Alumni : The = University of Melbourne

Labour market = skills for a=20 new economy

Whether embarking on a career change or seeking your first position, = you will=20 be better placed if you actually put time and effort into researching = the=20 current labour market.

= Trends=20 in employment and the economy=20
Jo= bs with=20 good prospects=20
National=20 and state labour skills shortages=20
B= eing=20 competitive in the labour market=20
Wh= at are=20 your employability skills?=20
Develop=20 a career portfolio=20
Enhancing=20 your employability skills=20
Selling=20 yourself - being entrepreneurial

Trends in employment and the = economy

Industry employment trends and prospects are influenced by overall = economic=20 growth, structural change in the economy, new technology, = industry-specific=20 factors (such as the impact of the drought on employment in agriculture) = and=20 international trade.

You will of course need to do specific research on the labour market = that=20 applies to you (eg. your country or region) but here is some general = information=20 on changes in the Australian labour market.

Around 940,000 new jobs were created in Australia in the five years = to May=20 2003. Four industries accounted for two thirds of these new jobs:

Retail trade=20
Property and business services=20
Construction=20
Health and community services

Jobs with good prospects

There are over 150 occupations with either good or very good job = prospects=20 over the seven years to 2009/10, and most of these are skilled jobs in = the=20 following industries:

Accommodation,=20 cafes and restaurants=20
Retail trade=20
Manufacturing=20
Construction=20
Health and community services=20
Property and business services=20
Personal and other services=20
Cultural and recreational services=20
Education=20
Government administration=20
Finance and insurance=20
Agriculture, forestry and fishing=20
Transport and storage=20
Communication services

Other jobs with good prospects are:=20 bookkeeping, specialist management, counselling, reception, services, = safety=20 inspection, policy analysis, project and program administration and = human=20 resources.

National and state labour skills=20 shortages

Skill shortages are evident for some professional = occupations and=20 in most trades, including engineering/metal, automotive and food trades. = There=20 are no national shortages for information and communication technology = (ITC)=20 skills, although some ICT skills are in short supply in particular = states. In=20 2003 there were national and state skills shortages in the following=20 professions:=20

Child care=20
Engineering=20
Accounting=20
Registered nursing=20
Health (specialised)=20
Secondary teaching=20
Law=20
Social work

Being competitive in the labour = market

You need to get a good fit/match between your needs/strengths and the = needs=20 of employers.

Employers are seeking the following skills in new employees:

Key generic skills: communication, teamwork,=20 problem-solving, initiative/enterprise, planning and organisation,=20 self-management, learning and technology.=20
Personal attributes: loyalty, commitment, = enthusiasm,=20 motivation, adaptability, commonsense, honesty and integrity, personal = presentation, personal self-esteem, sense of humour, ability to deal = with=20 pressure, reliability, and a balanced attitude to work and home life. =

What are your employability = skills?

Undertake a SWOT analysis. This is a self-examination of your = internal=20 'Strengths' and 'Weaknesses', as well as the 'Opportunities' and = 'Threats'=20 facing you in the labour market. A personal SWOT analysis will help you = discover=20 those strategic advantages that can be highlighted through your = application. You=20 will then be able to make contingency and developmental plans to = counteract=20 perceived threats to your job search. This will show an employer how = well you=20 know yourself. For example at interview, you may be asked to identify = your=20 strengths and weaknesses or what you like least about yourself - the = idea is to=20 turn the weakness around into a strength, or to identify the manner in = which=20 each weakness will be overcome.

Develop a career portfolio

A career portfolio is a collection of information which you design = and create=20 to help you present the best of yourself to prospective employers. It = will=20 contain a description of the skills and attributes which you have = acquired=20 through formal studies, work experience and other activities. One of the = purposes of starting and maintaining a career portfolio is to organise = your own=20 thinking about your career development. It should be a life-long file of = your=20 portable skills-set, enabling you to manage your professional or career = assets.=20 Carefully constructed, it will ensure an effective showcase of your=20 potential.

The form and content of your career portfolio

Form

Employ any effective method of recording and displaying information, = eg. ring=20 folders, manila wallets.

Content

These documents will be tailored to individual job applications:

Your resum=C3=A9: Your resum=C3=A9 is like a = selling tool. You must=20 know your product well and display it to its best advantage in order = to sell=20 it.=20
The covering letter: One page, approximately = three=20 paragraphs, referring to the job application and a brief summary as to = why you=20 would be suitable (this part will relate to the job=20 description).=20
Selection criteria: When a job contains selection = criteria, you are required to respond to each criterion separately. In = your=20 responses, you must demonstrate the capacity to which you have = knowledge of=20 and experience in each criterion. Some organisations, especially = government=20 departments, will score responses in order to create a short list for=20 interviews.

Further items to be included:

Details of work experience - paid/voluntary=20
Demonstrated evidence of teamwork=20
Acknowledgement and application of skills=20
Performance appraisals=20
Work samples=20
References=20
Degrees, licences and certificates

You should continue to update and reflect on your portfolio = throughout your=20 life: it's one way to keep track of a busy career. It's also an = opportunity to=20 pause and reflect upon your progress and accomplishments - and this = recognition,=20 whether private or public, can be very motivating.

Enhancing your employability = skills

The increasing volume of data in this information era can really put = pressure=20 on you to find out everything there is to know before making decisions = and=20 taking action. For educational training choices and career choices, such = information seems to be never-ending.

Developing the ability to = think=20 critically is vital in your research if you are to use time effectively. = Focus=20 only on what is needed, weed out the irrelevant information, choose the = material=20 to compare or consider and make an action list that is = feasible.

The=20 ability to investigate critically is a tool that will be used many times = during=20 a person's career. The more entrenched it is in your skills repertoire, = the more=20 automatically this tool will resurface when needed.

Selling yourself - being=20 entrepreneurial

In a tight job market you will also need to find opportunities and = develop=20 skills to sell yourself effectively.

Ways to do this include:

Being alert - for the right person and the right time to sell your = ideas=20
Noticing gaps in products and services=20
Making connections that others don't see=20
Creating ideas on how to fill in missing pieces=20
Gaining as much industry and teamwork experience as possible - = voluntary=20 or paid=20
Networking at every opportunity=20
Understanding the impact of your salary costs to an organisation = and being=20 prepared to defend the type and level of your productivity.

If you follow these tips, then each time you think of changing your = career or=20 applying for a new job you will be well prepared to assess the current = labour=20 market, review your skills, experience and qualifications and promote = yourself=20 as a good match for the position you want.

(data from DEWR Job Outlook, August 2003)

Emma O'Connell, Manager - Internships & Enterprise=20 Programs
=C2=A9 The University of Melbourne 2004

University=20 Advancement Office Alumni and Friends

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