How to advance your career in 2022

Is a new job on your radar for 2022? If so, it’ll take more than tailoring your CV and preparing thoroughly for interviews to get your dream job. As we move out of the pandemic, there are new strategies to add to the list.

From taking a calculated risk to rebuilding your network, 2022 is the year to re-examine your career plans. With skills in demand and the Great Resignation looming, this is the moment to take charge of your career again.

So, how do you advance your career in 2022?

Top factors that will advance your career in 2022

Here are our top tips to help your career progression in 2022.

1. Take calculated risks

Disruption is impacting all aspects of our working lives and career progression is no exception. Before starting your job search, review your past career progression and current goals to ensure you are comfortable with the reality of your present position. If your career plans swerved to avoid a COVID-19 collision, re-establish your goals and get back on track in the new year.

The best way to do this could be a sideways move. The traditional notion that a career involves working your way up the ranks of one chosen profession has evolved. Now, there’s an appreciation that while the next step up may offer an immediate salary increase, a sideways move could provide learning opportunities or experience that sets you up for a more sustainable or rewarding career future. Such career manoeuvres keep your skills relevant and employable for the long haul.

2. Sell your skills

In response to skills shortages and the impending Great Resignation, employers are becoming more open to transferrable skills and re-establishing what competencies are essential and what are desirable. But in return, they want to know you can be trusted to produce results. So, add success metrics and examples to your resume and online professional profile as proof that you did your previous jobs well.

One simple trick is to use verbs to bring your successes front and centre in your resume. For example, instead of writing that you managed a team, try “directed”, “united” or “motivated”. I.e. “I designed and delivered a new online sales booking system that increased sales by 15 per cent in the first six months.” When preparing for an interview, practice articulating your quantifiable results in your answers to common interview questions, too.

3. Rebuild your network

After almost two years of remote and hybrid working, relationship building is more important than ever in your job search. Now’s the time to seek out networking opportunities, reconnect with recruiters, join a professional association and update your LinkedIn profile. Follow up every application with a telephone call to be front of the recruiter or hiring manager’s mind.

4. Don’t raise salary too early

Skilled professionals are aware of the demand for their skills and are subsequently changing jobs to secure a higher salary. But this comes with a caveat – employers are wary of any candidate who asks about money too early in the recruitment process, concerned about their long-term retention potential if salary is their primary motivator. Your recruiter provides a salary range before an interview, so directly raising the topic with a hiring manager gives the impression that it’s your main job search impetus. Instead, wait for an offer to be made, which puts you in a stronger negotiating position than if you raise the topic too early.

When it does come time to negotiate, don’t price yourself out of consideration. Consult a Salary Guide to ensure your expectations are aligned with current market rates rather than the figure you believe your skills warrant. Carefully consider the career progression and learning and development available in the context of your long-term career goals, too. If a job comes with regular upskilling, for instance, it can future-proof your employability and may be of greater financial benefit long-term than a few thousand dollars here and now.

5. Upskill your technical, soft and digital skills

Your skills are your most valuable commodity in the jobs market. To aid your progression, regularly upskill to enhance them. Focus on acquiring new technical or hard skills, but don’t neglect your soft skills and digital skills, which require just as much focused upskilling. Conduct a skills self-audit to identify any gaps. Add new skills to your CV and professional profiles.

If you are looking to improve your skills, Hays Learning is our online learning platform covering technical, digital and soft skills. With Hays Learning, you can access a range of free online learning courses.

6. Acquire green skills

Most organisations have set ambitious Net Zero targets. While this fuels demand for green jobs, such as ESG Managers, the more significant trend is the addition of a sustainable lens to existing jobs. Now is the time to prepare by acquiring then applying knowledge of sustainable workplace best practice to your current role and making conscious changes to your workplace behaviour, such as water conservation, recycling, food waste and energy efficiency. Learn to perform your job in a sustainable way and you’ll be ready when employers make it a base line expectation.

7. Be a change agent

In today’s business landscape, new technologies and operating rhythms are introduced regularly, and employees need to be ready to adapt. Change readiness is a valuable skill, so learn to adapt to change, drive innovation, adopt new technology and implement best practice. By nurturing your ability to respond quickly and positively to change, you’ll aid your career success.

8. Expect an initial asynchronous video interview

Asynchronous video interviews are becoming more popular in recruitment, particularly in volume hiring, to streamline shortlisting. They involve an automated video interview, but the hiring manager is not present (as opposed to synchronous interviews that occur in real time between two parties). Typically, in an asynchronous interview, you log in at a time convenient to you and automated prompts guide you through a predetermined set of interview questions, which you answer into your webcam. The recorded interview is watched later by the hiring manager.

A one-way interview can feel unnatural but try to be your authentic self. Without pleasantries to ease you in, be prepared to answer questions the second you click record. Some people find that imagining a person on the other end of the webcam helps them relax. Depending on the platform, you may be able to record a test video or practice questions. If so, utilise these options to plan your response and gain confidence.

Before the interview, record yourself answering common questions, then watch it back to identify improvement points. Avoid filler words such as “um”, “er” and “like”, maintain eye contact, smile and articulate clearly to impress.

How to get a job in 2022

By taking charge of your career again and dedicating time, hard work and interest in career planning, you'll find a new job with a company that will allow you to achieve your career goals and advance your professional development in the new year.

Remember to search our available jobs or explore our career advice hub for more tips. Good luck.

About this author

Nick Deligiannis, Managing Director, began working at Hays in 1993 and since then he has held a variety of consulting and management roles across the business. In 2004 he was appointed to the Hays Board of Directors. He was made Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand in 2012.

Prior to joining Hays, he had a background in human resource management and marketing, and has formal qualifications in Psychology.

Follow Nick on LinkedIn