Jan 21, 2022

What You Need to Know About Job Searching in 2022

Last year was the year of the ‘great resignation’ and a fabulous time for job seekers to be out in the market looking for new jobs. Will job searching in 2022 be a similar experience, or will it be worse? If you’ve decided that this is the right time to start a new job search, congratulations! We get that job hunting can be an intimidating and sometimes weary process, but if done the right way, it can also be very rewarding. So, stick with us while we give you some great job searching tips for 2022 and take a look at the job trends in Canada this year!

Job searching in Vancouver & job searching tips for 2022

Vancouver’s labor market is made up of booming tech and start up scenes and some top talent film industry vibes. It is no secret that Vancouver is a beautiful place to live in with its scenic beauty and the laid-back west coast lifestyle! Technology, hospitality, business, travel, and tourism are some of the biggest employers in Vancouver. While there are plenty of opportunities in the Vancouver market, job searching here can get extremely competitive. Finding a well-paying job while living in a high-cost city can be a tricky balance, and you can find that dream job by keeping your eyes open, by networking and educating yourself on the job trends.

To stand out in this competitive market and find the perfect job, one of the most important things to do is to ensure that your resume looks professional enough. Make sure that it’s easy to read and keep the formatting simple so that it doesn’t get lost in the clutter. Remember to register for alerts on various jobsites to receive multiple and different opportunities. Another important thing to remember is to stay connected to your professional network and leverage your references.

Here are some top tips that you as a job seeker can make use of while job hunting in Vancouver.

1.Referrals, Referrals, Referrals!

Canada, especially Vancouver, has a hidden job market, which essentially means that there are tons of opportunities that may not be widely advertised on job sites. So how do you go about finding these jobs? The simple answer would be to use your network and get yourself some referrals. Word of mouth goes a long way in landing a great opportunity, especially if you know someone who works at the company you’re looking to apply into. Refer HR has a great referral bonus for you if you refer the right candidate for a role! It’s a great way to build your network and earn some money on the side.

2.Attend networking events

In this day and age of online events, you can attend a live networking event sitting in the comfort of your own home! Vancouver has various networking events such as - Business in Vancouver, Chartered Professional Accountants of BC, and BC tech Summit - that will enable you to connect with the right people and build a strong professional network. Remember that the more you network, the better you become at it. In a world where it’s all about taking, being able to show that you genuinely care enough to interact with someone as a friend will make you a memorable contact to your network connections.

3.Use social media for good

Instead of mindlessly scrolling through Instagram again, maybe take that time to follow a couple of companies on social media. This will help you stay updated on future job openings and many companies regularly post vacancies to their social media as the likelihood of finding a candidate is higher there. Follow the social media accounts of companies you’re interested in and share their posts to show your interest.

4.Be active on job platforms

Like using social media, using traditional job platforms are also a popular job searching tactic that most job seekers use in Vancouver. The following job boards and job platforms are especially popular:

• LinkedIn
• Eluta
• Kijiji
• Government of Canada job bank
• Workopolis
• Monster

5. Build your online presence and brand

Building an online presence includes updating your LinkedIn profile and sharing relevant information on your professional platform. Before you share something amongst your professional network, decide if it contributes in a positive manner and sets you apart as someone who is somewhat of a subject matter expert in your field.

Job trends in Canada

The new year can expect nearly 43% of Canadians to be looking for new opportunities. The fastest growing industries in Canada are those that thought ahead and adapted to the changed brought on by the pandemic. The following sectors have not only grown leaps and bounds in the past year, but they have also been predicted to grow further well into 2022 as well.

1. Health Care
2. Supply Chain Logistics
3. Cyber Security
4. E-Commerce
5. Construction and Storage
6. Maintenance Workers
7. Developers
8. Marketing Managers
9. Drivers
10. Customer Service Representatives

The job market is forever changing and as we have seen, jobs can fluctuate in and out of demand. Factors like economics, social trends and industrial trends contribute heavily to whether a job has enough qualified candidates to fill the vacancies. Understanding the 2022 job market and staying up to date on jobs that are in demand will be crucial to planning your career and putting yourself on the right career path.

The work culture has evolved and will continue to do so well into 2022. There is still work to be done and a lot of the old mentalities are still a work in progress that needs changing. The heavy reliance on virtual workplaces will only continue to evolve and gig economy where the tactical use of digital skills has given rise to a demand in hiring freelancers. The unemployment rate is down by 6% and there are over 7,00,000 job vacancies in Canada currently. Despite the economy taking a hit due to the pandemic, the job market has turned a corner, and things are looking better than ever for job searchers in Canada this year.