Over the years, the job trends have changed dramatically for a number of reasons. With the advancement in technology and a fast paced lifestyle, the criteria for looking for a job also changed. Over the past years, the types of job nowadays also revolutionised. Take the home-based jobs, for instance. Who would have thought decades ago that working at home would yield a five-digit salary or doing business virtually is feasible? These types of job are rather popular lately and more companies are also into these types of positions. So what really is the job trend at this point in time and what are the factors associated with the shift of the individuals’ preference in terms of criteria in looking for a job?

According to reports, resilience was exhibited by the job market in 2007 and this is despite the economic instability and around 1.3 million jobs were produced. And this is according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics. This scenario of uprising job opportunities is also clearly visible locally, specifically the rise of the call centre jobs in Cebu. This year, 2008, hiring plans are slightly lower than the previous year, however, the economy still points to continued job creation. In fact, CareerBuilder.com’s “2008 Job Forecast,” conducted by Harris Interactive®, tracked projected hiring trends for 2008 surveying 3,016 hiring managers and human resource professionals in private sector companies. The results are as follows: 32 percent of employers plan to add full-time, permanent employees in 2008, down from 40 percent who planned to do so in 2007; 8 percent plan to decrease full-time staff levels in 2008, while 47 percent expect no change; 21 percent of employers plan to increase their number of part-time employees in 2008, down from 23 percent who expected to do so in 2007; and, 6 percent plan to decrease part-time headcount in 2008, while 58 percent expect no change.

So what are the implications of these finding to jobseekers? Ways and means are conceptualised by companies or employers to attract prospects and make sure retain their employees. These include ways in finding the right candidate, getting to accept their various offers, and making the prospect the employees as assets of the company in the long run. One of these ways is the bigger pay check that will be offered. According to a study 80 percent of employers report their companies will increase salaries for existing employees in 2008. Another important trend is that 60 percent of employers report they currently offer flexible schedules to employees and 39 percent plan to provide more flexible work arrangements in 2008 such as: alternate schedules (come in early and leave early or come in later and leave later); compressed workweeks (work the same hours, but in fewer days); telecommuting options; summer hours; job sharing; and sabbaticals.

Meanwhile, the internet is utilised to ensure that the right talents are being recruited. According to the study, that 45 percent of employers report they use online search engines and social networking sites to research job candidates and 19 percent say they are likely to start using or increase their use of these resources to research job candidates in 2008. Quite surprisingly is the fact that 21 percent say they are likely to rehire retirees from other companies in 2008. And this is according to the study. Other trends include diversity recruitment, freelance or contract hiring, introduction of more comprehensive healthcare benefits and other special job perk, and career advancement.