Wajeez Articles: [Survey] Recruiters Are Moving Away From Job Boards
Lee Hecht Harrison (LHH), famous for being one of the talent development solutions providers, shared the results of their latest job search statistics, aiming to find the most effective methods for finding a job in today’s tough economy, from over 1,200 candidates in the United States who received outplacement services through their firm. Networking is the most effective source of finding a new job for 75% of job seekers in 2011, while only 11% sourced new positions through job boards.
Peter Alcide, President and COO of Lee Hecht Harrison, commented saying: “While online job boards can help identify opportunities, technology alone isn’t going to result in an offer. Job seekers still need a clear plan based on their unique career goals and current market realities, supported by a professional network to help open doors, a strong resume that articulates the value they bring to an organization, and persuasive interviewing skills that will lead to an offer. These aren’t skills you can hone on your computer or access from the cloud.”
Most HR professionals agree technology alone isn’t the best approach to finding a new job. In research conducted by Lee Hecht Harrison on severance and separation practices, 79% of respondents identified a blend of in-person resources and technology as most important to their organization’s outplacement program with a mere 2% citing technology as the most important resource. When job seekers rely too heavily on technology, they face 3 main challenges:
1 – Lack of differentiation
Competition is fierce and hundreds – if not thousands – of job seekers may be responding to the same job posting, making it much more difficult to get the attention of a potential employer. To stand above the crowd, job seekers should tap their network for personal recommendations so that they’re not an anonymous piece of paper.
2 – Recruiters are moving away from job boards
Job boards are becoming increasingly irrelevant as recruiters shift their focus towards other professional-based networking sites to scope out potential hires. Job seekers must manage their online presence carefully and present themselves in a positive light so that they make the best impression online to potential employers.
3 – A passive job search may mean a longer job search
While job boards are a good resource, job seekers must avoid becoming distracted by job board activity and focus on more productive activities such as attending networking meetings, joining professional groups, learning new skills or volunteering. Waiting for an opening will not help a job seeker land a job as quickly as they’d like.
Networking – connecting with people who share common interests – will continue to be the best way to find a job. A combination of in-person networking along with online social networking is today’s most efficient method to connect with the world, allowing job seekers to reach an incredibly large number of people who can help draw attention to them and their expertise while facilitating the real life connections that will advance their careers.
