co.uk and The Graduate Project will be happy to help.
By Anirudh Nair
