If it has been a while since your last job search, you need to be aware of 6 changes in the job search process that will have an impact on your search.

Executing a job search is more efficient than it was even a few years ago. Modern technological advances have dramatically changed the process, making it easier than ever for job seekers to find available jobs and recruiters + hiring managers to source qualified candidates.

Job seekers who are aware of and embrace these six trends before they launch their search will be ahead of the game, advance their search faster, and be better positioned to secure interviews:

1.    Emailing + Submitting Applications Online is the Norm and Texting is Gaining Acceptance.

The internet triggered changes to the job search process beginning with email. This change connected job seekers to HR and recruitment personnel and allowed the job seeker to send their document directly to someone at the company in response to an advertisement. The second change triggered by access to the internet was online job applications. Online job boards provided employers with a way to widely broadcast available roles and job seekers an easier avenue to respond. Gaining quick acceptance into today’s hiring process is texting. According to a survey by Robert Half Technology, 67% of leaders reported their company texts job candidates throughout the hiring process, and another 48% of workers said they’ve received a text message from a potential employer.

2.    Thousands of Jobs Are Posted Online Every Day.

The advent of job boards makes it easier for job seekers to find out about available jobs, but also increases the competition. The average corporate job opening attracts 250 resumes. Of those candidates, 4 to 6 will get called for an interview, and only one will get the job. (Glassdoor, HR and Recruiting Stats for 2019).

3.    Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) Rank Applicants.

When you submit your resume through an online portal, your document will pass through automated scanning and be ranked based on keywords (job titles, hard skills, or qualifications). According to research by Jobscan, 99% of Fortune 500s use applicant tracking systems. If your document does not contain the right search terms or if it is formatted incorrectly (your information turns into hieroglyphics), it will be “lost” in the system.

4.    Your Social Media Presence Matters.

Employers are turning to social media to find out more about you. They are looking for “social proof” that you are who you say you are and, if they don’t find that connection OR if they cannot find you online, they move on to the next candidate.

5.    A Successful Job Search Includes Networking.

According to Jobvite’s 2019 Job Seeker Nation Survey, 50% of respondents heard about jobs from friends, while 37% say they heard about job openings through professional networks. For companies, referrals are 5x more effective than all other sources of hiring. (Jobvite 2017 Recruiting Funnel Benchmark Report)

6.    A Targeted Resume is Critical to Your Success.

Is your resume yours? Or did you ‘borrow’, copy + paste from sample documents, a friend or colleague’s? Your resume needs to align your specific skills, qualifications, and experiences with your target employer’s needs. When you ‘borrow’ information from another resume, it doesn’t demonstrate your deep understanding of the challenges your target employer is facing or how you’ve solved problems and helped your past or present employers earn more money / reduce costs. Plugging your information into someone else’s document will have an unfavorable impact on your brand story and disconnect the dots between your unique value and the employer’s needs

The goal for any job seeker is to find and step into a new role posthaste. To do that, you need a strategy behind applying and hoping and take the steps necessary to prepare for a modern job search. There are effective ways to navigate the job market.

In a competitive landscape, investing in yourself is a wise decision. Id love to chat with you about your job search strategy + resume + online presence. Simply follow the link and schedule a call to discover how I can be of assistance.