Job Market Update and some Job Search Advice…..
Not too long ago, I posted a blog on the possible thawing of the economy and job freezes, with good news for IT professionals. That according to data published by the Department of Labor, suggesting that there has been a "startling increase in IT related jobs in the month of July following several months of decline." You can refer to that blog here:
Despite the good news, the job market continued to dawdle along, due to the usual slow activity of the closing summer months and the long Labor Day Holiday weekend ahead in the U.S. Many are winding down their vacations, recruiters, hiring managers and staff returning to the office, as well as families getting their kids ready for the new school year. Therefore, I predict an uptick in hiring activity and new job postings once everyone is in full swing of the season, and project needs begin to pick up this fall.
I am starting to see this activity and movement on positions and roles posted weeks back, that are suddenly starting the interview process.
Some words of advice on the job search. With the advent of all the major jobs boards (such as Dice, Monster, CareerBuilder, etc.), and the ability to publicly post your Resume/Profile to the roving eyes of head-hunters, recruiters and agents, you must take caution with whom you deal with, keep track of all your job applications. These aforementioned sites actually can do this for you, so be sure to register with the site, as this will help you track your applied to jobs. I like the aggregator job sites like SimplyHired.com or Indeed.com, which list the job openings posted by all the other major individual job boards. Another tip, beware the job sites that require a paid membership, as I’ve often found their “exclusive listings” on the other FREE sites.
Multiple submissions: Many companies, although policy varies, will toss your resume aside, if you are submitted more than once by competing vendors, no matter how good your qualifications match the role. They just don’t want to get into a bidding/competition war among vendors of who saw you first. Beware the unscrupulous agents that will submit your profile blindly, in hopes of getting some interest by the company, and then contact you after the fact.
It is a tough competitive business, and sometimes we are the unfortunate pawn in this game, even though in our view, all we want is an opportunity to interview and don’t care with whom we work with, as long as they get us the job. Please DO care, and do some background on the recruiter and its agency.
For example, on how competitive it is out there, I have literally gotten a half-dozen emails and phone calls from recruiters for an “exclusive” position in a certain same company (to remain nameless). When I tell them I’ve already been submitted there (which usually is enough to stop them in their tracks), I’ve gotten some retorts such as, this is a new role, and not related to that other role, etc., etc., only to find out that in fact it is the same one. I’m not sure how to break this down, and sometimes it could be a different or varied position for a different department under a different manager – but often is the same role being bid on by the agent or company.
This is not by any means to disparage many fine upstanding and professional recruiting agencies who most often always ask for permission before sending your resume on to a perspective employer. Just giving you some caveats.
In many instances, you cannot even get in the door without the help and services of these fine agents and recruiting firms. Many have built relationships with hiring managers through the years, and many companies will not even look at your profile if it’s not from one of their known and “preferred vendors”. Usually, larger companies will have a list of preferred vendors they will only work with. Another benefit of using a professional recruiter, is that they will leverage their relationships, know exactly what the hiring managers are looking for, and can prep you before an interview takes place. Once the interview has occurred, they will be your solid advocate in pursuing feedback with the employer, and follow-up with potential next steps of your candidacy. In this regard, there is no substitute for these valuable services.
One more tip. (Off the record of course 😉 If you can find out the company that is hiring, you may be able to leverage LinkedIN, to possibly find the hiring manager directly, and get in the door that way. It may not always work; see above on preferred vendors, but sometimes if they are open to receiving your resume, they may be inclined to invite you in for an interview, and avoid the very expensive fee of going through the agent.
Finally, check this link out for the latest best and worst cities to look for a job: http://internsover40.blogspot.com/2009/09/top-ten-cities-in-index-for-finding.html
Good luck to all of you job-seekers out there, and hope you will find the right job soon! Hope the above info has been helpful. Feel free to comment and post your own thoughts and experiences.
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