What are Employers Truly Interested In?

A few weeks ago, I attended the Wisconsin—Association of Colleges and Employers (a regional meeting for the National Association of Colleges and Employers [NACE]). NACE is the gatekeeper and watchdog for college students seeking jobs. Whenever you hear a statistic about the market for college graduates, NACE is doing the research and publishing the results.

NACE brings college career counselors together with hiring managers to exchange information from both sides of the job search arena. College career counselors are representing college students to employers, and employers are revealing job search tactics that get their attention.

My question to employers:

With job applications increasing by 300% how do you sort through this many applications and narrow it down to people you are truly interested in?

Employers revealed three major tactics:
• Frequency
• Persistence
• Repeat Applications

Frequency, attend as many networking events as you can. Attend job fairs, information interviews, and mock interviews. Don’t be afraid to attend business mixers, Chamber events and industry fairs. Apply for more than one job at a company. Employers track this information. They will go back to their offices and document the name and employment interest of everyone they meet. They have elaborate electronic systems that track this information. Employers will get your name from a conversation with you, sign-in sheets, name tags, etc.

Persistence, no matter now frustrate you are keep active in your job search. Do something every day. Review job search sites, review and update resume. Match keywords in resume with job descriptions. Do company research. Do something every day.

Repeat Applications, if you applied for a job with a company you are truly interested, but didn’t get the job, apply again when the next job opens up.

These are great strategies, not only for students, but for anyone engaged in a serious job search.

Other Information:
1)Employers revealed they only read resumes for 7-10 seconds on the first pass.
2)Employers are more interested in graduates that begin their job search prior to graduation or immediately after. Don’t take the summer off. Even if you are planning a trip, apply now. You are always available vie cell phone or email not matter where you are. If you wait to the end of summer, employers interpret that as a red flag.

Top Best Cities For Recent College Graduates
(Includes average rent for a one-bedroom apartment)

Indianapolis - $625
Philadelphia - $1,034
Baltimore - $1,130
Cincinnati - $691
Cleveland - $686
New York - $1,548
Phoenix - $747
Denver - $877
Chicago - $ 1,133
San Antonio - $696

http://CBcampus.com

The top industries for summer job hiring include:

Hospitality (38%)
Retail (34%).
Office support (26%),
Customer service (18%),
Research (12%),
Landscape/maintenance (11%)
Restaurant/food service (11%)

I have changed my view. I no longer have easy and quick access to the ocean. I have moved to the middle of county. My view has changed and so has my view point. I have to admit my view point is much much better. I am not as stressed or sad as I used to be. I am not saying everything is hunky-dory, I am just saying there is a better balance between my work and my life. I feel more appreciated at work, and I come already relaxed. I don't have to spend two hour decompressing from a hectic day at work. I am writing more about things I know more about. I have started two blogs and twitter.

If you are a job seeker you may want to take a look at my other blog and twitter. Both titled: Getajobgetalife (Get a Job Get a Life). They are all about helping people helping people to do a job search. I talk about resumes, cover letters and information I get from working with hiring managers. I had to change jobs, in part, due to the economy so I know what it is like to have to be out their job seeking, interviewing, getting turned down, etc. However, I did land somewhere totally unexpected and now I have the energy and balance to help others.

Have a great day.

Persistance and frequency pay off. Go to as many job fairs and recruiting events as possible. I just returned from a regional National Association of Colleges and Employers day-conference. I kept asking the same question all day: With a 300% increase of applicants, how do employers figure out who they will interview and eventually hire. The response was overwhelming. Those candidates that attend career events (job fairs, mock interviews, information interviews); and, go to business mixers (see your local Business Journal for dates and locations) show employers you are serious about your job search. I hadn't realized that professional recruiters record every name of every person they network with. They go back to their offices and enter names, skills, and areas of interests for every person they talked to about jobs. When your application comes up in their system, they already know how many times they have made a contact with you or heard your name.

Another resource for recruiters is LinkedIn. I was amazed at how many recruiters mentioned using it to find qualified candidates. It is free form them and it is free for you! How to best use a media networking resource: create your profile. Then do searches for the types of companies you want to work for. Example: Search for American Family Insurance and see how many people are linked. BTW I don't work for American Family.

Are you looking for a job?

This blog will offer job search advice for the job seeker. I have a passion for the job seeker. I have been one as well as help others to successfully find jobs. I will provide job search tips and advice that get great results. I have use these tips for my own job search, and I use them in my practice as a professional career counselor. I have worked with college students, executives, and dislocated workers. Mostly, I work with frustrated job seekers. They come to me very sad and in desperate need of help. I have developed great techniques that have helped even the most disappointed job seeker. Techniques that get results.


I am doing this a free service the job seeker. Let others know about this blog. If people are really down about their job search, if they are truly frustrated and think NOTHING is going to help, then they need this blog.

Never, never, never give up!

Respectfully,
Get a Job Get a Life