Downturn is best time to upgrade key skills

The global economic downturn has brought with it downsizing by companies and job losses worldwide. And the GCC is no exception.

On the eve of the ninth annual Careers UAE Exhibition that will be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from March 29 to 31, Emirates Business spoke to Manpower Middle East and the British University in Dubai (BUiD) to find out how people can turn the recession to their advantage and how jobseekers can further their chances.

Speaking on the GCC's job market, Patrick Luby, Managing Director, Manpower Middle East, said: "The GCC's job market is obviously not as buoyant as it was six or 12 months ago, but that is not to say companies are not hiring. Companies may not be hiring as quickly as before, but there are jobs available. Some companies are even expanding to take advantage of lower costs of production.

"Countries such as Qatar and Bahrain are stable, while Saudi Arabia so far has not been adversely affected. That may change, but that is what we are seeing at the moment at least," he added.

"Employers currently have a greater choice of candidates, and sometimes more flexibility in terms of salary expectations of candidates than previously, so that helps employers at the moment. But most employers we work with are interested more in the long-term investment of their workforce, not a quick fix to take advantage of the current situation.

"Obviously talent shortages, in terms of availability of skilled people, are easing due to companies contracting rather than expanding and therefore more people are looking for work. But there are still shortages in terms of appropriately skilled or experienced professionals for very particular or specialised roles. Finding the right skills, the right attitude, the right fit for a particular role at a particular time is not an easy task, even now."

Manpower released a research paper in 2008 titled "Confronting the Talent Crunch", that discussed new trends and business demands. Part of this paper discussed the world's top 10 "Hot Jobs" – jobs where talent is scarce and demand outweighs supply. Despite the recession these hot jobs are still those that are in demand, though overall demand has decreased.

Some of the top 10 jobs that employers throughout the world found hard to fill because of a lack of talent are IT staff (programmers and developers); engineers; accounting and finance; management/executives; executive assistants/PAs, administration and office support; sales representatives; technicians (primarily production/operations, engineering and maintenance) among others.

A study by the McKinsey Global Institute predicts 75,000 business leaders will be needed in China in the next 10 years. It estimates the current stock at just 3,000 to 5,000. And that assessment could prove optimistic.

Experts feel the recession is a good time to hone one's skills and prepare for a day when the job market will once again be booming.

Ashly Pinnington, Professor of Human Resource Management, Dean, Faculty of Business, BUiD, told Emirates Business: "The recession is a good time for everyone to reflect and make changes to their careers during the downturn so that they are in the right position to move forward once the economy returns to an upswing.

"Whether you are looking to move up the ladder within your company or switch careers for future job security, talent plays a vital role in this process. In such unstable markets, employers are looking for quality professionals, who have the added advantage of specialised skills and higher education.

"Employers prefer to be able to recruit people who already have the prerequisite knowledge and competence in spoken and written communication skills and of course quantitative skills. Research-based quality degrees guarantee that students have the aptitude to understand quality research findings and consultancy. Employer and employee skills in research contribute to effective decision making and will save valuable managerial time and effort."

According to the Manpower White Paper, advances in technology have already made a considerable impact on productivity, and employers have enjoyed the benefits of dramatically improved operational efficiency.

But as new jobs are created, requiring new skills and technological competence, employees will need to upgrade their own skill-sets to adapt to the changing world of work. This will make it all the more important for employees to ensure that skills are continuously refreshed, upgraded and extended. Training will be paramount, as will planning by employers and commitment by employees.

In fact, according to BUiD they are seeing a resurgence in people going back to the classroom in order to equip themselves better for the future.

Professor Pinnington said: "In the current climate, people are facing uncertainties in their careers. With redundancies happening, the job market has become very competitive and companies are seeking professionals who can offer key skills for their businesses. Now more than ever, we have seen an increase in professionals looking for specialised educational courses that allow them to develop quality skills that are also easily transferable to different industries.

"From an employer perspective, the student with a research background is a much better choice offering a higher level of expertise in the subject, and the capability to understand and assess data provided by other people from inside and outside the organisation."

Experts also have some advise for people who are already feeling the pinch of the downturn.

Luby said: "Perseverance is key. Due to the downturn in some markets in the region, there is increased competition for jobs, especially in cities such as Dubai. More candidates are applying for the same jobs, so candidates must be prepared for rejection and try not to lose heart if they do not get the first role they apply for. Keep trying.

"Flexibility is also important, in terms of salaries, benefits and location of jobs. Countries such as Saudi Arabia are not experiencing the same economic slump and therefore those candidates who are open to relocation are in a better position than those who are not.

"It is important to be flexible in what roles you apply for when the economy takes a downturn, as companies will try to job-share where possible, especially with low to mid level roles, in order to hire just one person instead of two. Having said that, companies who specifically need a particular skill set will only hire specialist candidates, so it really depends on the company and what role it is looking to fill. Being prepared is most important. Make sure your CV is written well, has all the relevant information an employer might need, and is precise and concise. Candidates who are proactive and take time to register their CV with agencies and job boards and employers directly ensure their CV is being read by the right people."

Professor Pinnington added: "Because of financial issues, it is common for people to take whatever jobs they can in order to make ends meet. This short-term approach faces many risks, particularly for professionals who are looking to build their career paths and looking to grow within a company.

"It is very important for people to make well-informed decisions."

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