A study published by CareerBuilder in June 2016 reveals key statistics about job seekers and employers. The point of the 2016 Candidate Behavior study is to show how people looking for a job and businesses hiring workers can stand out from the crowd.
Job Seekers
As many as 76 percent of full-time workers actively look for another job or remain open to the opportunity to find employment elsewhere because the labor market is very competitive. Job seekers have a distinct advantage since the lure of going to another employer may open up greater income or benefits with a current employer looking to retain top talent. Up to 66 percent of employers offer higher starting salaries in 2016 as compared to 2015, and this leads to longer hiring times as firms try to pick the right person.
From the initial application to receiving an offer, it may take up to two months to land a job since companies need to make the right hiring decisions. Around 54 percent of employers talk to former candidates, so job seekers should maintain contact with the firm for future opportunities even if they don't earn a position the first time. This is where a great personal brand, including an online persona and a quality network, comes into play for an employee.
An outstanding resume simply isn't enough to win a job in the contemporary job market. Companies want someone with a cover letter, online presence, referral and professional portfolio. Nearly 53 percent of employers in the 2016 Candidate Behavior survey say they need all of these things to assess a candidate's talents. Hard skills are not nearly as important as soft skills, since 63 percent of employers say they look for personality traits such as a positive attitude, dependability and the ability to work under high-pressure situations.
Employers
Employers need to know what drives people trying to find jobs. Many job seekers are impatient since there are so many opportunities awaiting them. As many as 20 percent of candidates surveyed say they don't want to fill out an application that takes more than 20 minutes. Potential hires, approximately 66 percent, don't wait more than two weeks to hear back from an employer before going to the next opportunity. Some fantastic candidates may move on even before submitting an application.
Candidates thrive on research before giving a hiring manager any information. New hires want to see plenty of online information so they can decide how best to spend their time. Candidates want to see the salary, benefits packages and employee ratings so they can make an informed application decision, and a lack of this data may make it harder to hire someone.
A Nexxt survey from August 2015 shows 50 percent of employers have a harder time hiring people as compared to the previous six months. Part of the reason is the way candidates find a job listing. A majority of people looking for a job want an application that runs on a mobile device because of the convenience.
Employers and potential hires need to work hard to woo each other and find the perfect match. Job seekers can wait to find the right opportunity for them because companies are scrambling to find the best talent. However, that means each position has plenty of well-qualified candidates.
Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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