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The Great Resignation: everything job hunters need to know

The past few years has seen a seismic shift in the labour market. Millions of workers globally have handed their notices in as they’ve felt disrespected and unsupported by their employers. With so many people leaving their jobs, it’s led to the emergence of The Great Resignation.

PwC’s Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2022 found that almost one in five UK workers (18%) are likely or extremely likely to switch jobs in the next 12 months. It means that the balance of power, which was once previously with the employers has swung the other way in favour of the workers.

If you are one of the many workers who have quit their job due to The Great Resignation, you may be wondering where to begin. We explore how job hunters can switch jobs and find a job that provides not only opportunities for advancement, but also provides a good work/life balance.
 

The Great Resignation

    Photo: Jason Godman, Unsplash

 

What is The Great Resignation? 

The Great Resignation (also known as The Great Reshuffle) is a term coined by Professor Anthony Klotz from Texas A&M University. It refers to employees quitting their jobs in mass numbers as they quit their current jobs, pursue new careers or drop out of the labour force altogether. 

Following months of remote working due to lockdowns, people wanted change with having a good balance of work and family life. In the UK, 19 million people handed their notices in to their employers between March and July 2021, leaving businesses with major talent shortages.

Businesses in particular have been hit hard by the huge number of people quitting their jobs and it shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
 

Why are record numbers of people leaving their jobs?

There are several reasons why people in record numbers have left their jobs during The Great Resignation. Whether that’s down to the COVID-19 pandemic, switching jobs or pursuing a new career, every individual has their own reasons towards why they left their previous employer.

Burnout is one of the most common reasons why people have voluntarily resigned from their jobs. People would be working long hours for months as they took on more responsibilities that they could handle in their current position. The combination of both those things led to people having enough with their employers and handing their notices in.

Employees not liking the work that they do, particularly with remote working has led to people putting in their notice. Without the distractions and chats with colleagues in the office, most people became disconnected from their employer. Even with Slack and Teams calls and chats, employees felt underappreciated and unrecognised.

These are a few reasons why millions of people have left their jobs to seek pastures new by switching jobs or pursuing a new career.
 

How job hunters can make the most out of The Great Resignation 

Job hunters who are looking for their next position may find themselves struggling to figure out how to secure their next position. With millions of workers available on the labour market, you need to make sure that you put yourself in the best position to secure a job you love.  

There’s never been a better time for employees to make the most out of this opportunity to find a job that you love. Here’s a few tips that will help you get a job in the midst of The Great Resignation.
 

Give your resume a much needed update

If you’ve been in a job for a considerable amount of time and have resigned from your current employer, it’s time to update your resume. You need to make sure that you tailor each resume to the job you’re applying for in terms of skills and experience. Any skills you’ve gained during the COVID-19 pandemic should be added to both your CV and LinkedIn profile.
 

Network, network, network

Job searches can take weeks, if not months to find your dream job so it’s worth tapping into your network. Any referrals or nuggets of information they can give to you will be extremely valuable when figuring out what questions an employer might ask in a job interview. By doing this, it’ll help you gauge whether the company you want to work for is right for you.
 

Master the art of negotiation

Mastering your negotiation skills is absolutely essential when it comes to securing a job you want to stay in for the long term. Having an extensive knowledge of the current job market by looking at average salaries, as well as benefits can help you immensely when negotiating a job offer with an employer.

You should also know your worth to an employer if you’re applying for a higher paying position in terms of skills, education and work experience. By highlighting what you can bring to the table to an employer with examples, it’ll improve your chances of successfully negotiating a job offer.
 

How to secure your dream job with ICAEW Jobs 

It can be hard searching for a new job, particularly when there is a cost of living crisis going on, making it difficult to make ends meet. We hope this guide to The Great Resignation will ensure that you come out of the job search with a job that gives you remote working options and career advancement. 

Want to take advantage of The Great Resignation and secure your dream job? Have a look at our latest job listings and career advice on the ICAEW Jobs website today.