Have you ever heard that no one gets hired in August? That’s not really true, of course, but there are seasonal recruitment cycles including peak and slow periods. Understanding them can give you an edge and improve your chances of getting hired. By knowing which months of the year are the most popular hiring periods in specific companies and industries, you can plan your job search process more efficiently. During the months of slow hiring, prepare yourself for the busy hiring period.
Facebook and the Job Search: Personal, Professional, or Both?
For many, Facebook is a social Mecca. It’s a fun, easy way to share photos, news, party invitations and birthday greetings. And it certainly has no place in a professional job search, right? Yet with the job market tight, job seekers can’t afford to ignore the world’s most trafficked website as a road to a new job.
Sorting Through Reports on Job and Employment Trends
It seems every day there is a news item about unemployment numbers, hiring trends, layoffs or the possibility of recovery. Last week the Wall Street Journal reported “Job Gains Speed Up and More Seek Work”. The New York Times had a similar report, Economy Gains Impetus as U.S. Adds 290,000 Jobs, showing that, although 290,000 jobs were added, the unemployment number also went up. So what is a job seeker to do with all this news? Some suggestions for riding the hiring trends roller coaster:
Optimizing the Jobless Interval in Your Life
Jobseekers sometimes worry they may be passed over for a job because they’ve been unemployed “too long”. A six month job search is not uncommon yet that gap may create a negative image for some hiring managers. To strengthen your resume and your position with the interviewer you will need a viable story that delivers your true value and promise of what you can do for the company.
Optimizing LinkedIn To Help With Your Job Search
If you are a job seeker, it is crucial you optimize your usage of LinkedIn so you can be found by recruiters and hiring managers. LinkedIn is also a vital way to communicate with everyone in your network about who you are and what you are looking for. Clear, consistent communication allows your network to work for you. Ten things every job seeker should do to make best use of LinkedIn: