No matter what you are aiming for in life, setbacks can be discouraging. The good news is that job growth in June has actually surpassed economists’ forecasts, touching all industries and demographic groups until recent setbacks. For any business owner, this is a very challenging debacle–how to hire people without laying them off a few weeks later. It’s no surprise that re-hiring is currently a reluctant process.

So Where are the Jobs?

This is a time for research and exploration. Growth sectors that we’re seeing follow investment dollars and basic human needs. Regardless of what an economy is doing, we all need electricity, water, medical services and food, while investors typically turn to utilities, health care and consumer staples during economic downturns. This information can be easily accessed through your library’s online magazine selection (think Kiplinger’s or Fortune). Trustworthy sources as these provide valuable investment information on which companies are growing or are poised for growth, which translate to jobs. Businesses that offer strong value through either lower prices and/or trusted brands that provide quality will survive, particularly if they have a strong e-commerce presence, such as Amazon or Netflix.

At the moment, growth is occurring in the following fields:

• Consumer staples include discount and bulk retail (think Costco and Ikea) 
• Utilities, including telecommunications
• Remote-enabling technologies 
• Order fulfillment logistics
• Trades, particularly residential-centric
• Health care

Companies in technology and engineering—particularly those invested in cloud computing, gaming/entertainment or5G, are growing steadily along with health care, financial services and consumer packaged goods. These organizations are at the forefront of the re-growth curve, with a high percentage of new hires being made on temporary and contract terms. Positions in information technology, human resources and marketing reveal where longer-term hires are currently being made. Through technology interfaces like Zoom and Google Meet, people are conducting interviews, followed by face-to-face safe distancing meeting to ensure final selections.

What Can You Do Right Now?

We recommend four key practices that will keep you on track:

Be willing to pivot out of your comfort zone and embrace new possibilities. Know what you’re good at and emphasize those talents. What makes you hireable?

Be deliberate and proactive. Set goals that draw you into new territory and craft good questions to deepen your knowledge base. In doing so, you may discover problems a company has that you might be the solution for. 

Build and expand your network—meaningfully. Have a clear purpose for every new connection you make, Consider what value YOU can bring to a person before calling or messaging them. This translates into tapping into the “hidden” job market, where 70 – 80% of positions are being discussed within professional networks. Doing this on a regular basis—especially now—will put your face and name in front of the kinds of people you want to connect with.

Be patient and maximize your time. Use it to create or deepen your skillsets. Make time for what is important in your life.

While these are uncertain times, your actionable goals will yield positive results. Reach out, connect, stay in touch and learn. 

At Artizen, our reputation is built on recruiting and staffing top talent. Our expert team and extensive network of hundreds of thousands of qualified professionals enables us to quickly and effectively respond to your requests while making your hiring experience both informative and enjoyable. We welcome hearing from you!

• The Artizen Staffing team

written by Catrina Walker

Enjoy more of your summer—take sensible precautions to stay healthy and safe. Click here for the latest updates on COVID-19