There’s good news and bad news as far as the outlook for the job market in 2012.
According to a nationwide survey conducted toward the end of 2011 by Harris Interactive for CareerBuilder, about 23 percent of 3,000 hiring managers and human resource professionals surveyed responded that they plan to hire full-time employees in 2012. With this being only 1 percent less than employer expectations for 2011, the hope is that the job market is poised to improve this year.
Good News Ahead!
Besides increasing their employee base, the survey found that only 7 percent anticipate decreasing their headcount—a 2 percent improvement from 2010 when 9 percent anticipated making similar reductions in staff. Meeting planners appear less concerned about downsizing as well. Of the 805 planners who responded to Meetings Focus’ recent Meeting Market Trends survey, only 29.7 percent of corporate meeting planners and 21.2 percent of association meeting planners believe downsizing is the biggest threat to their career.
In the CareerBuilder survey, 59 percent of employers responded that they anticipate maintaining their staff levels in 2012. Although at first glance this doesn’t appear to be good news, it does leave the door open for increased contract opportunities.
Companies and organizations are beginning to recognize that they can no longer tax their existing employees without the fear of them resigning. Thirty percent of employers who responded to the CareerBuilder survey in 2011 said they lost top performers to other organizations, and 43 percent are concerned the same thing may happen in 2012. With meetings and events on the rise again, companies and organizations need to look at bringing on contractors to handle the additional work.
If you’ve been turning down contract opportunities in hopes of finding a full-time opportunity, it’s time to shift your perspective. Instead of viewing contract assignments as having a limited shelf life, think of them as a chance to jump to the head of the candidate roster. You get to provide an employer with first-hand knowledge of your skills and abilities.
As is often the case, employers tend to give existing employees a more favorable view because they already understand how the organization operates. The same holds true for contractors because they’ve already proven their value to the department, know how to get things done internally, and have established relationships with internal business partners.
A Regional Perspective
It’s anticipated that hiring will be a bit stronger on the West Coast in 2012. Twenty-four percent of West Coast employers who responded to the CareerBuilder survey plan to add full-time employees this year. The South and the Midwest follow close behind with 23 percent of employers expecting to increase their headcount, while the Northeast is lagging behind with just 21 percent of employers looking to add new positions in 2012.
Small businesses are also showing signs of increased confidence in the economy, with roughly 19 percent planning to add full-time staff in 2012—a 2 percent increase from 2011. This is especially encouraging since small businesses are critical to our country’s overall economic growth.
Certain industries, such as manufacturing, residential construction, commercial construction and healthcare, are all showing more promise concerning job growth. These industries should provide opportunities for meeting planners in the corporate sector, as well as with association and nonprofit organizations that have a connection to these areas.
Further DelayS Coming?
The bad news is that employers may hold off until the second half of the year to begin hiring new staff. It’s not surprising since the global economy is still extremely volatile, and closer to home, 2012 is a presidential election year. Many companies are waiting to see if the market begins to settle down before they began reinvesting in building their employee base.
For some meeting planners, playing the waiting game was no longer an option.
That was the case for one meeting planner who had been in the industry for over 25 years. Before moving to North Carolina, Martha was a corporate planner in the Chicago area.
Being new to the Raleigh area, Martha felt that starting her own business would not be a good idea since she didn’t have an established network to draw upon, and she’d be competing against other meeting planners who’d been forced to go out on their own because of recently layoffs in the area.
After trying to find a meeting planner job for two years, Martha finally sought employment outside of the meetings industry. While having to start over in a new field was not something Martha anticipated having to do, she’s now working in client services for an IT company.
Thirty-eight percent of employers in the CareerBuilder survey say they’re prepared to train people who don’t have experience in their industry. This is the time to look at your skills and abilities from a different vantage point. Explore how your meeting planning skills can apply within a new job description. Determine if there are classes you can take that will expand your skills to match what employers are seeking.
The prognosis is that 2012 will be the year we’re in recovery mode, and that it may be 2014 before the employment market returns to pre-recession numbers. In the meantime, job opportunities are available if you’re willing to broaden your search to industries you haven’t previously considered, and/or explore relocating for the “right” job. When you expand your options list, you’ll find additional doors opening that you may not have considered before.
Sheryl Sookman, CMP, is principal of The MeetingConnection, a company that offers career coaching and resume design services to individuals in the meetings industry. Sookman presents workshops, keynote speeches and webinars on career- and employment-related issues. Her book on career strategies and resume design, titled Who’s In Charge of Your Career? Creating a Strategy for Success, is available through www.amazon.com. You can reach her by e-mail at sheryl@themeetingconnection.com or at 415.892.1394. The MeetingConnection’s website is located at www.themeetingconnection.com.
