Unemployed: Some New Job Options

These days redundancy is as popular as ever, but while many sectors have to dismiss their staff others are complaining that they don’t have enough.

Once the economy picks up the next hot topic in the press will be skills shortages. Skills shortages seem to make the most impact in the mining sector, particularly in terms of machine operators and drivers.

Other in demand skills includes locksmiths, aged care workers and agricultural workers. For a full list of skill shortages visit: http://www.deewr.gov.au/employment/LMI/SkillShortages/Pages/Overview.aspx

For now, here are a few sectors and roles that are worth a look: 

Transport/logistics - Drivers 

As online shopping has become so hugely popular and in demand, so too has the need for people to deliver the goods.

As well as searching for jobs using keywords like “driver”, “courier” and “delivery driver”, you can also look on the websites of courier companies. In a lot of cases only a “C” class license is needed.

Pathology labs also need drivers and so do many companies that deliver goods in small vans.

For driving work that includes a larger vehicle, a special license will be required.

 
Mining 

It really helps to have contacts in mining, unless you’re a qualified engineer or something, and people do venture into mining from a wide range of sectors such as teaching, retail and even office work.

There is a one day course available to people who want to see if this sector really is right for them called Drill Down Mining at http://www.drilldownmining.com.au/

The majority of courses take place in Queensland but the website will reveal other courses being held at different times and at different venues.

You can also visit mining companies’ websites and browse through their career sections. 

Outsourcing

Call centres are on the out and the demand is now for “knowledge workers” – basically people with good computer skills who have the capabilities to be trained to complete a range of administration, accounting, or finance work for their company. 

“Broadly speaking, outsourcing is divided into three areas,” says Martin Conboy, President of the Australian Business Process Outsourcing Association.  

“Voice such as customer service, non-voice such as finance and HR back office work and ITO, which is skills such as code cutting, web development and data management.”

He says that the areas with most growth include print and document management, HR back office, finance and accounting admin and online marketing. 

Use terms such as “BPO”, “outsourcing” and “social media” when you’re looking on job boards and employer websites.

Aged care

This sector requires 400,000 extra workers over the next forty years because this is most definitely a growing area.

Some of the roles are for trained nurses but there are also plenty of entry-level roles as well. Near to a third of Australia’s population is over 50 (near 7 million people) which means that this is now a sector that will see endless demand in the future.  

Other tips

Try to stay open to all the different options like part-time and contract work while you’re looking for that all important permanent job. This way your resume will stay full and you will still have some money.

  
Search for “career expos” and make a note of any events in your city so you have the chance to meet potential employers face-to-face.