Amidst the gloom of the headlines, is there any reason to feel optimism about getting a job? Some sectors are doing better then ever. They may not be capturing the media's attention in the same way as companies closing down, but they are nevertheless thriving.
Perhaps the first thing to consider in looking for hope, is a sense of proportion. The headlines tell us there may be 3 million unemployed by the start of 2010. That represents roughly 10 per cent of the working population of the UK. Or to look at it another way, around 90 percent of the working age population will be employed.
The sectors which are doing well tend to fall into 2 categories. The first is those providing goods we all need, recession or not, such as food. The other is those perceived to be offering value in these challenging times.
Supermarkets
All the major supermarkets are reporting profits and growth. Sainsbury's, Waitrose, The Co-operative Group, Iceland and Tesco have all announced plans to increase their number of stores and create new jobs. As well, as checkout positions, this will mean a raft of opportunities in the types of roles large companies need, such as HR, accounting and management. And remember, the CEO of Tesco's began as a school holiday shelf stacker!
Cheap dining
Two companies - Domino's Pizza and bakery firm Greggs - announced increased sales. Both attribute their success to offering value to consumers who want to take a break from cooking, but avoid the cost of eating out.
'Value' retailers
Primark, Matalan and Peacocks are all doing well, with Peacocks announcing plans to expand. The Poundland chain (every item for one pound) also plans significant growth. While it makes sense that retailers offering value in a recession are likely to better than those perceived to be expensive, it also shows an investment in a future beyond recession.
Holidays
Whether consumers now regard holidays as an 'essential' or are simply looking to escape the doom and gloom for a while, Eurostar, Thomas Cook and TUI Travel, owners of First Choice all saw growth and an increase in profits.
Online business
Many online businesses, whether wholly online, like Amazon and Asos, or those having an online division, such as Mothercare, are finding sales are doing well. Even Woolworths looks set to survive as an online brand. As a consequence of this, other online areas are doing better than traditional counterparts. For example, as most media advertising budgets are being slashed, online advertising budgets are being preserved or even increased.
A dose of realism
No-one is pretending these are not challenging times. This may be the first recession you have been aware of and it may be knocking your confidence in terms of job seeking. You may need to rethink the path you hoped your career would take in the short term. But with hard work, a flexible attitude and a little determination, the odds will be stacked in your favour.
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