January is typically when people get back to work, take a look around and say: "This is the year I'm going to find a new job". In 2011, they might not have a choice. Given the current market conditions, job hunting can seem like a waste of time. If everyone is being made redundant, then surely that shows there are no jobs out there?
Change, however major or unwelcome, always brings opportunity. There are lots of people in the public sector jobs market at the moment. More will join them over the next three months. But there will also be many exiting the sector, through retirement deals and redundancy packages. There will be skills gaps and it's important to remember that good people will always be in demand.
Job seekers in a recession can often come across as war weary - their current job might be one that they have held for a long time, or they may have been through bruising restructuring and redundancy situations. To be a good prospect for an employer you have to convey energy and enthusiasm, not desperation and cynicism so if you're looking for a new job, step forward confidently. If you don't feel confident, fake it, you'll still improve your job prospects.
The next step is to get your CV up to scratch. Keep it short (two or three pages maximum) and treat your CV like a newspaper – put the most important information on the front page.
There are different views among recruiters about whether skills-based or achievement-based CVs are better. The problem with the skills-based approach is that it can read as rather generic waffle. In a competitive market, it's better to highlight achievements and to emphasise outcomes rather than just outputs. What actually changed as a result of your work?
Then highlight those of your key skills that will be most in demand over the next year. We've been through post-election confusion, fear of spending and identification of cuts. This year heralds implementation of cuts but also service transformation and delivery of a pretty hefty new policy agenda. So excellent skills in project and change management alongside strategic flair and demonstrable ability to deliver results will be at a premium.
We all had a good laugh at Stuart "The Brand" Baggs on The Apprentice last year, but he had it right on one score. On the jobs market, you are a brand whether you like it or not. If you baulk at this, just make sure you can answer some obvious questions. What five words would you use to describe yourself? What makes you stand out from other good candidates for a job? You're going to have to project these qualities at interview so if it's a long time since you've had a formal job interview, get some one-to-one training now. Don't leave it to the day itself to find out you're actually very rusty.
If you don't have good networks, now is the time to develop them. Make maximum use of social media such as LinkedIn and Twitter. Be active in these networks and share useful information with others. Think about how your online brand is projected – your profile, photograph and tone of communication. And always apply the Private Eye rule – never write anything down that you wouldn't be happy seeing reported back about you.
For face to face networking – at conferences, professional groups, social events – make sure you have an 'elevator pitch' ready. This is a concise statement of who you are and what you're about, short enough to be delivered in an elevator ride. Practise it until it feels natural and back it up with a ready supply of business cards.
Finally, get on the radar of key recruitment consultants in your chosen field. They are a great source of help, from advice on your CV through to resources such as free guides and events. They know the market better than anyone, so calling them before they call you shows you're serious about finding that new role in 2011.
Carol Grant is a director of Public Select, recruitment and development specialists
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