In today’s heated job market, candidates clearly want to ease the pain of the search by winnowing out positions that aren’t a fit, and instead learning more about those opportunities that may be a winner before even filling out the application.

Unfortunately, many employers aren’t aware that this is the case.

A study from CareerBuilder examined answers from 4,500 job seekers and 1,500 hiring personnel, identifying this trend. The research indicates that the time when job applicants filled out endless applications for jobs they knew little about, hoping one would bubble up as the top choice, is just a vestige of dated application processes.

Now, job seekers spend more time investigating jobs that sound promising. But for many, they are not being met in their quest by those who are doing the hiring. And this could account for the ongoing complaint from hiring managers that they cannot find enough qualified candidates for the job openings they’re trying to fill.

To begin, let’s see what the applicant process consists of:

76 percent say they are interested in a new job;
On average, these job seekers use 16 resources during a job search; only 36 percent say they do no research on a particular position;
Primary questions about a new employer pertain to day-to-day job duties (76 percent), essential skillsets (57 percent), and whether the candidate is the right fit (50 percent).

When considering a specific position, here’s what applicants want to know before they apply:

81 percent want to know the name and contact information of the person who posted the job;
72 percent want to talk to a company recruiter or hiring manager first;
74 percent want to know the salary range ahead of time;
82 percent want an idea of the organizational structure to see where the position falls;
65 percent say location is the primary factor in their search.

So what’s the disconnect on the employer side? Passive, painfully long recruiting.

More than half of companies wait for candidates to apply, and the average time it takes them to fill a position is 26 to 34 days. This apparent lack of urgency in a tight job market is happening despite the fact that three-quarters of workers are apparently open to a new job, and most only apply for a position they believe they are a fit for.

CareerBuilder also found that applicants aren’t sufficiently familiar with the current hiring process. For instance, 53 percent of employers said they don’t get enough information on most resumes to make a decision. They’d like to see more details, as well as a portfolio and cover letter, links to social media profiles, and professional recommendations.

Soft skills are becoming ever more of a factor in hiring. Two-thirds of employers said they look for “soft skills” such as communications, dependability, public speaking, and working with others.

And not receiving a response following an application doesn’t mean “no thanks.” More than half of employers surveyed said they revisit their applicant pool — so following up is a worthwhile endeavor for those applying.

"Job seekers may have more of an edge in today's market as employers grow increasingly competitive for labor — but need to follow new rules of engagement," says Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources for CareerBuilder. "For employers, it's important to remember that the candidate experience starts from the very first click and can impact how effectively a company is able to recruit quality candidates, the popularity of its employer brand, the strength and quality of its referrals, and even its bottom line."

Instant Insights /

Candidate, recruiter disconnect contributes to hiring gap

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