Are you looking for the fastest way to land the job of your dreams?
Searching for a job could be a challenging and exhausting experience. Whether you are changing your career or just graduating, job-hunting has its headaches.
I know you are eager to get a job, but doing the regular “apply-and-pray” for an interview invite may likely slow down your chances of getting a job.
You can accelerate your chances of securing a job by applying a more data-driven approach to your job –search. How?
Knowing the latest job-search statistics will help you to be more strategic and intentional about your job search.
To help you get all the information that you need to make your job search productive, we compiled the important job-search statistics you need to know in 2019 to increase your chances of getting a job fast.
In this article, you would know;
I know you can’t wait to see the latest job-search facts and figures, but before we take a look at the job-search statistics, let us take a broad look at the “world of work” (recruitment and job-search).
The World of Work (Job-search and recruitment)
Just like the world that we live in, the world of work is constantly changing; while new things spring up, old things are gradually going on extinction.
According to Nigeria’s National Bureau of statistics; a total of 23.9% of Nigeria's working population are unemployed.
According to the U.S Bureau of statistics; the rate of unemployment in the U.S is currently at 3.3% which is significantly low.
The process of recruitment is becoming more automated rather than manual. (Jobvite 2019 Recruiting Benchmark Report) Hiring managers and job-seekers experience their form of challenges.
Looking at the changes that are happening in the economies of today, you need to equip yourself with useful information and statistics to avoid getting caught up in the on-going evolution.
We would be looking at the following job search statistics:
· Trending Job Search Statistics
· Job Search Statistics
· Recruiting and Hiring Statistics
· Resume Statistics
· Job Interview Statistics
· Millennial Recruitment Statistics
Let’s take a look at some job-search statistics that can help you get the job of your dreams.
Ready!
Let start
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Job Search Statistics that will Help You Land Your Dream Job
Many 21st century companies make use of the applicant tracking system. (ATS)
The recruitment speed is fastest at startups (55% of recent startup hires got offered a job less than 2 weeks from applying (Clutch)
Job seekers read at least six reviews before forming an opinion of a company. (Glassdoor)
Applying on a Monday increases hire ability by 46% (Talentsworks’)
87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to check candidates. (Jobvite Recruiter Nation Report 2016)
A recruiter spends an average of 6 seconds to read a CV
70%-80% of jobs are not posted online
Highly engaged teams show 21% greater profitability (Forbes)
76% of hiring manager surveyed consider cover letter important and 55.10% of hiring manager consider generic cover letter a huge turn off ( Source )
Yes, you heard it right. Recruiters don’t spend all day reading your CV, because they have a lot of CV’s to read.
This statistics simply shows that you have very short moments to create a lasting impression on the hiring manager with your CV.
What you should do
To survive recruiters 6 seconds, it means that your CV must be top-notch at a glance. Wondering how to make that possible? These CV templates will help you create a great first impression on a hiring manager.
2. The Average Job-Opening gets 250 Resumes
This is shocking right? It means that every time you apply for a job opening, you are unknowingly competing with 249 applicants.
According to a Forbes survey, the average job opening gets 118 resumes. This simply means that you are in great competition with a lot of people. It also means that you have to step-up your game to make sure that you survive the competition.
What you should do
To beat the competition and finally land the job of your dreams, you have to put in extra effort to make sure that you are better than other candidates that are applying for that same job.
You can start by acquiring some in-demand skills that would put you in a more advantaged position in comparison to other applicants.
Creating an amazing CV can help you beat the competition. These CV templates can give your CV the attention that it requires.
3. 75% of Hiring Managers can Spot a Lie on CV
It is common knowledge that many jobs –seekers tell lies on their CV’s just to appear as the best fit for a particular position even when they know that they are not.
The shocking thing about lying on your CV is that when you tell a lie, the hiring manager will likely know that you are telling a lie.
A survey that was carried out by CareerBuilder revealed that 75% of hiring managers can spot a lie on a CV. This survey also revealed that only very few employers will call a candidate with outrageous information for an interview.
So trying to out-smart the hiring manager by lying about the information on your CV will in most cases not get you the job that you look forward to.
Hiring managers have been able to spot out lies when the following happens:
If you want to land your dream job soon, then one thing you need to do is to avoid doing the following things that are listed above.
Avoid lying. Lying on your CV is simply lying to yourself, even if you get the job after lying, it may also be difficult for you to maintain that job.
4. 59% of Hiring Managers will reject an Applicant’s CV Because of Spelling/grammatical Errors
As small as you may think these mistakes are, they can cost you your job. Just like we mentioned earlier that recruiters spend very little time on a CV, so you need to make sure that you cross-check your CV to be sure there are no errors.
Having grammatical errors or typographical errors on your CV shows the recruiter that you did not put in enough thought when you were writing your CV and that you were probably in a hurry to just send out your applications.
It also shows that you are carefree and pay little or no attention at all to details.
What you should do
To prevent your CV from being rejected, you should take your time to write your CV, and most importantly, proof-read your CV anytime you finish writing.
Grammarly.com is a great tool that can help you reduce grammatical and typographical errors to a large extent.
5. You Stand a 60% Chance of Getting your CV rejected if your Formatting is Poor
A research carried out by Ladders’ reveals that if a candidate’s CV is poorly formatted, that candidate stands a 60% chance of getting rejected.
Most CVs can only be accepted in a certain computer program format by the Applicants Tracking System. Computer program format like Word, and sometimes PDF formats.
Many hiring managers may not have the software to access your CV if it is saved in a format that may not be easily accessible.
Formatting your CV properly also has to do with proper layout of information on a page, proper spacing, etc.
Hiring managers get irritated reading a disorganized CV. Always organized the text on your CV and make sure it is readable.
What you should do
So you need to save your files in formats that can be easily read by the machine. Most times it is advisable for you to make use of word formats to ensure that your CV is easily accessible.
Use the right layout, fonts, etc. to make sure that your CV is readable.
6. 75% of recruiters and hiring professionals use a recruiting or applicant tracking system
According to a survey by Capterra, 75% of recruiters use ATS for their recruitment which means that your CV will be scanned by the system.
Recruiters make use of the ATS to reduce the time they spend to complete a recruitment process.
What you should do
Since many recruiters make use of the ATS for recruitment it means that the system must have been programmed to scan through CVs for the role that the company is recruiting for.
Since the system is running a scan on the CVs, it is therefore important that your CV contains the right keyword to avoid being rejected. See keywords every job seeker should know
7. 63% of hiring managers look forward to CV’sResumes that are tailored to the open position
Hiring managers look forward to hiring people that would be a good fit for the open position, and that is why they would like to get CVs that match the open position.
What you should do
Since hiring managers look forward to seeing resumes that are tailored to the vacant position, then it is important for you to always tailor your resume to the particular job that you are applying for.
8. 80.4% of resumes errors come from mistakes in former job experience descriptions.
(TheLadders)
Looking at the statistics, it is obvious where many job seekers make mistakes. This statistics also show where hiring managers concentrate on when they want to search for errors on candidates resume.
Hiring managers are most times particular about a candidate’s job experience, so making a mistake in that aspect of your CV may cost you a lot.
What you should do
Knowing that 80% of resumes errors come from former job experience, this will make you aware of the mistakes you should avoid making on your resume.
You should be careful and sincere when writing about your experience in your CV.
Job Search Statistics
9. The current unemployment rate in Nigeria is 23.1% with the number of 20.9 million unemployed people. (Nigerian Bureau of statistics)
It is no news that the rate of unemployment in Nigeria is high as a result of several factors. This statistics makes it clear that many people are chasing few jobs in Nigeria which makes the competition even tougher.
What you should do
Since you are aware that there are many unemployed people in Nigeria, it means that the competition for jobs is fairly tough.
It is good for you to note that you have to build yourself to becoming the best possible candidate to get a job in Nigeria.
10. The current unemployment rate in the US is 4.4% with the number of 7 million unemployed people (American Bureau of Statistics)
Unlike the figures for Nigeria, the rate of unemployment in America is considerably low, which means that more jobs are pursuing a few candidates.
Somehow this good news may also seem like a piece of bad news. If there are more jobs, it may also mean that there may be many low-quality jobs. So you also have to build yourself to get a good job.
What you should do
Regardless of the number of available jobs, you should take time to develop skills that can make you marketable and employable.
11. The average workweek in Nigeria is 40 hours (Nigerian Labour Act)
According to the Nigerian Labour Act, the average workweek in Nigeria is 40 hours, which means that you will spend not less than 40 hours per week at work.
What you should do
This statistics will help you understand what to expect when you finally get a job, it will also help you prepare your mind for the world of work.
12. It takes a Nigerian an average of 9 months to get their first job (MyJobMag Survey)
MyJobMag took a survey that showed us that it takes a Nigerian an average of 9 months to get a job after graduation. This shows that it may take you months to get a job in Nigeria.
What you should do
Knowing that it can take a long time to get a job in Nigeria can spur you to do the right things like; creating a good CV, cover letter, and preparing well for an interview.
13. 39% of job seekers search for jobs on social media (LinkedIn Survey)
In recent times, the job search has changed and many people are searching for jobs on social media platforms. This shows the impact of social media on the job search.
What you should do
The huge impact on social media is a reminder for you to take your social media pages seriously. Your social media pages should not just be a medium for you to connect with other people, it should also be a tool for you especially if you are searching for a job.
14. 42.9% of job seekers search by job board (Capterra)
This means that many job seekers search for jobs on job board, it also means that job boards are providing job seekers with jobs vacancies.
For 42.9% of job seekers to search for jobs on job boards, it simply means that the job board is an effective job search channel.
What you should do
These statistics show that online jobs platform are more effective than other physical channels. If you have been manually searching for jobs, then it is time for you to change your strategy and start searching for jobs online.
You can start your search by visiting myjobmag .com to see the latest verified job adverts.
15. Using concrete numbers increases your hire ability by 40% (Talentworks)
According to Talentworks, using concrete numbers on your CV and cover letter increases your hire ability by 40%. This means that using concrete figures about your achievements gives the recruiter a tangible knowledge of your skills and abilities.
What you should do
Using concrete numbers on your cover letter and CV shows the employer that you have tangible experience and skills that the job requires.
It serves as an endorsement on what you have written in your cover letter and CV.
16. Adding industry buzzwords increases your hire ability by 29% (Talentworks)
It is no news that recruiters make use of ATS to make their recruitment process faster and easier. To pass the ATS screening, you have to make sure that your CV and cover letter contains industry buzz words.
What you should do
Since using industry buzz words can increase your hire ability by 29%, then it is indeed something that you should try.
Using industry-specific keywords in your CV or cover letter gives the recruiter an idea that you have a good knowledge of your industry. It also helps the hiring manager connect with you better.
Recruitment/Hiring Statistics
17. 70 %-80% of jobs are not posted online. (According to LinkedIn and Forbes)
This means that all the jobs that you see on different job boards are not even up to half of the ones that are not advertised. Surprised!
According to research, most of the best jobs are the ones that are not advertised. So how can you get access to the unadvertised jobs?
Different surveys have discovered that many people access unadvertised jobs through networking and personal referrals.
What you should do
The easiest way to access hidden jobs is by connecting and networking with people that may be of help to you.
We understand that networking is not an easy thing to do, but social media platforms like LinkedIn has been one very useful tool that has helped lots of people access unadvertised jobs through networking.
18. 95% of recruiters use LinkedIn as a major sourcing tool to find and Research candidates
The U.S. News & World Report shows that 95 percent of recruiters make use of LinkedIn as a major tool to research and find candidates to fit into their vacant positions.
This means that social media is becoming prominent when it comes to recruiting, and LinkedIn is one of the major platforms that recruiters make use of.
What you should do
Since most recruiters use LinkedIn to research for potential candidates, then you must make yourself visible and active on LinkedIn. To be a part of the LinkedIn community, all you need to do is to join by simply visiting the LinkedIn page.
19. Employee referrals are 5 times more effective than other job sources
A report by JobVite showed that referral is one of the most effective jobs search sources. It is 5 times more effective than other sources.
This means that hiring managers have some form of trust on candidates that are referred to them more than the regular candidate, especially if the candidate is from a trusted source.
Research also has it that getting a candidate from referrals to save the hiring manager the stress of passing through all the stages of the recruitment process, and the hiring manager also believes that the candidate should also be a good choice.
What you should do
Since referrals appear to be an effective source for hiring managers, it means that you can walk your way to landing your dream job by positioning yourself to be referred by someone.
Connecting and creating a good relationship with people, especially people that you have worked with in the past can help you get referrals.
20. 63% of recruiters say talent shortage is their biggest problem
(MRINetwork Recruiter & Employer Sentiment Study) made us understand from this report that the problem that most recruiters experience when trying to hire a candidate is not finding enough suitable candidate for the role.
Does this mean that there are few suitable candidates? Well, maybe the candidates appear to be unsuitable.
What you should do
Looking at the statistics, it is obvious that the more you walk yourself to being a suitable candidate for the job field that you are most interested in, the more suitable you become for that position.
21. The Quality of hire is more than 4 times more important for recruiters than the cost per hire. (Jobvite)
This means that recruiters are interested in the value that an employee can add to the company rather than how much it will take the recruiter to hire a prospective employee.
It means that recruiters are interested in getting quality employees regardless of what it will cost them.
What you should do
Looking at these statistics, you must make yourself a quality hire before searching for a job. You can get career resources that will help you become a quality hire.
22. More than 60% of employers offer more contract gigs (MRINetwork Recruiter & Employer Sentiment Study)
This study shows that employers are more willing to recruit for contract positions than full positions. According to research, hiring a contract staff member helps the company reduce the cost to a great extent.
It also helps the recruiter watch the employee for a little while before deciding if the employee should be employed as permanent staff or not.
What you should do
Since more employers offer more contract jobs, then it is something that giving a try to watch and monitor your career growth and experience.
Refusing to accept contract gigs may not be the best solution, because every job is an opportunity for you to grow and develop yourself.
23. 91% of employers prefer their candidates to have work experience, and 65% of them prefer their candidates to have relevant work experience.
From these statistics, it is obvious that recruiters want to hire candidates that have the required experience to perform the task than employing someone that will require lots of training.
The statistics also makes it clear that experience is a key factor when it comes to getting a new hire on board.
What you should do
Knowing that experience is a key factor that can determine to a large extent if you would get a job, then you must look forward to building your experience.
Taking up internships and volunteering jobs can help you build your experience over time. See great internship opportunities here.
24. Internal hiring is 6x more effective than all other sources of hiring
This shows that companies see internal recruitment as more effective than other means of recruitment. This also means that hiring managers prefer to work with people that they have already worked with before to new people.
What you should do
Since hiring managers to see internal hiring as more effective than other sources of hiring, then you should start thinking of applying for a better position in your company. This can help you grow.
25. 62% of employers are specifically looking for your soft skills. (Careerbuilder)
Since 62% of employers are looking for your soft skills, then the importance of acquiring a soft skill cannot be overemphasized.
What you should do
Knowing that employers are looking out for candidates with soft skills, then you need to acquire soft skills to make you more productive and employable.
Job Interview Statistics
26. 51% of recruiters say that 3 interviews come before an offer
As surprising as this data may be, it makes it quite obvious that job seekers should not always expect a job offer immediately after an interview.
Every company has a recruitment process, and this takes some time in most cases.
(2017 Recruiter Sentiment Study MRI Network)
What you should do
This data will help you know that you should not always expect to get an offer immediately after an interview. This will also help you to be patient with the hiring manager in the hiring process.
27. 61% of employees say the realities of their new job differ from the expectations set during the interview process. (Glassdoor 2013)
This statistics also show that there is a huge gap between the job seekers expectation during the interview and what they get to experience on the job.
What you should do
Hiring managers and employers will always want to tell a good story about their company. So you need to see beyond what the hiring manager is saying.
You should be sensitive enough to see beyond what the hiring manager says during your interview.
28 The average interview process takes 22.9 days (Glassdoor)
These statistics show that it takes a couple of days for recruiters to complete a recruitment process, and this is what most job seekers don’t understand.
Job seekers always expect that the interview process ends after the job interview ends, but that is not always the case.
What you should do
Since the statistics show the average time it will take a recruiter to complete an interview process, they should give you an idea of how long you should wait to expect an offer from a recruiter.
29. The average job interview is 40 minutes long
Although some job interviews may be longer than this, on the average an interview takes 40 minutes. Many job seekers think that a job interview will last for a long time.
What you should do
Since an average interview will take about 40 minutes, then you need to know you have a limited time to convince your prospective employer that you are the best person for the job.
This information will also help you prepare well for your interview even before the interview. 40 minutes could seem like a long time, but you should know that you are allowed to get the recruiter to know you, just as you would get to know the recruiter too.
30. Only 2% of candidates that apply for a job receive a job interview (Job Market Experts.)
Job market experts carried a survey and discovered that only 2% of candidates that applied for a job received a job interview. This simply means that only the best candidates will end up having an interview offer.
What you should do
This statistics emphasizes the fact that there is a tight competition in the job market. It also means that the 2% that will be invited for an interview are likely the best candidates.
The question is how can you be among these amazing 2%?
And the answer is to create a winning CV, it is that simple.
31. 33% of employers know if they would hire a candidate from the first 90 seconds of the interview
Research and reports have shown that an employer would have decided if they would employ a candidate in the first 90 seconds. This means that a candidate’s first impression goes a long way to determine whether the candidate will get the job or not.
What you should do
This statistics shows that it does not take a recruiter a long time to decide whether or not they will employ you. So you must be careful about the impression that you give the recruiter immediately you step into the interview room.
Since you have only 90 seconds to prove yourself, then you should make sure you create a lasting impression on the recruiter.
32. 43% of recruiters say that half a page is the ideal length of a cover letter
A Saddleback College Resume Survey reports that the ideal length of a cover letter is usually half a page. From these statistics, it is obvious that recruiters prefer a cover letter that is short and precise.
What you should do
Since a cover letter allows you to sell yourself to your prospective employer, then you should make maximum use of that opportunity. You should learn to state that you are the best person for the job in a few lines. This would help you create a cover letter that can attract a recruiter.
33. 34% of recruiters list investment in innovative interviewing tools as a top trend for the near future. (LinkedIn Global Recruiting Trends 2017)
This statistics shows that recruiters are ready to invest in interviewing tools to make sure that they get the best candidate.
What you should do
Since you have discovered that 34% of recruiters will want to invest in innovative interviewing tools, then you need to take every aspect of the interview seriously. You should take a phone call conversation from your employer seriously.
Millennials Recruitment Statistics
34. 95% of millennials say work-life balance is important to them, while 70% say that it’s very important (PWC)
From the statistics above, it is clear that millennials are interested in work-life balance. Millennials always prefer to work for flexible hours rather than the usual 9-5 daily.
So if you are a millennial job seeker, then work-life should be one of the things that you should be looking out for in your prospective place of work.
As an employer, attracting a millennial to your organization means that you have to provide a flexible work culture.
What you should do
(Job Seekers)
Knowing what works for most millennials will also help you shape your idea about what you should expect and what you should check for before applying for a job.
(Employer)
As an employer knowing what matters to millennials will help position your company to attract good fits.
35. 87% of millennials say professional development or career growth opportunities are very important to them in a job (Gallup)
According to this report by Gallup, it shows that most millennials are interested in jobs and companies that can aid their professional growth and development.
Most millennials are not interested in just doing a job because they just want to feel responsible, they are interested in doing a job that would help them grow and develop.
What you should do
(Job Seekers)
From the data, it is obvious that millennials are interested in career progression, they want to grow and develop in their organization.
Considering these statistics will help you to be more result-oriented about how working in a particular organization will help you achieve your career growth and development.
(Employer)
Since most millennials are after jobs that can foster their career growth and development, then creating positions that will aid an employee's growth and career development is a step to attracting the right people to join your company.
36. Six in 10 millennials are open to new job opportunities (Gallup)
Research has it that millennials are more likely to hop from one job to another. It simply means that millennials are not interested in staying in a job that does not satisfy them.
Once a job does not satisfy a millennial, that millennial will likely leave the job.
What you should do
(Job-seeker)
Since these statistics show you how millennials are open to new job opportunities, then this should guide you on why millennials are usually open to job opportunities.
Understanding why millennials are open to job opportunities will help you look forward to the things that matter to you in a job before applying, instead of accepting an offer and then leaving when you are not satisfied.
Hopping from one job to the other may limit your job experience.
(Employer)
From the statistics above, it is clear that millennials are not interested in staying in a job that does not satisfy them.
So if you are looking forward to attracting a millennial, then you should make your job a satisfying one.
37. 67% of first-time job seekers use social media to look for work (Gallup)
This statistics shows the effect of social media on job search and how millennials are making use of social media to search for jobs.
In this 21st century, social media has affected many areas of human life including job search.
What you should do
(Job Seekers)
Since social media has become a thing in the 21st century, then you have to make use of social media to your advantage in your job search process.
You can use your social media pages to connect with prospective employers and career mentors that can help you with your job search.
(Employer)
Since most millennials are active on social media platforms, then social media can be a useful tool for you to attract millennials.
38. 50% of Millennials say they’d consider taking a job with a different company for a raise of 20% or less (Gallup)
Most millennials are moved by compensations and benefits, and when they don’t get it in a particular company, they are ready to move to another company that will be ready to compensate them better.
What you should do
(Job Seekers)
To void moving from one job to the other as most millennials would do, it is important for you not to be moved by compensation package when you are searching for a job.
If it is your first job, then you should concentrate on building your skills and experience.
(Employers)
Structuring your compensation plan in such a way that it matches the position that you are recruiting for will help you attract great employees that would stay.
39. 69 percent of job seekers would not take a job with a company that has a bad reputation--even if unemployed (Inc.)
In recent times, millennials spend more of their times on the internet especially when they are searching for a job.
Most times when job seekers are searching for jobs, it is common practice for them to research the company before they decide to apply or take up an offer from any company. So the reputation of a company goes a long way to determine if they would accept the job or not.
What you should do
(Job Seekers)
Researching the company before applying for a job in that particular company will help you know if you will make a great fit for the position that you are applying for or not. Mysalaryscale.com is a great site for you to research a company before applying for a job.
(Employer)
The reputation of your company has a big role to play in your recruitment.
As an employer, you should always look for ways to build the reputation of your company to attract great talents.
You can look out for what people are saying about your company on websites like MySalaryScale and learn what you can do better.
40. The average first salary of a Nigerian is N47, 000 (MyJobMag)
The survey carried out by MyJobMag showed the average first salary of a Nigerian. This statistics gives job seekers an idea of what they will likely earn as their first salary.
What you should do
This statistics will give you an idea of what the job market is before starting your first job. You can earn more than this depending on how much you can build your skills and abilities.
Statistics facts and figures can help you apply a more strategic approach to your job search.
These CV, Job search, interview statistics, etc. makes you aware of the challenges that you would likely face as a job seeker.
At least from these job search statistic, you have discovered that it takes some effort to get your CV to be seen, let alone have it land you the job of your dreams.
Just take a look at the advantages you get by reading these statistics;
These job search statistics and facts will help you understand how hiring managers recruit, what they like, what they dislike and things that you are doing wrong.
These statistics can help you prepare better for the job of your dreams because at least you know how fierce the competition is and what you are up against.
If you are a recruiter, knowing the statistics behind the job search can help you attract great talents.
Having a good knowledge of what is going on in the job market will put you in a better-advantaged position.
Hope you found these statistics helpful? Let us know in the comment section the statistics that you want to see.
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