SECURING A JOB IN TODAY’S MARKET MAY BE JUST AS MUCH ABOUT MOBILITY AS IT IS ABILITY, SAYS KIRSTEN MACLEOD
Gone are the days when demand outweighed the supply of talent and candidates were comfortably in the driving seat when securing their next role.
Now that demand has slowed and there has been an influx of individuals looking for new roles, sights we had become accustomed to – such as multiple job offers, salary ‘bidding wars’ and ‘golden handshakes’ – are much scarcer. Applying for opportunities in this market calls for a different approach when marketing yourself to secure that ideal role.
We recently surveyed 600 finance professionals in the UK who are currently job hunting and found that one in three are considering relocating in order to find a job, signalling that in today’s market, securing a position may be just as much about mobility as ability.
The idea of professionals relocating both nationally and internationally in pursuit of a better lifestyle or for career advancement purposes is not entirely new. However, for many in 2009, mobility may well become a means by which to survive the current ‘jobs crunch’.
Been there, done that
Helen moved from her hometown of Bristol to Norwich for a head of tax role at an insurance business and says she would do it again if she had to.
‘I wanted to gain some financial services tax experience and knew I would need to extend my job search further than my local area of Bristol to achieve this. This approach worked for me and I managed to find a great interim head of tax role at a large insurance firm in Norwich. The upheaval wasn’t too bad because I only stayed in Norwich during the week and then travelled back to Bristol for the weekends.
'A new colleague arranged for me to lodge with one of her friends during the week and it worked out really well. I enjoyed exploring historic Norwich and its fabulous shopping opportunities during the week and then I would pack family events and other socialising into my weekends spent back in Bristol.’
Helen says she wouldn’t hesitate to move away from home again. ‘Realistically, I know that to find a heavyweight in-house tax role with an international bias I’m most probably going to have to widen my search outside of the South West and look at places like London and the Thames Valley as well.’
Today's jobseekers
Interestingly, Helen’s attitude is typical of the shifting mindset of today’s jobseekers who have realised that they have to swap the ‘I want’ mentality to ‘what can I offer and where can I offer it?’
The corporate world has seen the benefits of having operations based across the UK, not just in the capital, and the jobs crunch has meant that jobseekers are now going where they can find the roles that best suit their skill sets and their career ambitions, regardless of location.
This poses a bigger question: Is this mobility trend just a phenomenon of the times or will it become commonplace? The jobs crunch may well drive the professional labour force to not just focus on traditional hubs such as London to find their next career move, but to cast their net wider, meaning that there is continued mobility both nationally and internationally. In the longer term, this has got to be a good thing for UK business.
Making the move
Relocating might seem like a big step, but it can bring welcome benefits. If you crunch your numbers there may be possible scenarios that result in you being better off.
For example, could you benefit from a lower cost of living if you relocated to where your ideal role happens to be based? It could also be an opportunity to build new social and professional networks and experience living in other parts of the UK or even internationally.
‘A change of scene can be tremendous fun and it’s worth taking the plunge’, explains Helen.
If relocating just isn’t an option, consider extending the length of your daily commute. Two-thirds of the jobseekers we surveyed said they would increase the length of their daily commute to secure their next career move. Of those, almost 40% would consider adding up to an extra two hours per day to their travelling time.
Adding some time to your commute each day may not be ideal, but widening your horizons could increase the number of potential job opportunities open to you. Likewise, many organisations now offer flexible and remote working and if an employer believes you are the right person for the job, they may well be open to workable solutions.
The real deal
Nick Carne, a group tax manager, relocated from one end of the UK to another for his ideal role and has some good advice for other jobseekers in the current market.
‘Understand where your skills lie, what sets you apart from other candidates and then go where you can best exploit those skills – even if it that means relocating.’
After six years as the head of tax for a major oil services company, Nick was offered the opportunity to go to Brazil and work in a non-tax role where he could gain a greater commercial insight into what happens at the sharp end of the offshore oil and gas industry.
‘When I returned to London at the end of the 12-month assignment, I was keen to find a role where I could leverage both my international tax experience alongside my extensive operational knowledge of this industry. In terms of the opportunities available in the market, it was obvious that I needed to look outside of London to find the right role for me. I decided to look further afield within the UK and this meant I was able to find a great opportunity as a group tax manager within an ambitious and fast growing international oil and gas company in Aberdeen.
‘Having experienced the upheaval of relocating from London to Brazil the year before, the move to Aberdeen was less daunting. However, I have retained a foothold in London, where I return on a frequent basis to keep in contact with family and friends. If I had to, I would certainly consider relocating again, nationally or internationally.’
Simon, a tax manager originally from Poland, had been working in the USA when he decided he wanted to find a more challenging role with better working conditions and career progression opportunities.
‘I wasn’t convinced I’d find it there so I started looking internationally and secured a role as a tax manager in a consultancy in Birmingham.
Logistically, it was very difficult to find a new home and actually make the move. Likewise, the administration involved in moving countries is still proving really difficult. But despite these challenges, it’s a new experience which is a good thing and I would definitely consider doing it again for the right role.
‘My advice to those currently looking for work is, if you can, don’t hesitate to relocate. It can be tough but it might also be a lot of fun and you won’t know until you try it.’
How to do it
Searching for a new job in a location you’re not familiar with can seem overwhelming at first, but there are ways to make it easier. If you don’t already have a specific location in mind, start by choosing a recruitment consultancy with a national and international network of offices so you will be able to access the widest range of opportunities.
Speak to the consultants to get an idea of the locations where your skill sets are most in demand. Once you’ve got a location in mind, start gathering important information such as local salary ranges, commutable distances and major employers in the area. There’s plenty of information available on the web that can help to make your move easier, as shown by our ‘top five websites’ list below.
You’ll need to make yourself available to attend interviews, so if it’s not a commutable distance, you should plan to spend a few days there to meet employers. Keep your recruiter in the loop with your plans so they can arrange an interview schedule for you. You’ll also need to have an idea of what the regional business issues and employment trends are in that specific area, so take some time out to read the local newspaper online. During interviews, this will demonstrate to potential employers that you are serious about moving there.
