We have been watching the market shift over 2009 to being an Employer’s market and companies with projects to staff and jobs have been able to cherry pick from the best talent available. They have also become more careful about getting the right person and need increasingly higher approval levels, so decisions often take longer. From the Jobseeker perspective, startup ventures and jobs requiring extensive travel or commuting which were previously unattractive have become quite viable in the absence of any other choices.

However it is also true, that the skills in demand are not necessarily where the previous cuts were made. The candidates that Employers want are in many cases still gainfully employed. Employees are understandably cautious about changing jobs in the current economic environment. It will be interesting to see into 2010 whether low or even zero pay rises translate into sufficient malaise to stimulate the number of workers changing employers?

So advice from Purple Squirrel in these challenging times if you are still one of the unlucky ones without work, then try to remain positive and do not see what is now happening in the industry as a reflection of your ability or future potential. Get your CV polished and register your availability. Leave your current employer on good terms and always get a reference. Sieze opportunties to retrain and extend your skill set, even register as a student and add another degree. At Purple Squirrel we will use our skills, also as former engineers, to do our very best to connect you with as many relevant job opportunities as possible. Remember that competition will be fierce so try not to lose heart.