WHY DON'T I HAVE A JOB YET???
We are almost two months into 2005 and many of you are asking "Why don't I have a job yet?"
Patience my friends...your time is going to come! There was quite a flurry of activity in January. However, the last three weeks have been painfully slow! There is a bit of a drop in the number of jobs. More importantly, the process has gotten extremely slow.
It is not uncommon to get a new job opening - get three resumes to my client within twenty four hours - only to wait up to a week to get any feedback! The hiring process has gotten prolonged for a number of reasons.
Even though many companies are seeking the same talent; it is still an employer's market. The most sought after companies will continue to take their time and work at their pace, confident that candidates will wait.
The other factor effecting the length of time between receipt of a resume and an offer is the number of people involved in that hiring decision. The following is a typical flow chart:
1) resume is sent to HR/Hiring Manager - an average of 3 days pass before feedback is given or interest is expressed
2) resume is then shown to a colleague in HR or department for further review
3) candidate is scheduled for a 1st interview with HR
4) a successful first will result in referral on to the Hiring Manager - not uncommon for a week to pass before a candidate gets on a Hiring Manager's calendar
5) candidate goes in to meet Hiring Manager - feedback may take several days
6) the candidate that has had 2 successful interviews is then scheduled for a final to meet once again with the Hiring Manager and members of his team
RESULT = The average length of time from submission of a resume to a formal offer is 3-4 weeks
As we move into the second quarter of the year, this should speed up a bit! "A" candidates will generally have a two week lifespan as a job seeker. This means that someone with a fantastic resume, terrific interpersonal/job related skills...will find a job on their own or through recruitment resources two weeks after initiating an aggressive search! This is not ALWAYS how it goes but serves to illustrate the need to move quickly by employers. The market will become "candidate driven" as the number of "top-tier" candidates decreases. When this occurs, the job seeker is in control. They may have several opportunities offered, in addition to a counter-offer from their current employer.
Do not ease up in your search for a new opportunity! You must be focused, knowledgable and aggressive. I know that feedback is important as a job seeker. However, it is not always given when an employer is choosing not to pursue a candidate. Very often, I just get an e-mail that says "we are not going to invite him/her back...please send more resumes." Remember, 90% of what drives a decision to hire does not appear on your resume! "Chemistry" and "Personality" are tough to match and are extremely subjective.
As the economy continues to heal; there will be a need to add talented new employees to the roster!
Keep searching, networking and interviewing...you WILL find the opportunity you seek...it just may take longer than you would like!
"I can accept failure - everybody fails - what I cannot accept is NOT TRYING!"
MICHAEL JORDAN
Patience my friends...your time is going to come! There was quite a flurry of activity in January. However, the last three weeks have been painfully slow! There is a bit of a drop in the number of jobs. More importantly, the process has gotten extremely slow.
It is not uncommon to get a new job opening - get three resumes to my client within twenty four hours - only to wait up to a week to get any feedback! The hiring process has gotten prolonged for a number of reasons.
Even though many companies are seeking the same talent; it is still an employer's market. The most sought after companies will continue to take their time and work at their pace, confident that candidates will wait.
The other factor effecting the length of time between receipt of a resume and an offer is the number of people involved in that hiring decision. The following is a typical flow chart:
1) resume is sent to HR/Hiring Manager - an average of 3 days pass before feedback is given or interest is expressed
2) resume is then shown to a colleague in HR or department for further review
3) candidate is scheduled for a 1st interview with HR
4) a successful first will result in referral on to the Hiring Manager - not uncommon for a week to pass before a candidate gets on a Hiring Manager's calendar
5) candidate goes in to meet Hiring Manager - feedback may take several days
6) the candidate that has had 2 successful interviews is then scheduled for a final to meet once again with the Hiring Manager and members of his team
RESULT = The average length of time from submission of a resume to a formal offer is 3-4 weeks
As we move into the second quarter of the year, this should speed up a bit! "A" candidates will generally have a two week lifespan as a job seeker. This means that someone with a fantastic resume, terrific interpersonal/job related skills...will find a job on their own or through recruitment resources two weeks after initiating an aggressive search! This is not ALWAYS how it goes but serves to illustrate the need to move quickly by employers. The market will become "candidate driven" as the number of "top-tier" candidates decreases. When this occurs, the job seeker is in control. They may have several opportunities offered, in addition to a counter-offer from their current employer.
Do not ease up in your search for a new opportunity! You must be focused, knowledgable and aggressive. I know that feedback is important as a job seeker. However, it is not always given when an employer is choosing not to pursue a candidate. Very often, I just get an e-mail that says "we are not going to invite him/her back...please send more resumes." Remember, 90% of what drives a decision to hire does not appear on your resume! "Chemistry" and "Personality" are tough to match and are extremely subjective.
As the economy continues to heal; there will be a need to add talented new employees to the roster!
Keep searching, networking and interviewing...you WILL find the opportunity you seek...it just may take longer than you would like!
"I can accept failure - everybody fails - what I cannot accept is NOT TRYING!"
MICHAEL JORDAN
