You may have seen the headlines– “The Great Resignation”, “Greatest Talent Drought in History”, “Massive Labour Shortages” – the list goes on. As a recruiter, whilst a tad overdramatic, these headlines do reflect the reality in the labour market right now. The market has been flipped on its head and many candidates do have a lot more choice and opportunity.

Should you be using this as an opportunity to push for promotion or pay rise at your current work? Or take the opportunity to look for a new, elevated position in the market? How can you make this work for you?

1.    Think long-term.

Our advice is to take a deep breath and think long-term about your career. The temptation is there to leverage this environment to move roles for a quick salary bump. The danger is that this leads you to jobs which don’t necessarily reflect where you are currently in your career – which can expose you when things eventually revert (which they certainly will!).

2.    Plan

We recommend that you use this time to really “audit” your career. Think deeply about whether your current role is offering you the challenges the excite and fulfil you, if your workplace is supportive and nurturing, and if you are getting the right exposure to skills and projects. Most importantly if you wake each day and want to go to work!

Now is the perfect time to map out your career and revisit your long-term objectives and have an honest appraisal of whether you are on the right journey. And if not, this is the time to act. Make a move sideways to broaden your skill set. Identify the right company to help you progress along your career path. Ask for an investment in training and education rather than more money. Chase the job that will excite and fulfil you. If you have the choice of roles available, choose the one that ticks every box, don’t settle for the fastest, easiest option.

3.    Don’t chase the $$

As tempting as it can be, make a move for the right reason. Remain true to your career vision and goals, not simply to chase more money or a new title. When the talent drought ends, you want to come out the other side further along your career trajectory with skills that will position you for the next talent cycle. 

4.    Be aware of the market.

Many candidates miss out on opportunity and progression simply by not being open to opportunities. This is the time to keep an eye on things. Even if you are completely content in your role, sometimes an informal discussion or exploratory chat about a role can help you formulate “what’s next” for you.