The signs are ominous. Jobs are going to grow scarcer this year. According to the International Labour Organisations (ILOs) Global Employment Trends 2012, the best we can hope for is that the measures to prevent a deeper jobs crisis work. Here is an extract from the ILO report.

“The outlook for global job creation has been worsening. The baseline projection shows no change in the global unemployment rate between now and 2016, remaining at six per cent of the global labour force. This would lead to an additional three million unemployed around the world in 2012, or a total of 200 million, rising to 206 million by 2016. If downside risks materialise and global growth falls to below two per cent in 2012, global unemployment would rise more rapidly to more than 204 million in 2012, at least four million more than under the baseline scenario, with a further increase to 209 million in 2013, 6 million more than under the baseline scenario. Alternatively, under a more benign scenario — which assumes a quick resolution of the Euro debt crisis — global unemployment would be around one million lower than under the baseline scenario in 2012, and 1.7 million lower in 2013. This would still not be sufficient to significantly alter the trajectory of the global unemployment rate, which is projected to remain stuck at around six per cent.”

Although India is included in the survey, the scene is nowhere as dismal here. In fact, industry reports that there is a shortage of workers in some areas. “Construction workers used to migrate from UP and Bihar to richer states. Farm workers did the same,” says an economist. “This year their numbers have been reduced because of the government’s employment schemes and food for work programmes.”Besides, even if you start worrying about the gloomy outlook, there is very little you can do. It is better to focus on another survey — the Global Hiring Trends 2012, by the Career Directors International (CDI).

Career directors are those who help you get a job. The CDI describes itself as “a professional association committed to delivering industry innovation and unlimited potential for career professionals”.

The latest poll by these purveyors of unlimited potential is about the resume. Some findings would be of interest to the jobseeker. The highlights:

Forget about the compact résumé. Yes, it’s important. But whats more important is that you pack in value. The survey found that over 54 per cent of respondents would read a résumé, regardless of length, if it was well written and highly focused on the targeted position.

Forty three per cent of respondents wanted a résumé summary longer that the standard three lines.

Email résumés need to be smartphone and PDA friendly.

Charts and graphs add value, but don’t overdo it. Video résumés are still not quite acceptable.

Perhaps the most interesting finding is that a résumé on a business card is quite acceptable, depending on the situation. At a job fair, for instance, it is quite okay to give a recruiter a visiting card with some basic details about you printed on the other side. The general repository for such cards is the dustbin. But if you can excite enough attention in a few words, the recruiter may well give you a call (your phone number is a must) or visit your webpage (it helps, but not all the time).

Has this novelty come to India? Not as yet. But then job fairs are not too popular either. The Army holds them and they have often ended up in mob scenes. Be careful before you start handing out such cards. It could quite easily end up in your boss’ pocket. That would make it not a name card but a joker.

SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL

If you met a jobseeker through networking or a job fair and he/she provided you with a business card-sized résumé that listed contact information, job targets and skills, would you pursue the person further? (%)

» Maybe, if they appeared to be a skill match 40

» Definitely, if they appeared to be a skill match 29

» No response 21

» Only if it was accompanied by a resume 10

Source: Global Hiring Trends 2012 by Career Directors International