If you’re in the midst of a job search or thinking about starting to look for a new position, you aren’t alone. If you think you’re spending too much checking out what jobs are available, you’re also in good company.
For people with in-demand skills, the job market has shifted from an employer driven market to a talent driven one. This is the tightest labor market in almost seven years and applicants with the right qualifications and experience will find lots of job opportunities to check out.
Who’s Job Searching
Who’s looking for a new job? According to Indeed.com’s Talent Attraction Study it’s almost everyone.
- 90% of employed adults looked for a job in the past year
- 71% of the labor force is actively looking or open to a new job
For many people, job searching is a regular activity:
- 58% of adults look for a job at least monthly
- 20% look for a job weekly
- 18% look at job listings on a daily basis
For those who think that employers will come and find you, don’t hold your breath waiting though. Only 10% of the survey respondents got hired without looking for a job at all. Regardless of how strong your qualifications are, you still need to be actively job seeking.
What Matters Most to Candidates
What’s most important to job seekers? Money matters, but so do other factors. The top three reasons people apply for a new job:
- 77% good pay
- 54% good location
- 51% flexible hours
Remote Work Searches Up 85% on Indeed.com
It’s interesting to see how much a flexible schedule matters. The days of the traditional forty hour, 9 – 5, work week are becoming history. More companies than ever are offering flexible schedules and work locations, and more employees than ever are seeking jobs they can work remotely. A study from the Indeed Hiring Lab reports that job seeker interest in remote work grew 85% over the last two years.
When the Job Hunt Starts Again
You also might be surprised at how soon after getting hired employees start looking again at new job postings:
- 65% of people look at new jobs within 91 days of beginning a new job
- 50% of people making between $100K – $150K starting looking at job posting less than a month after starting a new job
What’s Important for Job Seekers
Even if you’re just skimming job postings or reviewing the job alerts that show up in your inbox, it’s important to be prepared to apply. When the right job comes along, you should be ready to get your application in as soon as possible. The earlier you apply, the more likely you are to get an interview.
Take the time to keep your LinkedIn profile and your resume updated. One easy way to do that is to update both whenever something career related happens. If you take a class, get a promotion, learn some new skills, or your job description is revamped, take a few minutes to make the changes. It’s much easier than scrambling to remember everything when you come across a great job you want to apply for and you’re in a hurry to get your application in.
Related Articles: Skills Lists for Resumes | Best Companies for Remote Jobs
