Job seekers are facing software on both sides of the hiring process. Employers use software to screen job applications, and now job seekers use AI to help find job openings.
With hiring slowing down, job seekers have the added challenge of competing against software. Many recruiters never even see job applications. Employers often use software to organize and sort job applications. Before recruiters even see an application, it may be organized into a pile with thousands of other applications.
The job applications most likely to be seen by a recruiter are the ones using AI to fill in job application forms. Knowing how the software on both sides works may help job seekers improve their job application process.
Where the job market stands
The job market isn't as strong as it was earlier in the year. The Fed raised interest rates and slowed hiring. The August jobs report showed modest growth. Pay was not keeping up with inflation.
Healthcare is currently the largest source of new jobs in the U.S. It added more than 13,000 jobs in August. The American Action Forum estimates that healthcare created almost 60% of all jobs created in the U.S. in the past year. Other sectors of the economy are not creating as many jobs. For example, the August job report showed that the information sector lost almost 23,000 jobs. With more competition for fewer available jobs, companies are more likely to use applicant screening software.
How screening software reads your resume
Automated screening software is often the first step in the hiring process. This software scans resume documents in an attempt to pull relevant information for hiring managers. If this information is not presented in a format that the software can easily understand, the hiring managers may not see the relevant information.
There are best practices to increase the likelihood that a resume will be easily readable by automated screening software. For example, a potential employee can use an ATS resume template that is structured to meet the expectations of the screening software. Beyond using the template, a person can also use the same terminology as the job listing to increase the relevance of their resume to the job, use section headings that are expected, and include the information requested in the format requested by the job listing.
Systematized processes rate applicants against a job description. These processes are usually opaque to users. Focus on the format of your resume to ensure that your relevant work experience is easy to find and review. Organizing your experience will not help if your qualifications do not meet the requirements.
Searching for the Right Jobs
The search tools available to candidates are also improving. Many job seekers have a difficult time determining which jobs they are qualified to apply for because traditional job posting websites often list thousands of jobs, many of which are not related to the seeker's qualifications. Several websites that incorporate the use of artificial intelligence, such as Jump Recruiter, an AI job search engine, claim to match the jobs seeker's qualifications to specific job requirements and postings.
Search tools are only as effective as the information the user provides. To gain the most value from these sites, describe your background in as much detail as possible. Verify that recommendations are aligned to your qualifications and determine for yourself if the recommendation is accurate. Blind trust should not be placed on the recommendations. Also, do not restrict yourself to one search tool. Traditional job fairs and your personal network should be utilized in conjunction with search tools.
When using search tools to determine job application eligibility, it is best practice to apply only to the positions which you have determined, through other means, to be a good fit.
Healthcare: flexible roles within a thriving industry
Flexible work practices are common within the healthcare industry, particularly towards the end of the year as clinicians consider their work options for the new year. The pandemic prompted many healthcare facilities to revise their permanent workforce policies, which means that, at the same time, clinicians are able to have more choice and flexibility around the length, location and working conditions of their roles.
Variety in the nature of work is particularly appealing to newly qualified healthcare staff and is evidenced by the growth in recruitment for Locum tenens jobs. Companies such as Intuitive Health Services, who specialise in staffing for Locum positions in California, have seen an increase in the number of permanent and temporary nursing and allied health professional positions.
Working a Locum position can provide a better salary, but there are other considerations. You should research the total costs associated with undertaking the position and the overall salary package, including who covers costs associated with travel, accommodation, and liability insurance. You should also verify that your licence is valid in the state where you will be working.
What to watch next
The healthcare industry is expected to slow, and interest rate hikes by the Fed are possible. In the meantime, job seekers should continue to evaluate their employment options by using technology to refine and target their job search. As with any new job opportunity, consider the total package.
