Carefully craft resume; organize your search

Jan 31st, 2008 | By Bill | Category: Employment News



Carefully craft resume; organize your search

So, the old job has become so unbearable you are about to do something crazy and begin that dreaded job search.With the new year come new trends in hiring. From a quicker interview process to plump perks, experts say getting hired in 2008 could be a smooth ride."Companies are taking less time to run people through and make a decision," said Mark Haering, senior partner with PrincetonOne Search, an executive search agency in Indianapolis. "They want to make sure somebody else doesn't scoop them up."AdvertisementThirty-two percent of employers plan to increase their number of full-time permanent employees, according to CareerBuilder.com, an online job site run by CareerBuilder LLC that is partly owned by Lansing State Journal publisher Gannett Co. Inc. That is down from 40 percent in 2007, which saw more than 1.3 million jobs created, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"Looking forward, plans for hiring … point to continued job creation," said Matt Ferguson, chief executive officer of CareerBuilder.com.

Here's what to expect as you head out on the job hunt:

Tech traits

A resume can say a lot about a job candidate, and employers increasingly are tossing out applications that are not up to par.

"If you're looking for a position and you've got typos in your resume and your formatting is off or it just doesn't look very sophisticated, that in itself can speak to an employer about whether or not you're computer literate," said Kate Tykocki, spokeswoman for Capital Area Michigan Works, a Lansing-area work force development agency.

"Employers want people who are tech savvy, and if your resume looks like you don't even know how to use a computer, you're sending a message loud and clear to a potential employer."

Don't overdo it

To some, the wealth of Internet job postings almost seems too good to be true. And it probably is.

"Because of the Internet, because it's so easy to apply for a job, people are just applying for any job out there and hoping it'll work out even if they're not qualified for it," Tykocki said. "It can discourage a person from really having an effective job search and continuing to look so they can find that perfect job that they are qualified for."

When responding to online postings, applicants should try to avoid accidentally sending resumes twice, "which is going to look irresponsible," she said.

"It becomes easy just to shoot off a copy of your resume, but you've got to make sure you're keeping good records of what you've applied for," Tykocki said.

Digging deep

To be sure they are recruiting the right talent, more employers are using the Internet to screen potential employees. Forty-five percent said they use online search engines and social networking sites to research job candidates, according to CareerBuilder.com.

This year, nearly 20 percent of companies say they will increase use of these resources.

In addition, companies will be using background checks and assessment tools more often, Haering said. "While they want to make a quick decision, they also want to make the right decision," he said.

Get connected

Job hunters and recruiters increasingly surf professional networking Web site LinkedIn.com, said John Hill, director of alumni career services at Michigan State University.

The site allows users to create a network of contacts who are connected to them directly or through mutual acquaintances.

"Professional networking Web sites have created even more interconnectivity to jobs and job opportunities, where you can visually see how somebody can help you get introduced to somebody to find a job," Hill said.

Through LinkedIn, people can learn more about a job or candidate without meeting in person, Hill said.

Outside the box

When scouring the Web or classifieds for job openings, candidates unintentionally may pass over opportunities if they discount companies outside their industries of expertise.

"Just because it's a health care organization doesn't mean they're not hiring accountants," Tykocki said. "They're hiring the entire support staff to run the company."

In fact, employers are struggling with a shortage of qualified candidates. Forty percent of companies say they have open positions for which they can't find the right talent, Ferguson said.

"Recruitment and retention efforts are becoming increasingly competitive, and job seekers are likely to benefit in the new year," he said.

Perking you up

Rising health care costs are a definite trend. To draw new candidates to their workplace, nearly 20 percent of employers say they will offer more comprehensive benefits this year, according to CareerBuilder.com.

Other perks to lure workers include signing bonuses, employee discounts, company cars, stock options, free child care, educational reimbursement, transit passes and wellness programs.

About one-quarter of employers also say they will provide more promotions and career advancement opportunities for new hires.

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