The North-east jobs market has become more competitive than ever, with Clark Integrated Technologies reporting a two-fold increase in the number of speculative job enquiries it receives from job hunters.
The Turriff-based firm has also found every advertised job vacancy generates a bumper mailbag and bulging inbox.
Margo Robertson, Clark IR’s commercial director explains: “For every position we advertise, we’re seeing many more applicants compared to past years.
“There’s no doubt that the slump in the oil and gas sector has had a bearing on this, and it may be that people employed in other industries, including those in businesses largely dependent on the energy market, may feel they have less security.
“Where people were attracted by the bright prospects of the North Sea oil and gas industry, they may now be more likely to cast their sights wider by looking to get into other sectors.”
Clark IT’s experiences correlate with the findings of a report published by Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce which showed that a majority of oil and gas firms have reduced their staffing levels over the past year.
Oil and gas contractors say they expect job losses to continue in the next year. Of those surveyed, 64% said they had cut jobs while many others said they believed valuable skills had been lost as a result. 78% of the firms said they expected to be involved in more decommissioning work in the sector.
With increased demand for every job advertised it does make it harder for job seekers to shine out for the crowd. Young people in particular, who lack work experience, may find it a struggle to gain a foot on the career ladder.
Giving local youngsters a start in the world of work is part of the ethos of Clark IT, and in the past year, the firm has taken on three apprentices, with plans to recruit another in the months ahead.
“We’re particularly keen to offer openings to young people from the local area, who may otherwise have to leave to advance their prospects,” adds Margo. “Young people who lack in practical work skills may find they need to work harder in this competitive jobs market if they want to be considered for positions.”
Margo offers a few simple points help in preparing an application to a business, or to get ready for an interview.
- Sell yourself – you may not have relevant work experience, but you will have other things you can flaunt. Think about your involvement in any volunteer activities, part-time work, outside activities, sport. What skills do you have? What have you learned?
- Back up your statements with facts – it’s easy to say you’ve got good communication skills but can you prove it? Think of real life experiences that demonstrate this. This is particularly relevant in interview situations.
- Research – read up about the company, what they do and where they are. Prepare questions and think about why you want the job – demonstrating a passion and desire to work with a company goes a long way
- Review - Take care to review and check written material before submitting it. First impressions can stick and you want to be remembered for the right reasons!
- Body language - In an interview situation, don’t slouch, sitting up straight and slightly forward demonstrates interest, maintain eye contact, dress for the occasion
Margo continues: “What’s important to us is the person, getting the right people to be part of our team. So when it’s not experience they can bring, applicants need to stand out for other reasons, demonstrating they are keen, personable, interested, adaptable and willing to learn. These are key strengths. If we get the right person, we can provide on-the-job experience alongside training.
“Cyber security and digital technologies are just two areas that are expanding and will offer increasing job opportunities in the future. At recent careers fairs at schools, we’ve been spreading the message that IT is a growth industry that is actively seeking to attract more people into the fold, so it makes a sound career move for people who are interested in working in this sector.”
Established in 1991, Clark IT provides ICT support, projects and hosted services to a wide range of clients in the North-east and wider Scotland.
For more information, see the firm’s website at www.clark-it.com