Yahoo Finance I’m a Recruiter: Here’s What Hiring Managers Want To See In Your 2024 Job Applications
Finding a job that matches your interests, skills, experience, and income requirements can be tough, even if you live in an area where there are plenty of job opportunities or you’re in a specialized field. Oftentimes, the ideal role comes with major competition, lengthy interview processes, and a lot of rejection.
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You can still find a great job or make a career change if you know what you’re doing, though. One of the best things you can do is start finetuning your resume now and focus on putting out the best applications possible.
But what exactly are hiring managers looking for from their 2024 applicants? Perhaps more importantly, how can you stand out from the competition?
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Your Application Meets All the Requirements
Hiring managers have become more selective about who they hire, so make sure you’re paying attention to those job requirements.
“The hiring frenzy of the pandemic has slowed significantly, so expect employers to be more selective,” said Sarah Doughty, vice president of talent operations at TalentLab, a technical recruiting agency. “Most will be looking for candidates who are highly qualified for their open roles.”
As you start applying for jobs, make sure your resume and the rest of your application — including your cover letter and any online professional profiles — include all of the job posting’s requirements. This will help boost your chances of getting noticed, or even getting that first interview.
“Employers will be less inclined to interview candidates with adjacent skills or looking for career transition,” added Doughty. “Candidates should review the job posting they are applying for and ensure all the requirements are listed on their resume clearly.”
You’d be surprised at how many job seekers will skim over a job’s requirements, or will only include generalized information about their skills and experience. By being specific in your application, you could catch a hiring manager’s eye.
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You’re Honest About Your Skills and Experience
You might be tempted to spruce up your resume a little to get that interview. But be careful if you do this — hiring managers are on the lookout for such embellishments.
“In 2024, we will see employers adapt and likely add shorter ‘meet and greet’ interviews as a first step to validate resumes and be sure candidates are as qualified as their resume suggests,” said Doughty.
If you can’t back up your claims during these shorter phone, video, or in-person meetings, you’re not going to get the job.
You Aren’t Only Prioritizing Your Resume
While you’re probably still going to need to submit a resume when applying for a job, some employers are putting less weight on the resume itself and more on the application as a whole.
“Employers were given a crash course in the impact of AI-written resumes in 2023, and it’s definitely resulted in less weight being placed on a great resume,” said Doughty.
You should still make your resume look professional and highlight your key skills, education, and experience. But you might also want to update your LinkedIn profile, public social media accounts, and cover letter if you want to get a hiring manager’s attention.
You’ve Honed and Emphasized Your Interpersonal Skills
It’s the new year, and many hiring managers are still looking for those interpersonal skills. Even if you’re in a highly technical field, you should still hone such “soft” skills as teamwork and leadership.
“Even global high-tech has begun to change its recruitment focus as more and more employers realize self-awareness, creativity, and collaboration are actually more related to job success than any teachable skills or education,” said Doughty. “Hiring managers will focus on finding candidates who can work effectively with others just as much as candidates with specific tech experience or background.”
Jaune Little, Director of Recruiting Services at Insperity, added that communication is especially vital in the new year.
“More and more communications take place virtually, especially as most organizations continue to offer hybrid or remote work. In the eyes of hiring managers, that has increased the importance of communication skills,” said Little.
“Virtual platforms can require more self-awareness and nuance since in-person cues like facial expressions and body language can go unnoticed,” she continued. “Not only do candidates need to show their face-to-face communication skills, but they also now need to thrive over email, instant messaging and video calls.”
You’ve Got The Right Technical Skills
Most hiring managers are still looking for technical skills, even for positions that aren’t in the tech field.
“Increasingly, recruiters want to see tech skills even for roles in softer fields. According to a 2023 survey from the Graduate Management Admission Council, almost three in four corporate recruiters said AI and machine learning skills were important for business school grads,” said Little. “Hiring managers in almost every field are looking for similar tech competencies.”
Don’t be afraid to upskill in other areas either. If there’s a position you’re interested in but you fall a little short on the requirements, find ways to improve or gain those skills. Not only can this boost your chances of getting an interview, but many hiring managers are looking for candidates with the proven capacity to learn new things.
You’ve Customized Your Application
It was true in the past, and it’s true now: Hiring managers want to see a little customization in the applications they receive.
“The most successful job hunters often tailor their cover letter and resume to the job they want,” said Little. “While this might not be feasible for every job application, job hunters should pick out the positions that interest them most and craft specific language, based on the job description and company values.”
During the interview process, Little suggested bringing up any talking points related to the position and company. This will show the hiring manager that you’ve done your research, and it will help you stand out from the competition.
You Follow Up On Your Applications
It’s easy to send off an application and forget about it. But with hiring managers receiving hundreds or even thousands of applications for each open role, yours might disappear if you don’t do a little follow-up.
“Do not just forget about an application after hitting ‘submit,'” said Little. “Find the recruiter’s email or LinkedIn and send an introductory message, letting them know about the submission. If they do not respond, send a follow-up a couple of weeks later asking about the application status.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I’m a Recruiter: Here’s What Hiring Managers Want To See In Your 2024 Job Applications
