We Talked to Recruiters About Turning #GreatResignation Into #GreatRecruitment.
With the gradual return to pre-pandemic work life, hiring in 2022 is projected to continue rising. The Great Resignation has led to 430,000+ job openings and a tight pool of candidates to choose from.
“Salaries and offers are at an all-time high and there is a high demand for talent. Job seekers should know that they have options!” – Bianca Rodas, VP of Marketing at McDermott & Bull, a premium retained search firm.
So we reached out to our recruiter friends to chat about how The Great Resignation was impacting hiring and recruitment across various industries. Below are key tips from recruiters from top recruiting organizations to help you take advantage of the current job market:
Quick side note: If you’re eager to seize the opportunities this job market has to offer and make a lasting impression on hiring managers, check out my invaluable two-page salary doubling resume cheat sheet by submitting your information here:
1. Expect higher salaries in 2022
According to recruiters, candidates are in line for increased wages across all industries. The Washington Post reported that salaries are expected to increase by an average of 3.9% in 2022. Recruiters also claim that companies are willing to offer higher starting salaries to candidates as compared to the pre-pandemic period.
“Companies are going to all ends to retain people. Counter offers are being made and money is literally being thrown at people as companies want to recruit and retain.” – John Hawes, Lucas Group.
This is the perfect time to not let hundreds of thousands of dollars slip away from you. However, if you are struggling with negotiating a higher salary or are afraid to come across as greedy, we can help you quantify your value, make counter offers, and confidently negotiate the salary you deserve.
If you are happy at your current position but would like a raise, here are some tips on how to ask your boss for one.
2. “Remote First” is here to stay!
According to a Mercer study, 70% of companies are offering flexible work opportunities as employees are citing work-life balance and burnout as top reasons for making a change. As per recruiters, companies showing inflexibility regarding remote and hybrid work models are losing workers. According to Peter Lamb, a banking recruiter, even C-level executives are negotiating flexible and hybrid work schedules.
“Compared to pre-pandemic work-life balance, companies are offering more flexibility.” – Michael Dubeck, FCP natural.
A company’s relative success amid a hiring crunch lies in offering flexible working models, so don’t hesitate to negotiate a work schedule that optimizes your work-life balance.
3. Gear up for more complicated interview processes
As companies are shifting to hybrid work models, employers are being more vigorous in their virtual interview processes. Up to six interviews with various internal stakeholders are becoming the norm as a longer interview process helps them vet candidates better in the absence of in-person interviews.
”Folks should be able to answer questions like, “what is your superpower?” and “what makes you different?” This will help them have a leg up because they would know what they can do for the company.” – Attila Brados, Robert Half.
“People who interview really well are the ones who get the job, not the most qualified ones.” – Ann Wenzell, BluePrint Search Partners – a worldwide recruitment network.
Hence, now more than ever, it’s important to have good interviewing skills. One-on-one interview coaching can empower you to maneuver tough interview questions and help you maintain the “star candidate” impression throughout the multistage interview process. If you need some quick guidance preparing for your next job interview, this free interview cheat sheet can help you leave a great impression on interviewers.
4. Aim for senior positions
According to CNBC, 46% of Baby Boomers have retired this year, leaving more senior positions open to fill.
“The big upcoming problem is that Baby Boomers are quitting, leading to a leadership crisis. The technology market has been tight as the turnover is high and those who are in it often lack good people skills.” – Eric Pringle, Integrated People Solutions.
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5. Research industry-specific hiring trends
The Great Resignation is not uniform across all industries. Recruitment trends vary across industries and experience levels. For instance, industries like manufacturing that require on-site work are less likely to offer remote jobs. In such cases, it’s better to instead negotiate a higher salary or more Paid Time Off (PTO). Hence, it’s a smart idea to research your industry trends first.
Here are some industry-specific trends recruiters shared:
- “Talent shortage in the mining industry is real and forecasted to get worse. Project managers and engineers are in high demand.” – Lindsey Schlutz, MRC.
- “The demand in the video gaming and digital media industry is crazy.” – Marc Mencher, Game Recruiter.
- “Regulatory and medical writers have always been in high demand. There is an overall rising demand of qualified candidates in pharmaceuticals.” – Eric Rosensen, Senior Vice President, Ruderfer and Associates.
- “More remote opportunities are in supply chain and human resource fields.” – Michael Dubeck, FCP natural.
- “Demand in the hospitality industry is back with greater demand for mid-senior level positions: operations managers,general managers, restaurant managers, and hourly staff.” – John Hawes, Lucas Group.
- “For the executive level, it is The Great Compensation or The Great Shuffle related to compensation.” – Ben Farber, Bristol Associates.
6. Upskill to upscale your job search
When it comes to hiring candidates, employers still look for relevant qualifications and experience.
“Even though there are more job openings than ever, companies are not hiring inexperienced candidates. There is no change in a company’s appetite when it comes to bringing untested and untried talent into their lines of business. Qualification, education, and experience are still the King.” – Peter Lamb.
Hence, investing in your professional development and continuously upskilling yourself will give you a competitive edge over other candidates.
Moreover, a customized resume is the best way to highlight your relevant experience and credentials. It aligns your accomplishments with the needs of your target employers, making you appear as the ideal candidate. Vito Chesky, a software engineering recruiter, shared that accomplishments are the key to a strong resume as they show what results candidates can achieve while executing their responsibilities.
“Hiring managers want to know what you can do for the company. Your job as the candidate is to show what value you can add. Non-personalized resumes are a disappointment.” – Eric Rosensen, Senior Vice President, Ruderfer and Associates.
Your resume has seconds to make a good impression; if you’d like us review your resume and suggest improvements, you can upload it here for a free, detailed critique.
7. Network to create new career opportunities
Networking is a great way to find vacancies that you would not have naturally found. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 80% of jobs are filled before they are posted online. In-house recruiting is expensive, so companies prefer hiring based on referrals.
“Hiring is on the rise, it could not rise higher. Companies are adding more capacity so the best thing to do at the moment is to network for opportunities.” – Michael Dubeck, FCP National.
You can start networking by identifying the right contacts, making connections on LinkedIn, doing some formal and informal job searches, and attending networking events. Here is our free networking tutorial to help you get started.
8. Become a recruiter’s magnet on LinkedIn
Recruiters are dealing with the Great Resignation by increasing reliance on LinkedIn to source candidates. 87% of recruiters use LinkedIn regularly and 92% of employers said they use social networks to find talent.
Christine Bell, an IT recruiter, shared that she immediately opens a candidate’s LinkedIn profile after reviewing their resume and likes the information on the resume and LinkedIn to match.
“Updated Facebook and LinkedIn are more important than your resume. Your online story needs to be consistent.” – Marc Mencher, Game Recruiter.
An updated LinkedIn profile attracts more recruiters as it portrays your unique brand identity in an impressive and professional way. If your LinkedIn profile isn’t getting traction, this free LinkedIn cheat sheet can help you establish and amplify visibility for your professional brand.
9. Stay positive and consistent during the hunt
The job search can be an emotionally demanding process, especially when you are not getting the responses you expected. Diane Turek Pire from Boyden suggested that candidates approach their job search with the 3Ps: perseverance, positivity, and patience with a sense of urgency.
Ann Wenzell from Blueprint Search Partners shared the 5 by 5 rule: submit 5 applications before 5 pm to maintain momentum.
Summing up the suggestions put forth by all recruiters, 2022 is the right time to confidently step into the candidate-friendly job market. This first requires building a compelling personal brand through a strong application, proactive networking, and excellent interviewing and negotiation skills.
Do you have any career goals that you are struggling with? Our Customer Success Manager can help you work through your unique career challenges and answer any questions you may have. You can schedule a free consultation call today.