2008 trend: Employers race to scoop up talent - Military Careers, Second Careers - Navy Times

2008 trend: Employers race to scoop up talent

With the new year come new trends in hiring. From a quicker interview process, to video résumés, to plump perks, experts say getting hired in 2008 could be a smooth ride.

“Companies are taking less time to run people through and make a decision,” said Mark Haering, senior partner with PrincetonOne Search, an executive search agency in Indianapolis. “They want to make sure somebody else doesn’t scoop them up.”

Thirty-two percent of employers plan to raise their number of full-time permanent employees, according to CareerBuilder.com, an online job site. This is down from 40 percent in 2007, which saw more than 1.3 million jobs created, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Here’s what to expect as you head out on the job hunt:

Quick pick

In the past few years, a job interview might have included two or three trips to the home office for initial, follow-up and final interviews. The adventure might have spanned two or three weeks.

In 2008, expect companies to make sure all the people you are supposed to meet are there at the same time. They may even opt for a group interview so it’s all done at once.

“Companies were losing out to competitors who were more decisive,” Haering said. “Candidates may be a little leery of an organization whose interview and selection process is real long and drawn out.”

Digging deep

To be sure they are recruiting the right talent, more employers are using the Internet to screen potential employees. Forty-five percent said they use online search engines and social networking sites to research job candidates, according to CareerBuilder.com.

And in 2008, nearly 20 percent of companies say they will increase their use of these resources.

In addition, companies will be using background checks and assessment tools more often, Haering said.

“While they want to make a quick decision, they also want to make the right decision,” he said.

Hello, video

Employers may not be requesting video résumés, but expect more companies to welcome them instead of tossing them into the trash. Nearly 90 percent of employers said they would look at a video résumé if it was submitted for a job, according to Vault.com.

How to dress: 65 percent of respondents said a suit is the only appropriate option.

“Because video résumés are such a new phenomenon, there aren’t yet universal guidelines for their creation,” said Mark Oldman, co-founder of Vault.com.

Hiring experts say a video résumé should be short and professional, and include a well-rehearsed speech.

Their loss? Your gain

Employers are struggling with a shortage of qualified candidates. Forty percent of companies say they have open positions for which they can’t find the right talent, Ferguson said.

“Recruitment and retention efforts are becoming increasingly competitive, and job seekers are likely to benefit in the new year,” he said.

Fifty-six percent of employers expect to increase salaries on initial offers, up from 49 percent in 2007, according to CareerBuilder.com. They will also offer alternate work arrangements such as compressed workweeks, job sharing and telecommuting.

Perking you up

Rising health care costs are a definite trend. To draw new candidates to their workplace, nearly 20 percent of employers say they will offer more comprehensive benefits this year, according to Career Builder.com.

Other perks to lure workers include signing bonuses, employee discounts, company cars, stock options, free child care, educational reimbursement, transit passes and wellness programs.

About one-quarter of employers also say they will provide more promotions and career advancement opportunities for new hires.