​Northern Ireland's unemployment rate has seen its largest quarterly increase since October 2012 - rising to 3.7%. There were almost 2,000 confirmed redundancies in the past three months, according to official figures.

Whilst Economists believe there will be a recovery, no one knows what that will look like or how long it will take. Right now, you may feel lucky to have a job, but what if you’re not quite happy with it?

If a recruiter has contacted you about an opportunity, would you listen? Is it wise to make a move during such an uncertain time?

The answer is…Absolutely! There are many factors in this market that tells us that now could be a good time to take stock of your current job/employer and consider a move.

According to our recent poll on LinkedIn, 79% of people have said that if they came across a job opportunity that looks to be a perfect fit, the market uncertainty would not put them off applying.

You may think that as the unemployment rate continues to rise, that competition for jobs may be fierce. However, experience has shown that even though a job posting may receive a large number of applications, the number of candidates that actually match the requirements is still very low and employers are continuing to seek the best talent.

During this pandemic, a lot more people are working from home, making it easier to take a call from that recruiter who has reached out to you recently. Now is still a great time to take a shot at that dream job that you were visualizing pre covid.

The new normal of a virtual world has left many of us feeling disconnected. For a while the video calls with funky backgrounds and zoom quizzes every Friday night were fun, but we’ve all been lacking a more human connection.

In general, people want to hear how other people, other companies, and other industries are making it through this time. People want to connect at this time and are much more likely to accept a LinkedIn connect request or offer to hop on a call – so start now. Hearing out opportunities allows you to assess what companies are looking for in this current climate. By talking to our expert consultants at VANRATH, you are able to gain insight into the market and your value in it.

How do your skills and salary expectations match up? You may find out you are being underpaid; that your advancement opportunities are being held back by the lack of a specific skill set you can’t obtain while working for your current employer; or that there are companies out there who offer a better work-life balance, benefits, or flexibility. You may find that there is more value for you at another company, you have nothing to lose. All of our conversations are private and confidential.

It’s also a good time to take stock of your career direction and your value in the “new” workplace. With less travel and fewer co-workers and managers looking over your shoulder during the pandemic, it’s a great time to think about where you are and, importantly, where you want to be.

We have over 700 jobs currently, could one of them be your next step?

 Take a look.

AT VANRATH all of our recruitment consultants are experts within their specialist sectors. They have in-depth knowledge of the local recruitment market which is unrivalled in Northern Ireland.

Want to read more articles like this? Be sure to visit VANRATH’s News, which features industry insights and career advice. We post regularly on our LinkedIn page too, follow us to keep up to date. If you’re seeking immediate career advice call 028 9033 0250 or e-mail belfast@vanrath.com.  

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