Thursday, May 12, 2011

Lookin' For a Job Ain't What It Used To Be

"Everybody is for progress, but nobody wants change." Will Rogers

It seems that looking for a job has become so very, very hard and so very, very discouraging.

This "tough economy" has high unemployment and fewer jobs.

But I just searched on Indeed.com for jobs near my office and came up with 2,680 job leads for the city of Southfield, MI alone.

No doubt the economy has affected job search; but what is really at work here and now?

First and, by far, foremost, the process and mechanics of the job search have changed ginormously.

The use of computers and the Internet as primary, if not exclusive, tools for employers and recruiters looking for qualified candidates has had the greatest impact on the job search of today.

And very often not in a good way.

It has become very quick and easy for job seekers to apply to many jobs. Just a click of the mouse and you can send out thousands of resumes. And all from the convenience of your home or your local library.

One study revealed that 97% of applicants to a variety of positions did not meet the minimum requirements for the job!

That means the employer has to dig through the haystack of all those applications and resumes to find the needle of 3%.

No wonder, on many occasions, employers will opt out of the resume mountain in favor of the personal, word of mouth, molehill.

More and more businesses are paying their employees bonuses for personal applicant referrals. In some cases, bonuses of several thousand dollars.

And that's the good news.

If you can make the personal connection with an insider or key person within the company, you increase your chances of a job offer immensely.

Maybe your job search starts in cyberspace, but it really works when you are face to face.

If you need help in making those up close and personal connections, get in touch with me and the employment services at JVS.

Walt Tarrow, wtarrow@jvsdet.org
www.jvsdet.org
JVS Job Posting Site at www.ParnossahWorksDetroit.org