Employment Spot

Hiring Resources: Job-Seekers

Perfecting your resume, networking and interviews can make looking for a new job very overwhelming.  One way to lessen this stress is to remind yourself that searching for a job is not only about you.  While you are desperately trying to find a job, employers are trying just as hard to find the right person to fill their jobs.  Approaching your job search through the employer’s point of view will give you a better idea of what it is they want from you.  The smart job-seeker should gain a good understanding of the hiring process by considering the following hiring resources and getting inside the mind of the employer. 

Hiring Resources for the Job-Seeker:

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: research industry trends and education requirements to gain a better understanding of who is hiring, why they are hiring, and what they want
• EmploymentSpot articles
• CareerBuilder.com advice
• CBsalary Calculator
• Vault.com
• WetFeet.com

Here are some great jobs that are now hiring and in high demand:

• Sales Representative
• Teacher
• Mechanic
• Engineering Technician
• Management/Executive
• Truck Driver – Freight
• Driver – Delivery
• Accountant
• Construction Laborers
• Machine Operator

Hiring Resources to Get Inside the Mind of the Employer:

Apply online When looking for jobs, of course you will want to go where the employers go – online job databases.  Employers like to post their job openings online because this gives them a much larger and diverse audience that they wouldn’t have access to elsewhere.  Because the number of applicants for online jobs that are hiring is so large, it is important to make yourself stand out when submitting a resume online.  WetFeet’s article “Using Keywords to Make Your Resume Stand Out” will help you do this.  cbResume, a professional resume service, and CareerBuilder’s free resume review are two other great hiring resources you can use.  You should also include a cover letter with your resume – this immediately puts you a step ahead of those individuals who do not submit one.  Plus, unlike your resume, which focuses on you, a cover letter allows you to tell the company what you can do for them and why.  Purdue University has some very informative resources on how to write a cover letter and what to include in each paragraph.

Job Descriptions Employers spend a good deal of time writing job descriptions.  By knowing how to read and interpret these job postings, you can figure out exactly what the employer wants.  Pay close attention to how they phrase the job tasks and qualifications and find underlying “themes” of the job by considering the entire job description as a whole.  For example, if most of the required skills deal with data and analysis, you may want to “sell” yourself as a numbers person who enjoys problem-solving with concrete evidence.  If a job description is written in a way that suggests there is flexibility in the job duties, this tells you that the employer is looking for a person who is innovative, proactive and wants to help the company grow.  Finally, do not let a low salary or unmet education requirements stop you from applying to jobs that are hiring.  If you feel you are an “exception” to the requirement, figure out how you can overcome this in your cover letter or interview.  For example, if the employer is looking for someone with 3-4 years of experience and you have only had one internship, give them examples of how you are a fast-learner and hard-worker. If an employer is impressed by you, they may be willing to negotiate.

Interviews Employer hiring resources are just as helpful to you as they are to HR managers.  When preparing yourself for an interview, look beyond the job-seeker resources and study hiring resources.  Familiarize yourself with different interview techniques by reading employer hiring resources such as  “Top 4 Strategic Interview Styles.” Prepare yourself for these different interview styles and try to anticipate which one a company will use based on their job description and the company culture.  By reviewing hiring resources designed for the employer, you can get a better idea of what sort of questions you will be asked in an interview.  During the interview, you will also want to ask the employer some of your own questions, such as those in the article “The Best Questions to Ask in the Interview.” In addition to giving you a better idea of the company’s goals, this will show the employer that you have a genuine interest in their company.

Does all of this talk about job hiring sound interesting to you?  If yes, you might want to consider a career in human resources.  HR jobs involve hiring employees, putting together benefit packages, maintaining organizational structure and company culture, encouraging employee communication and solving disputes, and measuring employee performance.  Some specific HR jobs include HR manager, payroll administrator, recruiter and benefits manager.  With a human resources job, you could finally be the one sitting on the other side of the interview table!