Are you looking for a job and having difficulty finding a new one? This article allows you to compare yourself to other researchers who, like you, are looking to learn about the state of the labor market and hiring trends.
We offer you the summary of an article written by Mr. Peter Harris, originally published in the Financial Post, to better understand what happens when you apply for a job opportunity.
Here a resume of the article :
According to a study by the Workopolis research team, it would take an average of 16 weeks for a Canadian to find a job. What happens during these 4 months of research and what can be done to close the gap before finding a new job?
As part of this study, thousands of people responded to job search questions. In addition, Workopolis has analyzed more than three million resumes and tens of thousands of job opportunities posted on their website to establish labor market outlook and hiring trends.
It goes without saying that the hiring result varies depending on the industry and the location of the researcher. However, half of the respondents said it took more or less 16 weeks of research. Last year, according to Statistics Canada, the results averaged 20.6 weeks!
According to the results of the study, the majority of people submitted up to 10 applications and landed 2 interviews before obtaining their last job. On the other hand, 30% said they had more than 5 interviews before being hired.
About 2% of people who applied for the same job offer are selected for the crucial stage of the interview, mainly because companies use software that allows them to filter the applications received and only retain those containing the keywords relevant to the post.
Of the apps that survived auto-selection, most will be scanned in under 11 seconds before being accepted or rejected. So 80% of applications do not pass the first screening step.
In order to survive the first round, follow these tips:
1. Be qualified
Before you apply for a job posting, make sure you meet the requirements of the job. You don't have to have all the skills you want, but consider whether you have the skills to fill and contribute to the role you want. Employers report that over 50% of applications received do not meet the basic requirements of the job posting.
2. Have a detailed title
The Workopolis team points out that thousands of resumes in their database are inadequately identified. When submitting your application, take the time to write in the title field, a clear formula that will specify the name of the desired title.
3. It's not about you
In your summary paragraph, forget the famous description that explains your career intentions. To put the odds in your favor, summarize your skills and explain how they can benefit the employer.
4. Have an easy-to-read resume
To make your resume easier to read and to highlight the information you are looking for, use short sentences and a few bulleted lists. This will prevent you from losing the employer's interest and preventing the employer from moving on to the next CV in the stack. Avoid long paragraphs of text!
5. Chronological list of previous jobs
It is relevant for an employer to know your professional background and thus see your progress. In your CV, have a category grouping in chronological order (most recent to oldest), the titles occupied with the description of responsibilities as well as the companies for which you have worked accompanied by the start and end dates.
6. Read again
You don’t want to be kicked out of the race because of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. So take all the necessary steps to ensure that your resume is flawless.
Other facts
To land an interview, your resume must be compelling to prove to the hiring manager that you are the right fit for the job.
An interview lasts an average of 40 minutes, making a good impression right from the handshake stage. Workopolis reports that 24% of those interviewed receive news from the company in less than a week, 42% within 2 weeks and 44% never will.
The highest rate of job postings is around 11 a.m. on Tuesday. The majority of job seekers usually send in their application around 2:00 p.m. the same day. To be the first of the pile, in front of your many competitors, be ready to apply on Tuesday between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm.
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