How do I stand out in the Transformation and Project Management job market?
Job seekers in the transformation and project management space have faced significant challenges over the past 12 to 18 months. The primary issue is a mismatch between supply and demand. There are a lot of candidates available on the market seeking roles across the Project and Transformation world but unfortunately due to a variety of factors, the overall number of available job vacancies has been reduced. The balance is skewed, creating a competitive and difficult market for job seekers. According to recent figures released by SEEK, the number of applicants per job has increased by 68%, highlighting the intense competition. Jobs market 'incredibly tight' despite rise in unemployment - ABC News.
Job markets are inherently cyclical, in a similar fashion to the economic cycle. Over my eight years in this field, I've witnessed several market fluctuations. A stark example is the latter half of 2020. During the global pandemic job opportunities in many domains across Australia were scarce. Further back, there was the GFC in 2008. In both instances, however, the market did eventually rebound.
This cyclical nature means that while the current situation is challenging, improvement is inevitable. Maintaining a positive mindset and understanding that market conditions will improve eventually can help navigate these tough times.
Practical tips for job seekers
There are strategies you can employ to enhance your job search even in tougher conditions. Here are some practical tips to help you stand out and increase your chances of securing a role:
How can I utilise my network effectively?
Reach out to former colleagues, managers, and professional contacts. Keeping in touch with your network can provide valuable job leads and references. Engage with your network by setting up meetings, buying coffee, and maintaining regular communication. Personal connections can help your CV rise above the competition.
Why is connecting with a trusted recruiter important?
Good recruiters have direct connections with hiring managers and can advocate on your behalf along with helping you ‘beat the queue’. So my advice is to build relationships with reputable agency recruiters who specialise in your field and stay in regular contact with them so they think of you when suitable roles arise.
Where can I upskill and diversify my skillset?
Consider gaining new qualifications or certifications – examples could include PRINCE2, BABOK or Prosci, to enhance your expertise.
Explore areas with high demand, such as organisational design, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, to differentiate yourself in the job market.
Attend industry meetups, seminars, and courses to stay updated and network with professionals in these niche areas.
What are the best ways to optimise my CV and LinkedIn?
Your CV and LinkedIn profile are critical tools in your job search. Ensure they are both clear, concise, and well-organised. Some tips to help with this:
Career highlights
Use a tailored career highlights section at the beginning of your CV. Talk about the projects, roles, or achievements you’ve delivered that are most relevant to the role you are applying for!
For example:
Career Highlights
Change Lead for Global 'one CRM' roll-out at leading global resources organisation, achieving projected savings of $45mil+.
Change Communications Lead for the largest payroll implementation in the southern hemisphere, impacting 150,000 employees with a total value of AUD 6.9bn. Successfully implemented on time and on budget with 87% advocacy.
Led successful rollout, completion and communication of ANZ engagement survey in 2014/2015. Achieved record ANZ engagement activity - 92%.
Clear and concise
Throughout both your CV/profile use shorter sentences focusing on punchy statements, not flowing paragraphs of blocky text
Focus on the balance between white space and text density on your CV
Try to keep your CV to two or three pages – this helps maintain brevity and relevance.
Structure:
Use clear structures like CAR (Context, Action, Result) or STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to clearly outline your experiences and achievements CAR can be defined like this:
Context – scope and scale of your role and project – team size, reporting lines, project size & budget etc
Action – what you did! Job responsibilities that align with your title – ideally keep these as brief as possible, 2-4 bullet points max
Result – outcomes you delivered, the more ROI focussed/tangible/quantifiable the better. Qualitative outcomes also good / things such as promotions, awards, commendations etc
How can I embrace hybridity to enhance my job prospects?
In a competitive job market, employers value candidates who can wear multiple hats. Team sizes of all forms have generally got smaller over the last couple of years and they sometimes also operate in a cross-disciplinary fashion. Hiring managers look for candidates who can fit into this and who can demonstrate their ability to work cross-functionally across different skill sets.
A simple example would be businesses who are looking to hire a hybrid Business Analyst / Project Manager – they want someone who handles the current state/future state detail like a BA, while also managing the project’s budget and timeframe delivery like a PM does.
Navigating a tough job market requires a resilient and proactive approach. By leveraging your network, connecting with recruiters, upskilling, optimising your CV, and embracing hybridity, you can enhance your job search and increase your chances of success.
Remember, while the job market may be challenging now, its cyclical nature ensures that better opportunities lie ahead. Stay positive, stay prepared, and keep pushing forward.
Why not check out my tips in the video below?
Author Paul McCann, Principal Consultant - Transformation & Projects. Paul has been recruiting in Sydney since 2016.
Edited by Catherine Harris, Content Strategist, Ambition Group Australia.
