“Creativity and innovation will become ever more important.”

The arrival of coronavirus, and the subsequent lockdown in the UK have meant an increasingly competitive job market for people seeking work. March to May 2020 saw the largest quarterly decrease in job vacancies, according to the ONS, since recording started in 2001. 

What’s more, with reports of companies making redundancies it’s no surprise that Life Coach Directory has seen a 2,843% increase in visitors looking for support with challenges around redundancy since the beginning of lockdown on 23 March. 

Leading Career Coach, Transition Specialist and Life Coach Directory member Steve Preston has seen a dramatic uplift in people seeking support for their careers, advice around job hunting and coping with redundancy throughout this period. 

“At the moment there’s economic uncertainty with employers reluctant to take on new staff, from fears of a second spike of the virus. This is coupled with less jobs available due to so many redundancies, meaning more competition. Companies are also rethinking their strategies e.g. more home-working or part-time roles.

“It’s difficult enough in normal circumstances to successfully 'navigate the career transition maze’ but in these challenging times, it will be much harder!

“As we are in uncharted times, it means thinking differently. With so many jobs disappearing there is no guarantee that the work you do will still be required and if so, maybe not in the same way it was before. 

“Creativity and innovation will become ever more important.”

Steve's main tip is for job seekers to “Take a step back and take stock to re-evaluate your career and life.” 

Steve's advice to candidates looking for a new opportunity

1. Reconnect with people from your past, who could be influential. Focus on recommendations, referrals, and introductions, as these are the best ways to get to people who can open doors for you or offer you jobs. 
2. Be opportunistic and look to ‘crystalise a need’ in companies and organisations where they are likely to find your skill set desirable. Target speculative applications to a named person e.eg. line manager, showcasing how you can add value to the company/organisation, especially in the current climate.
3. Create a strong online brand and presence. Embrace social media to do this, especially LinkedIn. It’s also a great place to find jobs advertised but even more importantly to develop and optimise your networks. 

*The data is based on a year-on-year comparison of sessions on the coping with redundancy page of the Life Coach Directory website from 23rd March - 30th June 2019 and subsequently the same dates in 2020. 

Life Coach Directory is part of the Happiful family with sister sites; Happiful Magazine, Counselling Directory, Nutritionist Resource, Hypnotherapy Directory and Therapy Directory. We exist to support others, to continually challenge stigma around mental health and mental illness, and to promote wellbeing.