If you were job hunting now, what fields or industries would you focus on?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

This is a 'how long is a piece of string' sort of question with no definitive answers, but I'm wondering - in your opinion what jobs are the safest (insofar as any can be safe at all...) from the global recession?

I'm job searching, trying to future proof a little. But I don't feel knowledgeable enough to guess at what industries might be less affected than others, in say a year's time.

Thought it would be an interesting discussion. Obviously, everyone who is currently looking for work will be qualified for all suggestions, but perhaps it can stimulate ideas about how alternative options?

Social work and child protection, sadly we'll never be out of work

Online education

Carer

Civil service

IT, pharmaceutical

@runningtogetskinny but would you really advise people to join us? For the sake mental health and work life balance I’d tell people to run for hills sadly. I worry about those starting in the industry now.

Accountant

Environmental Health.

Agriculture
Electricity engineer
Broadband engineer
Heating engineer

Practical things that keep us fed, housed, warm and these days communication.

Insolvency practitioner, undertaker, anything to do with doom and gloom.

Data engineering and software development

Food retail.
Debt management.
Plumber.
Electrician.

Undertakers
Midwives, nurses, doctors, physios, SaLTs OTs
Teachers
Social Workers
Carers
Care home owners

Tech
Research
Engineering
Online education

Honestly, as someone whose world revolves around recruitment, I'd say apply for jobs you are able to do and have evidence of doing.

The market is chocka with people who are perfect matches for most vacancies. Leave career changes until it picks up. Or, at least don't get angry when you get a lot of rejection emails or don't get replies.

But, FMCG is a safe bet, usually. Not luxury. Just every day FMCG!

My previous jobs have been librarian and customer services. I still work in CS but in a different place. I would like to go back to a library setting but switch to the more technical side as things are shifting online during and post-covid. Library staff are familiar with databases at the very least anyway.

The problem is... is jobhunting.

In 2000, it wasn't too bad. Applied for around 12 jobs, had 2 interviews and was successful in one of them. From start to finish took around 2 months.

In 2010, it was nearly impossible. Around 150 applications, had 8 or 9 interviews. It was also common to have a 2nd interview round. From start to finish took around 8 months (with some volunteering on top) before I was successful.

I'm still in a job, but god help me if I was jobless in 2020. Given how hard it was in 2010, I don't think I have a prayer now! How do you all do it? Going to the jobcentre in 2000 and 2010 was so soul-destroying!

Civil service or healthcare

Surprised people are saying Civil Service. The govt is going to have to claw back the current expenditure from somewhere and slashing department budgets is surely going to be one of the first ports of call? I’m not Civil service but in a body closely aligned and I expect cuts that put 2010 to shame at some point, possibly 2022.

Health care jobs, social work and care jobs.
All tough jobs, probably worse now there’s even less money in the budget.

I'm in outplacement - so helping people get back into work after redundancy. The candidates who tell me there are loads of role out there and are picking up work fast are all in IT/software/app development. I feel sorriest for the event planners, future looks bleak on that front

@Keeva2017 fair point, I probably wouldn't recommend it but in answer to the OP it's a job where there will always be work. I work in residential social work, we rarely have an empty bed and there are always plans to fill any vacancies when young people approach independence or move on. There's a fairly high staff turnover (though not as high as in private sector where the pay isn't so good) so job opportunities and promotions are available fairly often, because it's a hard job and many people come in thinking it's like Tracy Beaker on TV - it REALLY isn't!

Funeral director. It's something I always wanted to do

Careers adviser .... one of the only departments in mine and my husband's universities to be getting investment.
The need for career guidance always increases during a recession. You need a qualification in it though- preferably a masters.

The Railway

@runningtogetskinny I hear ya! Iv been in frontline and child in care and after the obvious stresses of frontline, placement finding is the next most stressful part of the job. In fact stressful is a woeful understatement. Ha ha absolutely, Tracy Beaker has a lot to answer for!