Then and Now: how job searchers handle the hunt

Posted by malacehr on July 31st, 2015

Times have changed a lot over the years. What once used to be a time-consuming, hitting-the-pavement process that involved snail mail is now a digital, social media, and networking based process that yields farther-reaching results with less time and hassle. Let's explore some of the ways in which the job search has transformed over recent decades.

Resumes and Cover Letters

This is not your mother's resume. To be effective, a resume in 2015 needs to get to the point -- and fast. Nix the objectives and lengthy narratives on why you're qualified for the job. Being succinct yet on point is the ultimate challenge when it comes to crafting a resume that doesn't end up in the circular file. The use of keywords is critical, as many employers use tracking systems to search for certain buzz words that are indicative of the position. Errors or typos are considered reasons to throw a resume in the trash today, compared with the days when you had to type a resume. Because it was so hard to actually fix a typewriter mistake, recruiters tended to be more forgiving. Not so today with a bevy of spell and grammar checking tools at your disposal. As for cover letters, they're hardly looked at anymore -- the resume is king. So forget the cover letter and make sure you have a killer resume instead.

Online Advantage

Whereas just two decades ago, the sole way to peruse job listings was in the newspaper, today's papers hardly have any listings anymore. Online is the only way to go these days, coupled with social networking sites like LinkedIn that connect professionals with each other seamlessly. However, the downside to that is hiring managers are inundated with countless applications for the same job. It's far easier today to hit "send" on several job listings a day, in the hopes one will stick. In the days of crafting unique resumes, printing them up, sealing them in envelopes and getting them in the mail, people were far more discriminating as to what they would apply for. And forget about physically heading into businesses to network; in today's virtual world, there is no more literal sense of "hitting the pavement."

More Jobs, Less Down Time

With so many jobs coming on the market now, both in Michigan and across the country, job searchers are spending less time in unemployment lines and between jobs. In fact, there's an uptick in the number of people who quit their jobs because they want something better, a signal of optimism in finding stronger work resulting in an increase in job listings, according to Bloomberg Business. Although the economy is on its way to recovery, most people surveyed by Salary.com are unhappy in their current positions -- nearly 70 percent in fact. This is partly due to the fact that many employees are being asked to perform several jobs out of their original job description, often at the same pay or even less. However, leaving a job or leaving in search of a better one is made much easier in 2015 than, say the 1980s, thanks to the social networking potential that permeates daily life.

While many things have changed when it comes to how people hunt for jobs, one things hasn't: how you conduct yourself in an interview and later on the job. Employers still want to see an upbeat attitude, a passion for the job, an exceptional skill set and the ability to communicate well.

About the Company:

Malace HR is a business staffing agency in United States offering the right jobs to the right candidates and recruiting for industries including automotive, manufacturing, logistics and engineering.They provide staffing services in two ways comprising, contract-to-hire and direct-hire. They connect the talented job seekers with real career opportunities. They expertise in the industry background and thus they successfully unite corporations and highly competent candidates.