Skill-savvy get a better edge

With more than 1000 people a week signing up for the dole, employees desperate to avoid the scrap heap need to boost their skills fast.

Jason Walker, managing director of Hays in New Zealand, says employers are using this time to "trade up, and get rid of the layabouts".

Phil O'Reilly of Business New Zealand is blunt: "No matter where you are in your career, the number one thing you can do to make yourself failsafe is to get a new skill."

Describing the drive to upskill as one of the few silver linings in the recession clouds, O'Reilly urges employees to consult their bosses about what they should add to their skill set.

While unemployment will continue to rise, skills shortages are driving an improvement in companies' recruitment aspirations, Walker says.

Hiring expectations have risen for the first time in two years, the latest Hudson Report confirms, with 0.5 per cent of employers intending to increase staff levels between July and September.

While growth is tightly constrained, some sectors have brighter prospects than others. Skills shortages continue in the IT industry and many managers are seeking .net developers, MS reporting services specialists, architects, WebSphere specialists, flex developers and top-end test managers.

Marc Burrage, executive general manager at Hudson, says 16.4 per cent of employers in the sector intend to increase permanent staff. A net 0.4 per cent of government employers also intend to increase their permanent staff levels in the next three months.

The telecommunications industry reported positive sentiment after three consecutive quarters of rapidly falling confidence, with 11.6 per cent of employers looking to increase permanent staff levels in the next three months.

Jo Harrison, of Kerridge and Partners recruitment, says the health and education sectors also have critical skill shortages.

O'Reilly says science, technology, engineering and maths will offer future-proof careers in the next 20 years.

But he believes New Zealand's small economy rewards those focused on being the best. Rather than trying to pick recession-proof careers, O'Reilly favours maximising skills.

Upskilling through new projects and/or education is one of the three top ways to recession-proof your career. Excelling at what you do and networking are the others.

Hudson's top tips on keeping your job

* Excel at what you do. Know what is expected of your role and if possible, exceed expectations. Be sure that what you do makes a tangible difference to the the business. Be results driven. Make sure the right people know about your achievements. Even simple things can make a big difference.

For example, if your manager arrives at work early, try to do the same. People who genuinely enjoy their work stand out naturally - all employers want people who are reliable and perform consistently.

* Develop new skills. If you finish each day having learned something, you will be more inspired by your job and more likely to excel at it. What skills can you acquire that will help you down the track? Winners plan and execute.

* Network inside and outside the company. If you click with someone at work, try to maintain contact with them. They may want to work with you in the future. Stay in touch with your former managers. The professional networking website LinkedIn is a great place to start.

Although we can influence certain aspects of our careers, factors beyond our control come into play when a role is made redundant. If it happens to you, you'll need to stand out to get a new job. Suzanne Kendrick, director at Recruitment Strategy, is no longer advertising on Seek because she is swamped with responses.

And if you're applying for roles by sending out your CV, she says you probably won't get the job while the market is so saturated with applications. Instead, work your contacts - use all the online social networking mediums to tell people what you're after. Once you are talking to a prospective employer, you are ready to send your CV.

How to write a stand-out CV

Phil O'Reilly of Business New Zealand says the best CVs are designed specifically for the prospective employer.

He advises applicants to customise their CVs by making use of the information about the company available on the internet.

Greg Smith, retail general manager for Michael Hill, says: "Too often the first impression I get is, 'this CV has done the rounds'.

Sometimes it even states a different career as their ideal future - they have not changed it since the last role they applied for."

And as the current market has a glut of applicants, make it brief, Smith urges.

"It's important the reader doesn't have to wade through details about past roles that have no relevance to the advertised role. Employers want CVs to cut to the chase and show why you should be the one."

Says O'Reilly: "Show me a CV I can read in two minutes, no more - that's all I need."

Hays' CV checklist includes:

* Most companies prefer CVs submitted electronically, so create your resume in a common programme like MS Word so it can be opened and read easily.

* First, include your name, address, telephone numbers and email address. Make sure the email address you use appears professional. hotstuff@hotmail.com is not appropriate.

* Next, list your education (secondary and tertiary) and qualifications.

* After a lively career objective that gives an indication of what you want (avoid "All I've ever wanted to be is a ...") list your work experience in chronological order, beginning with the most recent. Include employer names, positions held and primary responsibilities. Where appropriate, include an indication of salary level achieved and reasons for leaving each position.

* Do not leave gaps. If you took a year out, carried out an interim assignment, or travelled for six months, say so. If you do include gaps, potential employers suspect the worst. Stating the years, rather than the months you started or finished a role can also send alarm bells.

* If you have your own website profiling your work, include the URL on your CV but don't just submit it instead of a CV.

* When formatting your CV, leave plenty of white space. Don't put too much information on one page or use graphics that are difficult to read.

* It's also important to include details of two referees, such as former employers. If you are a graduate with no work history, include details of a former lecturer.

* Don't forget to spellcheck your CV. It is the first impression your potential employer will have of you, so take the time to get it right. If possible, get someone to proofread it to check for any errors.

* Attach your CV to an email rather than pasting the text into your email, as this sometimes causes text to distort.

* Unless specifically requested, don't attach to your resume copies of certificates relating to educational and/or professional qualifications or written references. You should take those to a job interview.