In the famous words of Bob Dylan, “The Times They Are a-Changin” and aren’t they always? Nothing stays constant for long in the world of business, for both employees and employers. It can make keeping up with new trends a bit of a chore. The biggest change you’ll notice is that for the last decade it has been an employer’s market in Ireland, but now the tide is turning. The war for talent has intensified, and research shows that employers are planning to give their staff a raise in 2018 to incentivise them to stay. But that doesn’t mean employers don’t have their preferences once recruitment time comes around!

Now that the playing field is balancing out, it is worthwhile to take stock of where everyone’s interests lie. So, let’s see what employers and employees are looking for in 2020…

What employers are looking for…

Diverse skill set

For many graduates who have specialised in one area for their studies, this can come as a bit of a shock. Employers now expect well-rounded candidates, which means having complementary skills to your primary area of expertise. For example, if you are a web developer, a complementary skill would be a good understanding of design or effective communication skills. For a marketer, it would be being able to code or having a good grasp of data analyses.

It may seem a bit unfair that you have to delve into these new areas of knowledge when you have dedicated yourself to pursuing a particular career but think about it from an employer’s point of view for a second. If you had to pick between hiring a good web developer and a good web developer who also has design skills, who are you going to pick? If you want to stand out from the crowd, diversifying your skillset is the way to go. The great news is that today there is a wealth of online courses on offer at very affordable prices.

Data-driven approach

Companies everywhere have adopted data-driven cultures. It makes sense given that advances in technology are now allowing us to see the finer details of the everyday processes that drive a business. Data collection is happening in all sizes of company, from small, medium to international. It is happening at every corner of the organisation, from the sales department to IT to HR to customer support. However, it all comes to nothing if employees don’t have the skills to be able to analyse the data and translate it into actionable, meaningful insights.

That’s why if you can speak the language of data then you are going to be a very popular candidate! It’s one of those skills that everyone knows they should have invested in by now, but the point is that many people don’t. Whether your next interview is in sales, web development, marketing, product management, operations or revenue, data analysis is THE hot skill to have right now.

What employees are looking for…

Corporate social responsibility

Corporate social responsibility can sometimes get a bad rap as being a particularly sleazy marketing ploy. But that’s only when it is done for the wrong reasons. Today people expect companies to have an authentic CSR policy. Employees no longer leave their personal principles at home when they go to work. With a politically and socially engaged generation dominating today’s workforce, people are choosing to work with companies who represent their values. It goes without saying that where someone works is a huge part of their identity; therefore, it makes sense that companies who take CSR seriously are the favoured choice with today’s job seekers.

A company with an established CSR strategy is typically a happier company to work for. Reports show that employees are more productive as well as loyal to companies that have strong ethics. This is because not only is a responsible company going to have a positive impact on the community in which it is situated, but it is going to take care of its employees too.

Challenger brands

What is a challenger brand, you ask? These are companies that are not the leader in their industry and, therefore, they rely heavily on their USPs to win customers. Being a challenger brand demands a creative approach to business, and this is usually reflected in all aspects of the company, from their marketing campaigns to their company culture.

With regular bad press causing people to become increasingly disillusioned with leading multinational corporations, now job seekers are turning to those companies that are next in line. These are the companies who are trailblazing their own agenda, bringing a splash of new colour into an otherwise beige industry. After all, why be a leader when you can be iconic?

Overall, the future is looking bright on the job market front! All that is left to do is grab new opportunities that come your way like a bull by the horns. If you need any help with that, whether you are a candidate on the hunt for a new job or a company wanting to find the perfect person for a new opening,get in contact with us! We connect the dots between great talent and great companies.