Five Ways the Hiring Game Is Changing

Whether social media contacts point you to open positions or you research online to decide whether you’d really want to work for that potential boss, chances are that your job search will differ markedly from your parents’.

Industries are always evolving, and hiring will continue to change. For both students and those already well into their careers, that makes it necessary to keep gaining knowledge and developing new skill sets to be competitive.

Christina Farmer, Lauren Meier and Rachel Wobrak, program directors in the University Career Center, recently shared insights on new imperatives in the world of hiring.

Embrace the Skills-based Economy
Employers assessing an applicant’s fit for a position care less about previous titles and more about the skills developed in those roles. They’ll look for both technical skills like programming, research and data analysis, and database management, as well as transferable skills: communication, creative problem solving and critical thinking. And it’s possible to demonstrate such growth and abilities even at the start of your career.

“A great way to build these skills is through opportunities like internships, research and service learning,
 Meier said. “Students need to be able to identify and clearly articulate their skills on a resume and in interviews.”

Get Ready to Be Recruited
The days of waiting until right before graduation to connect with employers are long gone. Many employers now recruit students earlier in their studies to get them into the pipeline for internships and eventually full-time positions. 

“Recruiting in the fall for the following summer has become standard procedure, but now some employers have pushed the process into the spring—over a year before the actual internship,” Wobrak said. That means students should be proactive and start applying earlier.

Navigate the Gig Economy
The trend of receiving pay based on completion of individual projects or tasks, instead of the traditional models of salaried pay or hourly wages, is increasing most rapidly in knowledge-intensive industries and creative occupations. One upside is that the gig economy can give students greater flexibility to pursue multiple projects and a chance to demonstrate their expertise on short-term projects. The flipside is that it might require job seekers to piece together multiple gigs to get the equivalent of a full-time salary. 

Creating a personal brand is vital to succeeding in the gig economy; YOU are the main product you’re selling, and successfully landing gigs requires rethinking how you market yourself.

“To better highlight their projects and skills, students may want to utilize online platforms such as LinkedIn or create portfolios to showcase their work to potential employers,” Meier said.

Recognize Employers Are Listening to You
“Social listening” is a process organizations use to monitor social media conversations to understand what’s being said about their brand. But it’s not just about marketing. Research shows that 70% of employers use social media in recruiting and hiring, and 43% check a candidate’s profile during the application process. While there are risks, it’s a great way for job seekers to intentionally engage with employers and showcase their knowledge of the industry.

“Students who are not using social media in their search can miss out on some key opportunities,” Farmer said. “On the other hand, oversharing of highly personal or inappropriate information on social media can cost you an interview or even a job offer.”

Outsmart Artificial Intelligence 
To save time and resources, employers are using more technology to vet and screen candidates. Instead of manually reviewing applications, some organizations are utilizing artificial intelligence to analyze and review applicants, with only the “best candidates” being referred to hiring managers.  Since “best” might be defined as applicants who use relevant keywords and phrases, tailor your application materials directly to the job description.  

In addition to navigating applicant tracking systems, job seekers should be prepared for different types of interviews that require the use of video and recording platforms, Wobrak said. “Despite being virtual, students still need to be conscious of their attire, body language and environment during these types of interviews,” she said.