Current Hiring Trends
Posted on February 15, 2008 | Filed Under Job Search, News
Hiring trends change all the time, based on what’s going on in the world, our economy, and a wide variety of other factors. And trends can vary from industry to industry too. There are always some industries that are booming, while others are declining, and so of course are the jobs within those industries.
So it will behoove you to understand the current trends affecting your particular job marketplace. Here are a few general trends at play right now…
Employers are deciding more quickly on candidates. Everyone is busy these days and hiring decisions are made in as expedient a fashion as possible. Whereas in the past, you might have to go through 2 or 3 different job interviews with different stakeholders in an organization and then wait weeks to hear whether or not you made the cut, today, you may have 1 group interview with all stakeholders in one sitting, or at least meet all players, one after the other. And then a job offer may come within days, rather than weeks. Employers found out they were losing out on qualified candidates with a long, drawn-out selection process.
The Web lets employers learn more about the “real” you. The Internet provides easy access to all sorts of information on prospective employees, and employers are tapping into it. It’s cheaper to pay for an online background check than it is to hire and train an employee who may not work out. Savvy employers also use search engines and social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook to dig for information. That fun photo of you in high drunkenness during a college party may not be image you want to portray to your future boss.
It’s a seller’s market. Have you heard of “buyers” and “sellers” markets in real estate? Well, 2008 should be a seller’s market when it comes to jobs. In other words, there aren’t enough qualified candidates to go around, which puts you in the driver’s seat… but don’t abuse that privilege. You still have to prove you’re right for the jobs you go after. However, you might be in a position to negotiate for a great salary, better benefits, and/or alternate working conditions.
Show what you can do… in a video resume. This is pretty cutting edge, but more and more candidates are beginning to videotape themselves answering interview questions, giving a short speech or performing functions of a job. Employers may not be requesting video interviews, but more and more are open to them.
Be sure you understand how to get ahead today in your job marketplace and career. Being savvy and capitalizing on the trends is the way to get the job you want!
Written by Kathi MacNaughtonComments
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My name is Kathi, and I created this website to share my expertise and knowledge about writing resumes and succeeding in career changes & job hunts. Thank you for visiting. I hope you'll take the time to explore not only this blog, but also the rest of my site. There's lots of info here! You can
Kathi, do you have any downloadble sample resumes for various fields such as Administrative Assistants or Customer Serivice?
Hi Anna,
Yes, you can find downloadable resumes right on the site:
http://www.powerful-sample-resume-formats.com/resume-templates.html