From two separate surveys we have noticed that many job seekers are experiencing unpleasant and frustrating application experiences and companies are experiencing increases in the number of applicants applying for jobs. However, those applicants are not showing a connection between their skills and the job they applied to, creating a challenge to hire quality talent.
Job Seeker Impact
Last week we posted on our Facebook Page data from our Job Seeker Experience survey that 68% of job seekers say that they would not refer friends, family, colleagues to a company that did not acknowledge their candidacy (candidate or not) for a job they had applied for. By not sending out a e-mail or letter indicating an applicant’s candidacy status we may be impacting our future recruitment pool. If you are looking for quality talent and it is not showing up on your doorstep you may want to see how you are communicating with applicants because 98% of our survey participants say they network to share and gain information about companies they are and have applied with.
Businesses Are Impacted By Employment Market
In our Resume and Recruiting Practices survey, 62% of organizations are seeing an increase in the number of applicants for their open jobs, with 42% of participants decreasing their hiring. So with the number of jobs decreased and the number of applicants up, Human Resources departments and hiring managers are being challenged to fill jobs in a timely manner. To compensate for the mass quantities of applicants, 72% of companies are focusing on finding specific job related resumes verses the 11% of companies focusing on general resumes.
Employers are using many sources to find and attract applicants; however most sourcing models organizations utilized are on-line (42%). Seventy two percent of organizations indicated they have increased their overall internet postings. Networking is key from an employer perspective as well with employers indicating increased usage of attending networking events, hosting networking events and holding on site open houses. All great ways to connect with potential applicants
What Does This Mean
From our perspective, skills and talents are being missed because we are not communicating and as a result, organizational performance is being impacted negatively. The number of applicants in the employment market place is impacting competition for jobs with many applicants applying and not showing strong experience relationships for open positions. Consequently, employers are weeding through 100’s of non qualified applicants which impacts overall business performance from time to fill, quality hires, responding to applicants and employment brand integrity.
What To Do
- Job Seekers: Get specific about your skills and competencies and relate them to the jobs you apply to.
- Employers: Make contact with your applicants via a simple e-mail to acknowledge that their resumes was received and weather they are a candidate or not. This will improve the quality of candidates you may receive now and in the future, improving your time to fill as well as future turnover/retention.
- Job Seekers and Employers: Get out and demonstrate your professional and employer brand. This is a great way to build a relationship with potential candidates, customers and connectors that will improve your business overall.
Continue To Help Us Teach
We have been fortunate to have so many people participate in our research so far, but we want to gain more data from your participation as well.
Your participation will continue our educational efforts to improve the business climate for our collective futures. We are asking for your partnership in this effort by participating in our surveys as they apply to you and your organization.
We are seeking data for the following:
2009 Job Seeker Experience
SurveyResume & Recruiting Practices 2010
Visit the HRPartner Consulting website to participate.
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