Job hunting in 2016? Good news: Early indicators suggest after robust job growth in 2015, the outlook for this year may well be even stronger.
Tony Lee, managing editor of the Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM) says, “Recruiting difficulty rose in January 2016,” according to SHRM’s Leading Indicators of National Employment (LINE). That means fewer seekers applying for the jobs hirers need to fill.
The February 2016 LINE reports that recruiting difficulty rose to 3.9 index points, and Lee says he anticipates that trend to continue throughout the year.
That jibes with national employment data. Unemployment as of January 2016 hit an 8-year low of 4.9%, translating to a job seeker’s market.
Even with a low unemployment rate, applicants will always face some kind of job market competition, particularly for the most desirable positions. To help you get a leg up, CareerCast.com spoke with job-market experts in different capacities for the most up-to-date job hunting advice and guidance for 2016.
From an employer perspective, Blue Fountain Media hiring manager Tom Duffy provides his insight.
Demonstrable skills necessary for a position are requisite to any job interview, Duffy says of hiring practices for the New York-based multimedia marketing organization, which has worked with such clientele as the National Football League, Harper-Collins Publishing and AT&T. Ensuring you have the ability to do a job, and having examples to reinforce your experience are musts, no matter your industry.
Displaying your skills can even help you get an offer, as Duffy explains doing good work for a competitor can net feelers when a position comes available.
Many of the best job-hunting tips hirers espouse are universal, and career coach Rachel Ritlop works with clients to perfect those skills.
Ritlop offers a unique perspective in that after college, she pursued a Master’s degree and then landed what she believed was “a dream job.”
Reality and fantasy proved much different, and after what she described as a “quarter-life crisis,” Ritlop discovered and affinity and aptitude for guiding others in their career goals.
Just because a job-hunting practice is universal, Ritlop says it’s important to put your own personal touch on all that you do.
“Employers want to know how you’re unique,” she says.
The following are five cornerstones of a successful job search, regardless of your industry and directly from the experts.