I decided months ago that the title for this blog post would be the name of a popular hit from the 80's pop/rock band Survivor that I listened to in junior high (and also saw perform live once in concert a few years ago) once I finally found a new full-time job. I start that job tomorrow, so today's as good a time as any to write this.
This job market is definitely the worst that I've ever seen. It's taking people much longer to find employment than ever before. There seem to be more hurdles and frustrations for job seekers, much of which is none of their fault. With all that I've experienced over the last 8+ months, here are a few words of wisdom for both candidates and employers:
Employers:
1. Don't ghost people that you interviewed. I've interviewed people for different roles in the past, so I understand how difficult it can be at times to find quality candidates. When I posted openings, I made sure to personally reply to each applicant, whether I interviewed or hired them or not, with a phone call or email. To me, that just seems like the right thing to do. I can't tell you how many times over the last several years that I had good in-person, phone, or virtual interviews only to never hear from that particular company again.
Ghosting people is just bad behavior, period. It reflects poorly both on you and the organization that you represent. If an applicant is ghosted by someone from a certain company, it can foster negative sentiment toward that business and make them less likely to apply again for other jobs there or refer friends or relatives to that company. Keep that in mind.
2. Simplify the application process. In our modern information age, attention spans are shorter than ever. Applicants don't want to submit a resume, only to be asked to fill out most (if not all) of those details on a company's application on their website. Also, there's really no need for details that don't pertain to the job duties itself. No more silly questions about what kind of vegetable would you be, asking candidates to "sell this pen" or figuring out how many tennis balls would fit inside a limousine.
Also, reduce the amount of time it takes for a hiring decision to be made. For most positions (especially entry-level jobs), there shouldn't be more than an initial phone screen and one or two in-person or virtual interviews. Decisions should be made promptly because if an offer is made, that person will need to plan accordingly. There's really no need for more than 4 interviews for the vast majority of job openings, and it really shouldn't take months for a candidate to be selected for a role. Many interviewers usually know after a first or second interview who their top pick is.
One more thing: if you ask candidates to complete a project or task, and that task takes more than a half hour to complete, they should be paid adequately for their time and effort. Seasoned professionals NEVER work for free. Asking applicants to work for you before being hired (or even interviewed, in some cases) takes time away from other applications and responsibilities.
A final point regarding interviews: one-way interviews are unacceptable. Many companies treat them with the same regard as cover letters (meaning they're ignored). They also allow companies to potentially discriminate against applicants based solely on physical characteristics, which is often illegal and just plain wrong.
3. Don't make optional information mandatory. It's rather common for many job applications to include EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) questions. However, the law states that this information is strictly voluntary, and companies often include a disclaimer stating such data will not be used as part of the reasoning as to why a person is or is not selected for the role.
I lost count of the number of online applications just in the last couple of years that made these EEOC questions mandatory. I couldn't complete the application unless I filled out this information. It's usually quite easy to make those sections optional, so the businesses I've seen that have made them mandatory either don't know how to make that adjustment or simply don't care.
Candidates:
1. Apply wisely. I know most of us tend to use the shotgun approach and apply to as many jobs as possible, thinking that this will yield more results. That's not necessarily the case. Instead, I'd suggest applying for the jobs that you're most interested in. Focus your efforts on quality, rather than quantity.
2. Be realistic. At first, I was applying for only remote jobs. After a few months, I realized that remote openings have a lot of competition. I was not only going against other applicants in my region but also in other states and countries. I eventually shifted my focus to local companies and jobs that I knew that I could do well and excel in those roles.
3. Don't give up. There will be days or weeks when you'll feel like giving up. I've felt like that more than I've wanted to lately. I had times when I wondered if I'd ever work again, or how I'd be able to continue to support myself. Thankfully, I don't spend much and I have sufficient reserves, but I know that isn't the case for everyone.
It's okay to take breaks too. I had a few instances where I was feeling burned out from the job search, so I forced myself to spend a few hours or even an entire weekend away from the computer. For my birthday a few weeks ago, I turned off emails and just celebrated myself. It was one of the best birthdays that I've had in a few years.
Oddly enough, the job that I'm starting tomorrow wasn't even something that I initially applied to. I went to an interview for another position at a company in the same building. The person who interviewed me for that role was impressed with me and insisted that I meet with other people in the facility at another organization for the role that I accepted. I'm eager to get started and do something different. If you've been job hunting, I wish you all the luck in the world. I hope you find a role that you enjoy and makes you happy.
Well, that's all I have for now. Until next time, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.
