What’s going on behind the scenes in the hiring process?

Big Ideas 2021

Before we dive into this week’s newsletter, I want to suggest that you take a look at some of the predictions for 2021 that LinkedIn News compiled over the past few months. With the help of experts from around the world and across industries, we take a look at how the world and the world of work will change next year. Take a look by clicking here.

Job seekers get a lot of advice about how to land their next job, but not much attention is paid to what actually happens behind the scenes at a company bringing on new talent.

I recently spoke with Zenefits’ Chief People Officer Tracy Cote on #GetHired Live. “My job is to oversee the people experience for the company,” she said. “So that includes all things traditionally thought of as HR and more — employee engagement, talent acquisition, benefits, learning and development, culture and improving the work environment.”

Cote offered a lot of great advice for job seekers from the perspective of the person on the other side of the hiring process. I wanted to distill some of her advice on very common job search questions for you. You can watch the conversation by clicking here. The responses below have been edited for length, content and clarity.

How has the hiring process changed since the start of the pandemic?

Tracy: Obviously the hiring process has moved remote. So, the traditional process where people come into the office for rounds of in-person interviews is gone. 

Much of it can be done asynchronously for some companies. At Zenefits, we're still doing synchronous meetings [and] real-time interviews, but I see companies out there who are doing things a bit differently.   For example, candidates submit a video resume and the company looks at it and gets back to them.

What should job seekers know about getting their resumes in front of recruiters or hiring managers?

Tracy: I think the biggest mistake people make is trying to put too many things in their resume and cram it full of extraneous information to prove how great they are. You've got recruiters who probably are looking at dozens of resumes per hour. They can get through a lot. They're scanning really quickly, so the resume has to be succinct and pop.

Candidates should be sure to narrow down the number of words on their resume, too. They want to make the words count and are meaningful and relevant to the job that they’re looking for. And that might mean tailoring the resume for different roles. Candidates should really look at those job descriptions and take them seriously. Candidates should view it as an assignment and ask themselves, am I answering their specific questions? Make sure that the resume reflects what the company is looking for and if the candidate has those skills. 

The last thing is don't try to be too cutesy with it. Sometimes people try a little too hard to make it fun. Recruiters don't have a lot of time for that, unless it's a creative position.

How can job seekers get noticed in a world where almost everything is online?

Tracy:  LinkedIn is obviously the go-to place for getting noticed. So, candidates should make sure their LinkedIn profile looks really good. They should have an objective truth-teller take a critical look at it for them and make sure it’s free of typos and that it accurately reflects them. It’s also important to make sure their picture looks representative of what they want it to say about them.

Then, get engaged and get involved. There are online networking events,online chats and forums. Events like this allow candidates to get engaged in the conversation and meet other people. I’d recommend that candidates meet as many people as possible. It’s all about who you know.

How can job seekers get recruiters to respond to them?

Tracy: Job seekers should understand that recruiters and hiring managers are very busy, especially right now. If they are ghosting a candidate, that is terrible, but it does happen. Don’t take it personally, as it's less of a function about the candidate, and more that they're just really busy.

What I like is when candidates send me a message, whether via email or LinkedIn, that just says, ‘Hey, here's something that I thought you'd think would be interesting. By the way, I'm still interested if you're still hiring’ – something like that. It’s not too pushy, but it also gives me something that I might find useful or relevant to my company or our conversation. That shows interest and keeps the candidate top of mind.

How can a job seeker make the case to be a remote worker?

Tracy: Recruiters will hate me for saying this, but it's kind of like dating. You don't want to put everything out there on the first date! Job seekers should wait until they find out where things are going before they start talking about things that might present a more challenging conversation.

So, if a candidate really wants to work in Hawaii or something, and the company is traditionally based in San Francisco, for example, they might wait for a couple of conversations until the company really likes them before seriously drawing a line in the sand. If candidates do it right at the beginning, that might take them out of the running for the interview, quite frankly.

What do you think is the most important thing to keep in mind right now as a job seeker?

Tracy: First and foremost, candidates should not lose confidence. When candidates aren’t confident in the interview process, it comes through all of their pores — everything they say, their demeanor, and their body language. The interviewer might not be able to put their finger on what the issue is, but they're not going to hire that candidate.

Candidates have to be confident. They should do whatever they need to do to feel good about themselves and where they’re at in their experience. They should know that they’re doing all the right things, that they’ll get there, and the company will be lucky to have them. They should keep that confidence going.

What questions do you have about how recruiters and managers hire? Join the conversation.

? Want even more #GetHired?

I go live each Friday at 12:00 p.m. ET from the LinkedIn News page to discuss important issues affecting job seekers and answer your questions about looking for work. Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., who is the president and CEO of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), will join me to discuss how hiring has changed and what job seekers can expect in 2021 on the next episode. Click here or the image below to RSVP for the next #GetHired Live. You just need to click the "Remind Me" button below the post.

? The follow-up

People can easily tire of job searching. Not hearing back after submitting applications can quickly grow old and it can also make people question their professional identity. Fortunately, there are steps to fight back against job search fatigue, said Dawn Norris, sociologist and author of Job Loss, Identity, and Mental Health. She suggested in the last edition of #GetHired that job seekers look for ways to reaffirm their professional identity. They should make socialization a priority, such as through job search groups. Creating a routine helps avoid taking too much time off from searching. Also, people should seek professional help when needed. Here’s what people are saying about the advice.

? Other news to help you #GetHired:

The number of Americans needing food assistance is growing. An estimated 50 million people will face hunger in the U.S., compared to 35 million a year ago, according to Feeding America. Jessica Hartogs, my colleague, writes that some states are being hit harder than others. “Nevada, which has suffered a drop in tourism since March, is expected to move from 20th place in 2018 to fifth place this year in food insecurity, according to the report, while Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama and Louisiana are struggling more.” Here’s what people are saying about the report.

Are you up for extreme remote working? Some people will undoubtedly end up working from home full time even after the pandemic wanes, but some people with the itch to travel will become extreme digital nomads, reports The Wall Street Journal. These people will work remotely while traveling the world. Some companies are even creating options specifically for this time of digital nomad. One service will even start offering people a chance to move between rental properties for $2,000 per month. Here’s what people are saying about the trend.

Here’s who’s hiring right now. As I’ve said before, we’re doing our best to connect you with companies that are still hiring during these troubled economic times. Part of that effort is a regularly updated list of companies we know to be hiring. Some of those include Amazon, Walmart and CVS Health. Click here to see more.

? Up next:

We’ll be saying goodbye to 2020 in just a few weeks. In the next edition of #GetHired — the last before New Year, we’ll be looking at some of the job search trends that defined 2020. What has stood out to you the most about job search and career planning this year? Let me know in the comments by clicking here.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to reach out to me if you have ideas on topics or questions I should address in future editions of #GetHired. You can also email me at GetHired[at]LinkedIn.com.