Looking for one’s dream job has never been an easy task, but it was the most challenging in 2020 because of the pandemic. Owing to last year’s uncertainties, predicting hiring trends is rather difficult.
As a Covid-19 vaccine is now available and everything is on the verge of normalizing, experts believe that humanity will slowly limp back to normal in 2021 although some of the changes that the pandemic created are here to stay. These changes will change the job hunting and hiring procedure in big ways.
Watch out for the following hiring trends in 2021
Video Interviews to Continue
Although the pandemic was not responsible for employers conducting video interviews, it made video interviewing a common aspect of the job hunting and hiring procedure. Professionals and employers are now experienced in being on the video using Google, Microsoft Teams, Skype, or Zoom. Video interviewing is now commonplace and employers will continue to use it in the future too.
Employers feel that video interviewing is safer as it eliminates the need to meet prospective employees face to face. They have also realized that it saves them both time and money. And once you experience a video interview, you will notice that it is just like a face-to-face interview except that you need a device and a reliable Internet connection.
Increased Focus Professional Development
The pandemic forced professionals to stop depending on employers for professional development. Qualified individuals who lost their jobs in 2020 were quick to take up new responsibilities. They focused on upskilling in a bid to make themselves valuable to prospective employers.
Upskilling is a job trend that will continue in 2021. Professionals in large numbers will continue to work for certificates, take online courses, volunteer, work at other jobs, or take up additional responsibilities to prove their value to the industry.
Huge Changes in Workplaces
The concept of workplaces will undergo a huge change in 2021 and employees will commonly use terms such as “hybrid work,” “work from home,” “remote work,” and “return to the office.” In 2021, employers will look for flexibility as one of the important skills a prospective employee needs to have.
The pandemic has forced professionals and companies to understand that remote work not only saves time and money but also brings fresh opportunities. Going forward, companies may either develop a hybrid work model or prefer professionals who work from home.
In 2020, companies learned that work need not be limited to the office space and that employees can perform better from home. The following year, professionals and employers may collaborate in overcoming the challenges of working from home.
Rising Demand for Gig Workers
According to a poll that Monster, the giant job-seeking portal, conducted recently, 92% of job seekers are interested in gigs. Still reluctant to drag employees back into the workspaces, employers are also looking to employ people for short-term work.
Gigs become popular because of uncertainty, and as 2021 is going to be a year of uncertainty, non-permanent work is going to be in higher demand.
Rising Demand for Safe Workplaces
The pandemic has changed the expectations of job seekers. Today, they want safer workplaces. Employers have also understood the importance of making the workplace as safe as possible. The biggest companies have now included a page developed to Covid-19 safety on their websites, adding a few words on workplace safety in each job description as well.
Companies will continue to strictly follow social distancing, sanitization, and temperature checking rules. Also, the best of them have also informed workers that they can continue working on hybrid schedules and return to the workplace only when they feel safe.
More Hub-and-spoke Offices in 2021
In 2021, we are going to see more hub-and-spoke offices, a model that allows companies to have a central hub for meetings and discussions and maintain a network of smaller offices in different locations.
The hub-and-spoke model has two benefits—the cost of running the smaller office is smaller and employees can choose to work in an office closest to their homes. In other words, companies have realized that they do not need to be based in metros to function effectively and maintain a huge workforce.
Changes in Performance Assessment
The focus is now more on the quality and quantity of work done instead of the number of hours worked. The pandemic has driven companies to review employee performance continuously instead of annually. Work-from-home employees now need continuous feedback so that they can handle their responsibilities smoothly.
Increased Demand for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Specialists
AI is fast becoming commonplace, and the number of businesses implementing AI is on the rise. In 2021, we are going to see companies spending more on AI services and AI applications. This puts AI specialists in high demand at various companies. It is one of the top career trends of 2021.
Rising Importance of Soft Skills
The pandemic has made remote working essential. While remote working has many advantages, it reduces opportunities for employees to meet and interact face to face. Under these circumstances, soft skills such as empathy, communication, kindness, judgment, intelligence, and responsibility have become more important than ever.
Employees have to demonstrate soft skills to make sure that they can work well with their co-workers. They have to understand and accept changed work situations, collaborate with team members, and treat everybody well.
Companies are now increasingly looking for leaders who are culturally sensitive so that they can humanize their business. The upcoming trend is to look for employees who can effectively feel the pulse of the world around them and see beyond established business models.
Job Seekers Are Becoming More Selective
Despite unemployment, companies are finding it difficult to employ because job seekers are becoming more selective. Employers too have to prove that they are worth working for.
The trend is to look for safer workplace environments, stronger initial offers, and better pay packages. Candidates are still reluctant to go to work during the pandemic.
Companies may feel that they have the upper hand because of the pandemic, but it is the other way round. Professionals are not overeager to get back to the workplace because of the pandemic and are demanding something better than what they used to get in the pre-pandemic days.
To Conclude
The post-pandemic economy may revolve around multiple gigs. The preference for remote work is on the rise. People are getting less attached to physical workplaces and professionals have observed the opportunity to develop by taking up multiple jobs. Pursuing passions while managing a job for a living is a trend to watch out for in 2021.