Jobs in 2014 – are your skills in demand?

PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday January 28th

Jobs in 2014 – are your skills in demand?

Business Analysts, Quantity Surveyors, Claims Support and Business Development Managers are just four of the professionals in demand as we welcome a more active jobs market in 2014, says recruiting experts Hays.

According to the recruiter’s latest Hays Quarterly Hotspots list of skills in demand, there are still clearly pockets of skills shortages across New Zealand, most notably in accountancy, construction, insurance and sales.

“There seems to be a good level of confidence in New Zealand’s market, which is creating job opportunities for skilled and experienced professionals,” says Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand.

“Professionals in many key areas of expertise will be needed this year. Business confidence has improved and employers in many sectors are also growing but facing a shortage of specific talent.

“Those people with high-level skills will be in particular demand. Such candidates are already looking to change jobs to improve their prospects and career development,” he said.

In a welcome trend, Jason notes that the calibre of job seekers on the market has increased. “People are returning to New Zealand from the UK and Australia,” he says. “Often these candidates have been unable to command the salaries they wanted abroad and so they are now choosing to return home where they can secure good roles and maintain their career paths in a strong economy.

“These candidates are particularly sought after for their big company experience.”

In other trends, Hays points to the desire to recruit one higher calibre candidate who can perform two job functions. “Employers will pay a higher salary to one highly-skilled individual as opposed to a lower salary for two individuals who operate at a lower level,” notes Jason.

“Employers are also spending more time assessing what skills the business actually requires, rather than recruiting direct replacements. Contractors are being used to cover workloads while this is worked out.”

A selection of skills in demand across New Zealand from the Hays Quarterly Hotspots for January to March 2014 follows:

• Business Analysts – Candidates with strong IT skills are sought to add commercial value and insight into future business planning and reporting. We are seeing new jobs created in the analytical space to add value to sales, operations, marketing and investment departments,

particularly in the telecoms, utilities, FMCG and property sectors.

• Management Accountants - CIMA qualified candidates with international accounting

experience are sought. Those who have worked in larger more complex environments and who are able to work with high volumes of complex analytics are in most demand.

• Credit Controllers – Credit control is being recognized as a specialist skill that requires the correct fit. As a result, there is high demand for suitable candidates who are the correct cultural fit for the business and the role.

2014

• Audit Intermediates and Seniors – There is a shortage of experienced Auditors with sound knowledge of audit principles. Many good candidates leave after several years to try commerce

in order to improve their work/life balance and expand their skill set.

• CAD Drafters – CAD Drafters with experience using Revit and ArchicAd (3D Modelling) are in

high demand to work on residential projects. Experience using New Codes is essential.

• Registered Architects – We are also seeing high demand for Registered Architects to design using relevant software, manage and develop staff and take responsibility for business development.

• Site/Project Managers – Candidates with strong commercial experience will see demand for their skills increase further.

• Customer Service - Customer service candidates with a solid work history and industry-specific experience are in high demand and short supply.

• Telesales - Candidates with a proven sales track record are highly sought after. The market has become incredibly competitive, and good Telesales professionals are in high demand.

• Structural Engineers – Employers in Auckland are looking for candidates with New Zealand seismic coding experience.

• Geotechnical Engineers – Senior candidates remain in high demand for projects across the Christchurch region. Seismic re-strengthening work in the capital is also fuelling demand for these skills.

• 12D Designers/Engineers – We are seeing high demand for candidates with experience in the design of water, drainage, roading and land development as consultancies win more private development work in Wellington and other regions, including Hawkes Bay.

• HR Generalists – Public sector organisations are looking for candidates with good demonstrated experience in change management, particularly organisational and culture change.

• Work Health Safety Practitioners – There is a lot of work in this space as employers focus on impending legislative changes. Consequently suitable practitioners are in high demand.

• Life Underwriters - Life insurance companies have been actively seeking good intermediate to senior Life Underwriters for both new vacancies and to replace departing staff.

• Claims - Insurance F&G companies have a steady flow of jobs on offer across the country, although the main centres are Auckland and Christchurch. The surge of storm-related claims in mid-2013 created demand for temporary claims professionals to cover work overloads, and fixed-term contracts are still on offer today within the earthquake claims space.

• Infrastructure Engineers – Within IT, Infrastructure Engineers with the latest technologies, including cloud based experience, are sought. Candidates need Microsoft, Cisco, storage and security experience and the latest certificates. Local experience is also preferred.

• Executive Assistants – Employers are looking for candidates with Lotus notes and minute taking skills.

• Contract Administrators – There is a shortage of candidates with budget management skills for contract administration roles. Employers also want candidates who can find their way around contracts easily and advise people on contract queries.

ends

© Scoop Media