From time to time market conditions will change the supply of certain skills and roles from candidate poor to candidate rich. Some of these situations will have a temporary impact and some will have longer-term ramifications for certain role types, but being aware of the situation and taking steps to change your approach to recruitment will help when find those key packaging jobs.
The last 12 months have seen unemployment increase and with the end of the furlough scheme approaching, we may see this increase further for a period of time. Whilst this has damaging and lasting effects on individuals, the longer-term sense would point to a recovery in many roles as normality begins to return.
Changes in technology, consumer appetite and government legislation can have longer-term and sometimes permanent impacts but in both cases, the need to act and act in the right way regarding your outlook to recruitment and your packaging job search is imperative.
In a candidate poor environment people will be accustomed to multiple routes to find that perfect packaging job and in some situations, field multiple headhunt approaches over the course of a year. This places you, the candidate in a position of power and increased choice. Once a market has moved to a candidate rich scenario, these advantages shift to the employers.
As a candidate, if your competition for packaging jobs has increased then these tips may give you the edge if you find yourself in a position of needing new employment.
Understand the role and packaging sector that you operate within.
- Does this glut of available candidates and competition have a short or long term forecast? I.e were the skills needed for that particular packagin job in abundance even before the pandemic?
- If long term, which of your skills are transferable to other packaging jobs? If you were successful once, you will rise quickly and be successful again.
- Is this issue geographical? Has a large packaging company gone out of business in a particular area creating a high supply of talent?
- What current or emerging trends could help or hinder the longevity of your next move? Do some reseach and see if there are things you could use to get ahead of the competition. Be that training in a new technology or expanding your packaging job search to include new companies with high growth potential.
- Use this as an opportunity to understand and take stock of what you really want from your next packaging job. If you are proactive then you have choice!
Make a plan
Before you start sending CV’s to every company and packaging recruitment agency – Stop!
There is no substitute for a clear and well-defined plan of action. Consider:
- Making a list of all of the packaging companies where you would consider exploring opportunities. Additionally, make a note of why you would want to work there.
- If there are no options locally for packaging companies that fit your skills, are you willing to relocate to place yourself in an area with a higher demand for your skills?
- Who are my target packaging companies and how am I going to make them aware of my availability?
- Do packaging recruitment agencies have better access? If your approach is to a HR in-tray along with 100 others this gives you no competitive edge. Equally, if you email the Global CEO for every company that you have an interest in working for then this may have further negative implications.
- If you choose to use a packaging recruitment agency, choosing the right one can massively increase your chances of success. Likewise, choosing the wrong one may do the opposite. Woods International is a specialist packaging recruitment agency. Our expereince covers multiple packaging sectors and we work with many of the top packaging companies in Europe.
How to select the right packaging recruitment agency for me
- Their process needs to compliment yours. A good packaging recruitment agency will explain where they do and don’t have access to your target companies. They can help you with your CV and perhaps highlight areas of exploration that you had not previously considered.
- If you use a packaing recruimtent agency, make it one! I get it, more CVs = more opportunities but it rarely works that way. There are only so many packaging companies and there is no bigger turnoff than being bombarded by your CV.
- Do your research, who are the key packaging recruitment agencies? Call them and get a feeling for their services and the type of packaging jobs they cover. Do not share your CV until you are comfortable with their process. Some will focus on volume and send multiple CVs to multiple companies hoping for traction. Others will communicate directly with their client network in a more tailored and strategic way. Which way works best will depend on you.
- Always understand what is happening with your details. A packaging recruitment agency should work with you to create a clear and defined plan. This plan should be followed by regular updates so that you know who has been approached regarding your availability and importantly, what the outcome was.
Improve your market presence within your packaging sector
You have to be a part of the fabric and environment that your target packaging companies operate within. Your online and offline presence and interaction can be integral to success.
Take the time to improve your LinkedIn presence, always have a picture and keep your network open. Don’t just engage with people to ask them about employment, genuinely interact constructively with your network on subjects that you know a lot about or have a strong passion for. Become part of the wider industry conversation and soon LinkedIn algorithms will ensure that the right people see your posts as a priority.
Trade shows and industry events are a great way to meet new people. If you are asking people to take some time to speak with you about possible packaging job opportunities then these can be a great opportunity to arrange them.
Get a second opinion on your CV
Many people fall into the trap of overcomplicating their CV’s. It should be short, sharp and to the point and really shouldn’t run too far past 2 sides of paper.
Use bullet points so that the information can be easily digested and don’t forget to include your key achievements. Think about what your future employer will value and tailor your CV accordingly. Covering letters are a personal choice but remember, in a candidate rich market, employers will receive lots of these and rightly or wrongly rarely read them.
Again, any packaging recruitment consultancy will usually be happy to give you a second opinion on your CV and point you in the right direction, even if you are not using them for your search.
Get your Interview Skills ready.
Interviewing is a skill and, like any skill, you get better with practice. If you are accustomed to being approached directly for roles then you may have not had much opportunity to attend many formal interviews.
Again, if you are working with a packaging recruitment agency they should be able to tailor their interview preparation with you to meet your needs. Take time to research common interview pitfalls such as overtalking, moving the conversation off track and failing to vocalise why you are interested in the company beyond just needing a job.
Put yourself out there and Ask!
We miss 100% of the opportunities that we don’t ask for.
Whether it is via LinkedIn, Email, the phone or face to face, have structure to your message. Whilst, for the most part, business leaders enjoy the tenacity of a direct approach, they still need to know why they should be interested in you!
You know what you want from them but through the use of strong listening skills, you will begin to gain an understanding of what they might unknowingly need from you.
We’ve talked a lot about how the right packaging recruiter can help you in this blog and at Woods International, we spend a lot of our time working with our network of packaging candidates to ensure they are well-equipped to carry out a successfully packaging job search whether in a candidate rich or candidate poor environment.
Take a look at the packaging jobs we are currently recruiting for or contact us today for a comprehensive discussion about your packaging job search.