A Match Not Made in Heaven: The Disconnect Between Job Seekers and Companies Hiring

RN Jobs Near Me This week I came across a new survey published by FlexJobs¹ that revealed 48% of unemployed job seekers are frustrated in their job search because they are not finding the right jobs to apply to. That survey also showed that 47% are actively looking outside their current career to find employment, 85% are willing to take a pay cut in order to secure a job, and 40% have applied to jobs they think they’re overqualified for.

WHAT is going on in today’s job market?

I ask that question because I found these stats shocking. For the past several months we’ve gone through the “candidate shortage” and what we would refer to as a “buyer’s market.” Candidates have the upper hand. They have the ability to negotiate for a higher salary, they have the opportunity to accept incentives they normally wouldn’t be offered. Right… ?

These stats from the job seekers perspective seem to paint a completely different picture then the picture that has been painted by companies hiring during the labor shortage. Where is the disconnect?

Is it job descriptions not being written to fit the correct audience? Are key words lacking from job descriptions that job seekers are looking for? Are jobs being posted on sites where the right candidate isn’t looking? It could be any of these things and more.

As I think about the candidate shortage though and factor in these stats, one thing is clear to me: Perhaps it’s time to rethink the shortage from the “applicant’s” perspective. Is part of the reason there is a shortage because job seekers aren’t finding the job they are looking for? To me, it seems like this could be part of the case. So, how do we put jobs in front of the candidates that are looking for YOUR job? One way to do this is by taking a step back to rethink strategy. It’s time to think like an applicant.

Put Yourself in the Shoes of an Applicant

Who would be the ideal person for your role? If you were this person, what would you want to see in the job description? What are key words this applicant may be looking for? What do you have to offer that similar roles don’t? Why would someone want to work in this role at this company? What kind of person would be excited about this opportunity?

Also, think about where this person would be looking for a job. Re-evaluate if the location of this job posting is in the correct place the right applicant would be looking. I was recently on a trip in the Smoky Mountains and stayed in a town called Gatlinburg. If you haven’t been there, it’s a touristy town right near one of the entrances to the Smoky Mountains. They have a whole street of shops, restaurants, and attractions. What I noticed though is that many of the businesses have a “help wanted” sign outside of the building. We even went to a restaurant that admitted they were short staffed due to the shortage, so wait times would be a little longer. When we looked around the restaurant, many of the tables were empty due to not having enough waiters and waitresses. What we later found out from one of the restaurant owners in Gatlinburg is that the town actually employs a lot of people from Romania. Working in Gatlinburg is a good opportunity for them to work and live in the United States. I would never have guessed Gatlinburg would attract people from Romania, but two of our waitresses during the two days we were there were in fact from Romania! This isn’t an example to say you should start recruiting internationally, but it’s a perfect example of thinking outside of the box and thinking from an applicant’s perspective. Who would find this as a good opportunity? Who would be excited about this position? Where would be the perfect place to post this job?

Reverse Roles. Take Advice You Would Give Candidates When Applying to Jobs

https://buyyaro.com/ Similarly, to putting yourself in the shoes of an applicant, also reverse roles and take the advice you would give candidates. I was reading an article yesterday about tips for getting hired fast. It was a very good article and as I read it, it made me think that a lot of the tips could actually be reversed and used by companies hiring. Similar tips that could be applied include referrals, highlighting achievements, telling a story, creating an elevator pitch, noting what makes you different. Does this sound familiar? Job seekers need to sell themselves, but companies also have to sell themselves and the position, otherwise the perfect match won’t happen. If a job seeker shows up in a nice dress on the first date and the company shows up in a pair of ripped shorts and a baggy t-shirt, one may right away have a bad first impression and not be interested. Let’s take a deeper dive at making the right first impression!