2008 Job Market Outlook
Since there are always things to do around here, and this never seems to be at the top of the priority list, I thought I’d just write a quick note to keep you all intrigued!
I have been asked numerous times what our perspective on the status of the job market is at this time of year. Toward the end of 2007, the standard response was always “It’s a crazy time of year, budgets are in review, people are travelling, decision making is slowed down.” All of which were true to different magnitudes for each client and every company.
However, what’s been going on now that 2008 is in full swing, people are “back to the grind” and hiring needs still exist? As mentioned previously, most growth in hiring is going to be seen in healthcare and in technology. But that isn’t directly applicable, right?
I am hearing from designers and talented marketing professionals that they’re not finding a lot of movement on their resume submissions and applications.
Does this mean companies that post open positions aren’t actually hiring for these available opportunities?
Does that mean that candidates aren’t qualified for the positions to which they’re applying? Does this mean so many candidates are being considered that no one has time to even respond that a resume was received?
From my seat, we’re seeing a lot of positions that are more technical in nature than we have in the past. And, according to Monster, more technical and analytical positions are going to be the increasing demand at all companies in the coming months.
Also from my perspective, while the occasional production artist or print design contract has become needed by companies struggling with maternity leave and other temporary scheduling changes, the highest demand in the communications and advertising industries is for web-savvy design and strategy professionals.
Suggestion? Bone up on your SEO/SEM knowledge, learn a coding language and build a personal website to showcase these skills, tinker around with Flash or take a course in web design. Smaller companies will be looking for more versatile multimedia designers who can also handle print collateral, while larger companies are seeking those who can take the great design concepts of their current staff and translate it into usable, strategic web pieces.
I am one of those people that sees coding letters like HTML and XML and kind of shuts down. “That’s for the programmers to worry about.” But the increasing demand is going to be for people who understand why a PHP format is required for certain projects, or why Java and .Net are kind of like two paths to the same destination. WhatIs.comcan help you get quick answers, or talking to a developer will help you, too.
Key point: Make yourself aware of the technology happening in the creative industries. It’s not going away, and it’s likely to be a key desire for many of the open positions in 2008 and beyond.
additional key point: why not think about exploring temporary or contract positions? Especially if you’re miserable in your current situation? You might be able to expand your knowledge and portfolio of experience, and you could just end up falling into a perfect position for something you never thought of before!
Technorati Tags: employment outlook 2008, hiring status, technical positions, web design, career advice
