Secrets Employers Won't Tell You

John Krautzel
Posted by in Career Advice


Several companies face a dilemma with their recruitment strategies. Approximately 40 percent of American employers have trouble filling positions, according to a 2014 survey from Manpower. Employers must learn to watch job search trends as the labor market turns to include more candidates who have the upper hand during the recruiting process.

One of the most ubiquitous job search trends includes job boards on various websites. Recruiters looking to find job candidates love this method, as candidates can apply for positions, submit resumes and add cover letters. Digital recruitment strategies save employers time, money and effort through applicant tracking systems, and online job boards foster that type of technology. Keywords and automated applicant trackers continue to dominate the field as a first line of vetting candidates in order to save tons of money and staff time.

Nearly 86 percent of candidates use mobile devices to search for jobs. Recruiters should have websites that optimize mobile searching or simply have apps for people to find jobs. Similar to shopping, job search trends have moved increasingly to smartphones and tablet devices, although traditional Internet use remains a huge aspect of the recruiting process.

Social media represents one of the most prominent job search trends, and not just because of everyone's LinkedIn profiles. Recruiters create dedicated accounts on other sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Google and Pinterest to actively find the right talent. Social media searches cost little to no money and basically just need someone to maintain the accounts. Although posting advertisements through social media can cost money, larger firms may benefit from using this strategy. Some recruiters also vet candidates through social media accounts, so job seekers should be wary of posts on Twitter and Facebook that may disparage an employer. Employee referrals also remain a viable trend, but even that human aspect requires some tech know-how as more professionals rely on LinkedIn to make connections.

Perpetual searches happen on both sides of job recruiting. Companies and employees both passively search for new positions on a constant basis. This occurs when someone inputs a saved search through LinkedIn or job boards, and then someone receives an alert saying a job or candidate has become available. Nearly 86 percent of professionals intend to look for a new job in 2015 now that the job market is more stable and companies are willing to spend extra money to get the right talent.

Freelancing and outsourcing talent has become one of the relatively new job search trends. As many as 34 percent of American workers freelance, according to a survey in 2014 from oDesk. Freelancing saves firms money for temporary or fixed-term projects that do not need a full-time employee. Freelancing puts the onus of health benefits on the worker, while companies can find the best possible talent for the lowest price with respect to bids for jobs. Several websites cater to this type of recruitment model, and employers may flock to this paradigm more as candidates seek freedom to work from home.

The overall theme of job search trends continues to point towards technology. Employers and candidates should be mindful of technological trends moving forward to make the most of the job-seeking process.


Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

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  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Philip it certainly can get frustrating! Sure companies will post a job for an IT person and will ask for the sun, moon and the stars. But they know, realistically, that they won't get that. They figure that if they post a job with 20 qualifications/skills listed that they may get someone who has 10 or even 15 of their qualifications. They are still hiring and they also know that realistically they are not going to get a new hire who can hit the ground running. I think that they post that so that only the best and brightest will apply and they won't have to weed through tens of thousands of resumes just to find those few. So don't stop submitting your resume. If you have 1/2 of what they are looking for, submit your resume. What do you have to lose but the time it takes to tailor your resume and cover letter for the position! So don't let it stop you! Apply away and best of luck.

  • Philip MacFarlane
    Philip MacFarlane

    As we all know, the job search process is a numbers game, getting your resume posted on a sufficient number of job boards for recruiters/companies to see. While I have had plenty of inquiries from people that have seen my resume, as well as my applying to job postings, my biggest issue is that of companies not considering me for further interest beyond the initial conversation. They want the GOLDEN candidate that has everything under the son. Those candidates are just not available. Until companies come to that realization, the economy is just going to continue to sputter. Additionally, the want someone who can 'hit the ground running', when that is not realistic in most IT positions as we need to spend time getting familiar with current system. It appears companies would rather have ZERO production 100% of the time rather then get someone who can be productive 60% of the time and grow into a fully productive employee in 3-6 months.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Deborah thanks for your comment. So sorry that you had to go through that. Hopefully you will find another position that will be easier on the body and the soul. Good for you, though, for sticking it out for 6 years. That time should give you a leg up on your next position. All the best.

  • deborah h.
    deborah h.

    I worked as a temp for three months then nearly got fired for a behavior outburst. As I was otherwise a good employee, they gave me a second 90 day period. From there I was hired company and worked for 6+ yrs. If I had had the ambition, I could have moved higher. They could not find a reason to fire me after a WC injury. I quit due to the wear and tear on my body due to the nature of the job.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Alfredo thanks for your comment and your viewpoint. We appreciate hearing how people feel and so do our readers. I will say that maybe it would be considered as "slave labor" if you get a position through a temp agency but it doesn't have to be that way. As a job seeker, it's up to me to tell them that I will or will not accept the amount they are willing to pay - being realistic at the same time. If I was making $30/hr as a help desk analyst and the temp job is for a receptionist making $15/hr... well, then it's probably a pretty realistic salary and I can't expect to make the same money I was making before. This is what is happening in our country now. 900 McDonald's are closing because they can't afford to stay open. Upping the pay to $15/hr plus healthcare has priced so many of these franchises out of the market place. So instead of the increased pay helping, it is forcing more workers out of work and on the unemployment rolls. Sometimes we have to take things with a grain of salt.

  • ALFREDO A.
    ALFREDO A.

    Everyone knows this is happening, that's why Corporate america has Outsourced the hiring process to these types of websites, and online Job seekers sites.
    They can better Blacklist people with newer Technology. You voluntarily provide all your information, they DataMine and Voilà. You are automatically unemployable, because their personality, or whatever Psycho-Babble-analytical algorithm says your are unemployable, for whatever reason it makes up.

    The problem is the Corporatocracy has figured out ways to get around those "Discriminating" laws your refer to. That's the problem, and now they rule every aspects of our lives. And those "Temp" agencies, should be Classified as "Slave Labor" companies.
    Because that is what you are doing when you get employed by one, you turned yourself into an economic Slave. The employer and the agency, know that they can get you for less.. So, know you been ECONOMICALLY demoted to a lower Slave Class. State sponsored Unemployment Agencies do the same thing, what happened to the Market Driven BS everyone talks about.? There is NO such thing, when the Corporatocracy runs and controls every aspect of the “Market”, there is no Free Enterprise or Market.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Barbara so sorry you have encountered these issues. Knowing that it's against the law to discriminate based on race, age or gender doesn't seem to deter some companies. Have you thought about doing temp work? This way you can get your foot in the door of a company and decide if it's good for you or not instead. More and more companies are using temp agencies to find workers because - well, they can pay less and don't have to worry about benefits. But it would be a good way to find out if the company is right for you, also and for them to see what a great worker you are! Best of luck as you move forward.

  • Barbara I.
    Barbara I.

    I'm beginning to feel that employers are interested until I go for the interview and they realize I am a middle aged woman of color. I maybe be wrong, but they seem very interested and the interview goes great...then no call or email. I am not retirement age and have bills to pay

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