How jobseekers can take advantage of controversial ‘quiet hiring’ trend

Younger workers have criticised the emergence of a new hiring trend, but experts say savvy jobseekers can come out on top. See how.

Hiring is set to slow as companies tighten their budgets this year – but experts say there are still opportunities for workers to take advantage of ongoing talent shortages.

“Quiet hiring” has become a key consideration for businesses in recent months, with bosses keen to increase the skill set of their workforce without employing any new full-time staff.

Instead, companies are looking to upskill, or even re-skill, existing staff or rely on freelancers and contractors to fill the void.

Younger workers, in particular, have criticised the emergence of quiet hiring, taking to TikTok to complain it could lead to burnout and increased workloads without a financial pay-off.

But career expert Sue Ellson says workers who keep their skills up to date could reap the rewards.

“There are some very smart whipper snappers out there who have learned the skills to get what they want,” she says.

“These are the ‘choosers’ – the people who make their career happen rather than allow it to happen. They hold the power in a fragile market as they maintain their currency and value and seek aligned opportunities.”

The concept of “quiet hiring” has drawn controversy.

Curtailing variables

Amid increased operating expenses and fears of a recession, businesses are doing all they can to afford fixed costs, such as commercial rents, and cut down on variable expenditure, Ellson says.

“Staff costs are potentially variable costs,” she says.

“(Businesses have) had a very close look at their profit and loss statement from last year and …(even if they) lost staff, have now decided to make do with the remaining staff.”

She says any future hiring will be “very much skill driven”. But she warns even where businesses identify shortfalls, they “may actually look for technology-based solutions rather than human-based solutions … especially when they can’t see their work-from-home workforce”.

“If people want to stay in work, they are going to have to put themselves in the top 10 per cent rather than in the average 90 per cent,” Ellson says, noting personal referrals, headhunting and internal promotions will be key.

Massive opportunities

The trend towards quiet hiring will prove lucrative for freelancers, who will be increasingly in demand to “fill the gaps” in workplaces, Fiverr Australia community organiser Oliver Woolrych says.

In recent months, Fiverr has seen increases in search terms for skills such as accounting and finance (up 53 per cent), e-commerce marketing (up 30 per cent), social media ads (up 44 per cent) and artificial intelligence (up 1400 per cent).

“Australian businesses are facing a highly competitive landscape in parallel with an economic downturn, and the pressure to keep costs down while looking for talent poses a massive opportunity for freelancers,” Woolrych says.

“We’re seeing businesses coming to the platform requiring talent in an ongoing capacity, tapping freelancers’ skills for extended periods of time and integrating talent into their organisations as an extension of their team.

“Skilled freelancers are wise to lend their skills to businesses during this uncertain time, as it makes them more likely to secure future work and bring value to the business they are working with.”

Digital marketer Nicole Calyk is so busy she has had to create a wait list for clients.

Never been busier

Digital marketer Nicole Calyk, who has been freelancing for the last eight years, says she has never been as busy with work as she is now.

Demand has been so high that she has a wait list for clients.

“Business is just phenomenal. Every month is busier than the last one,” Calyk says.

“It’s not just smaller businesses (hiring freelancers). There’s a lot of larger businesses that have reached out … that want to outsource things and we’ve seen a lot of repeat clients as well.

“It’s nuts but it’s good.”

Calyk says the quiet hiring trend will not only benefit full-time freelancers but also those looking to supplement their existing income.

“Businesses are looking for people that are going to be cost effective and time efficient … without having to on-board a full-time position,” she says.

“For anyone that’s ever thought about freelancing, now is a great time to get some extra work or start your side hustle business.”

How to get ‘quietly hired’

The quiet hiring trend sees job seekers find work through:

• Personal referrals

• Headhunting

• Internal promotion

• Proactive recruitment

Source: Sue Ellson