Are you up-to-date on the methods used by recruiters today to source and vet candidates?
Jobvite released their 2016 Recruiter Nation Report on Tuesday, which highlights important trends in recruiting every job seeker should understand.
Hot industries to target. Companies are hiring and expect to increase hiring over the next year. Industries that grew this past year include health care, retail and finance, according to the Jobvite report.
It isn’t just the technology sector that sees competition for talent. In fact, there is less competition for tech jobs, according to recruiters, than for jobs in hospitality, manufacturing and health care.
What this means for job seekers. It’s important to remember that within every industry there is a full range of jobs from front line employees to back office functions such as accounting, marketing and information technology. Targeting companies in one of the growing industries may help you find more opportunities.
[See: 8 Things That Are More Productive Than Staring at a Job Board.]
What matters most to recruiters? The top two qualifications that influence recruiters’ hiring decisions are previous job experience and culture fit, according to Jobvite. As you might imagine, evaluating experience is fairly straightforward based on the list of jobs on your resume. But how do recruiters assess your cultural fit? Eighty-three percent of recruiters take communication style into account when evaluating how a potential employee will fit.
What this means for job seekers. When listing your work experience on your resume and LinkedIn profile, be sure you use a universally recognized job title. For example, if your company title was Manager of Employee Engagement, clarify your title by listing it as “Manager of Employee Engagement/Human Resources.” As for communication skills, everything from your email correspondence with the recruiter to any and all social media updates are fair game. If you don’t have a LinkedIn summary, add one or spiff it up so that it answers the question, “Why should I hire you?”
Your photo makes a first impression. You probably know you shouldn’t include a photo on your resume. What you should know is that 41 percent of recruiters said that seeing a photo of a candidate influences their first impression. How do they find a photo of you? Recruiters will search for your name online. Most likely, it will be your LinkedIn photo that makes a first impression.
What this means for job seekers. Your LinkedIn photo should be a high-quality head shot, not a full-body shot, that is appropriate for your profession. For example, for a conservative company or client-facing role, dress in a coat and tie if you are a man. If you are a woman, wear a top that isn’t too flashy or low-cut.
[See: 10 Things New Grads Can Do Right Now to Get a Job.]
Where do recruiters go to evaluate candidates? LinkedIn ranks at the top of the list. According to the report, 87 percent of recruiters say that LinkedIn is most effective for vetting candidates. But recruiters also research candidates on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, Instagram, Youtube and even Snapchat.
What this means for job seekers. You want to monitor your status updates across any and all social networks you use. Keep them professional. Get on a company’s radar by finding social media accounts on these other platforms. Engage with the company account by sharing or liking one of their status updates, asking a question or just introducing yourself.
Watch out for these negative influences. Often, it’s the little things that matter. Spelling and typos are easy fixes and it is worth your time, since 72 percent of recruiters view typos negatively, according to Jobvite. Oversharing on social media is another top turn-off for recruiters, even more so than photos of you consuming alcohol.
What job seekers can do. Be keenly aware of the subject matter and frequency of each status update you post. Minute-by-minute updates of your personal life would definitely be considered oversharing. Instead, add updates that relate to professional events and news about your industry.
Referred candidates rate second to internal hires. The best-quality hires come from within. But employers also found referred candidates as a source of high-quality hires. So much so that 64 percent of companies pay for quality referrals to incentivize them within their organizations, according to Jobvite.
What job seekers can do. Before you apply for any job, see if you can find someone in your network who can act as a referral. Remember, the person who refers you could get a bonus, so it’s a win-win.
Do you know what recruiters want? The best way to win over a recruiter is by understanding what is most important to them. The most valuable metric for recruiters is the performance of new hires. The retention rate of new hires falls second on the list of important success factors for recruiters.
What job seekers can do. If you can prove that you previously mastered or excelled in a new role, this evidence could help tip the scales in your favor as a candidate. Besides your previous track record of sticking with a job, you can persuade the recruiter that the role you are pursuing matches your career objective.
[See: The 8 Stages of a Winning Job Search.]
Want to impress the interviewer? Show your enthusiasm for the company and role. According to the report, 78 percent of recruiters cite enthusiasm as most likely to influence a hiring decision after an initial in-person interview. Next on the list is the candidate’s command of requirements and conversation skills.
What job seekers can do. Don’t just show up to the interview. Research the company so you know what they are doing. The more you know, the more interested you will seem in working for them and that will show. But don’t be afraid to tell the recruiter what specifically excites you about working for the company. Don’t stop there. Before your interview, prepare examples of situations where you have successfully completed each of the requirements stated in the job description.
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How Job Seekers Should Respond to Recruiting Trends originally appeared on usnews.com
