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How To Harvest More Jobs This Fall

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As we head full-force into autumn in 2020, there are a lot of unknowns. One thing that remains consistent, however, is seasonal recruitment cycles. Even if things look a bit different, you can still expect a breakthrough in hiring. If you’re looking to harvest more jobs this fall, understanding the market is your first priority. Here are three trends that will affect hiring as we launch into the 4th quarter.

Seasonal Work

As we head into the holiday season, there is always a spike in seasonal work. Retail and manufacturing are among the industries to get the most significant boost. This year, however, will be beyond anything we’ve ever experienced before. The Coronavirus will cause a complete shift in how retailers hire for the holidays. Pre-pandemic, companies loaded up on checkout personnel, showroom stockers, and security for the holiday frenzy. Now, the focus will be on curbside and contactless delivery, safety and cleaning, and shipping and customer service for online orders.

On the manufacturing side, warehouses are already feeling the pressure. With the announcement of Amazon Prime Day on October 13th and 14th, everyone is scrambling to meet a massive boost in demand. Retailers and manufacturers that were already ramping up for a busy virtual holiday season are now trying to accommodate sales starting mid-October. This will put pressure on the entire supply chain, from manufacturing parts to delivery.

End Of Year Rush

Q4 is always a time of self-reflection for hiring managers. Having open positions at the end of the year does not bode well for their criticality to the team, especially in today’s hiring environment. Many companies set a precedent to either fill positions by year-end or lose them altogether. Additionally, departments are reviewing budgets. If they discover unused resources, they will want to reallocate them going into the new year.

Fall Refresh

Last but certainly not least, there is always an air of calm and productivity in the fall. Fewer team members are out of the office on vacation, managers are planning for a new year by brainstorming new projects, and it’s easier to prioritize hiring and interviewing. Typically, hiring processes tend to speed up in the 4th quarter as teams work more efficiently, and managers rush to wrap everything up before the new year.

Don’t let this spooky year halt your hiring

This year has been hectic, to say the least, and it is about to get even busier as we leap right into the last quarter. You and your team have a lot to accomplish over the next three months, and that probably feels a little eerie. If your team is looking to take some stress off your shoulders, JSG is here to help. We can work together to solve your hiring needs and ensure the fourth quarter doesn’t haunt your team.

Partner with JSG

October Hiring Is The Most Competitive

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A new LinkedIn survey found that October has the highest number of job openings on the site. Additionally, a whopping 89% of hiring managers filled those roles in less than four weeks. So what does this mean for companies trying to onboard new staff before the holidays? Well, you’ve got some competition. Here are a few ways you can stand out and secure the talent you’re looking for during this competitive hiring market.

Streamline Your Hiring Process

With companies hiring in less than four weeks, it’s absolutely essential that you move quickly. Candidates will most likely be juggling multiple job offers this month. Create room in your schedule for interviews, make decisions quickly, and get a written offer out as soon as possible. This is not the time to “see a couple more resumes” after you’ve interviewed a potential perfect candidate. If you don’t swoop them up, someone else will!

Consider Hiring Contract

Contract hiring is an excellent option for getting team members on board ASAP. There are fewer hoops to jump through during the hiring process, and you’re able to “try before you buy.” Additionally, you often have the opportunity to convert any contractor to a full-time employee if you find that it’s a great fit. We have even partnered with multiple companies to get contractors started in less than a week, meaning reduced cost of vacancy for your bottom line.

Actively Recruit

With the job market as hot as it is, sitting back and waiting for resumes won’t be enough. You need a team of experienced recruiters out there actively searching for the talent you need to take your organization to the next level. Unfortunately, many HR teams don’t have the capacity to prioritize active recruiting for critical jobs.

That’s where we come in. We have a recruiting team that has the experience and drive to bring you the candidates you need. We actively recruit for the best of the best and have an exclusive database of qualified talent that just maybe your next great employee. Ready to have a conversation about how we can help you compete throughout the month of October and beyond? Contact us today.

4th Quarter Job Market Outlook

October is the Most Competitive Month for Hiring

Fall Forward Into Your Career

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October is here, which means the leaves are starting to change colors, sweaters are being worn, and pumpkin spice-something is appearing on just about every menu.

Nights are starting to come faster and the air will soon have a distinct crisp to it – the perfect recipe for hunkering down to find a new opportunity. So while you’re cozied up on the couch next to the fireplace drinking something warm, crack open that laptop and get to work on your job search.

This may sound like a daunting task, but don’t worry, we’re here to help. The JSG Blog is full of expert advice from the people that know the job search market the best. Here are some of our best resources that will help you fall forward into your job search and hopefully, your new career:

When you’re just starting out…3 Websites to Bookmark During Your Job Search

When you need a little bit of inspiration…30 Quotes That Will Move You…Through a Job Search

When you’re trying to figure out how to market yourself…Marketing Soul For a Job Search

When you’re worried if your resume has any mistakes…The 5 Scariest Resume Mistakes We’ve Ever Seen

When you don’t know what to include on your resume…The Best Soft Skills to Include on Your Resume

When you need a little bit of an interview refresher…Interviewing 101

When you’re lost on how to prepare for the interview…6 Essential Steps for Job Interview Preparation

If you’re wondering what you should or shouldn’t say in an interview…10 Things You Should Never Say in a Job Interview

Or if you have no idea what to expect in a video interview…5 Steps to Ace Your Next Video Interview

When you’re worried about one of the more difficult questions…How to Answer “What are Your Biggest Strengths?” in an Interview

When you’re feeling confident after an interview…6 Signs You’re About to Receive a Job Offer

When you need a sporty reference to help maintain a good work-life balance…5 Things the MLB Home Run Derby Taught Us About Work-Life Balance

6 Fall Job Search Musts

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6 Fall Job Search Musts

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

There’s something about fall that gives the impression of new beginnings. I think it starts when you’re young and you have to get ready for back to school. It was one of my favorite things – getting set for a brand new year with new teachers, new supplies, and so much to learn! And I think that mindset never truly goes away. Even after you’ve been out of school for years and years, the excitement and buzz around the beginning of autumn flutters around like the leaves rapidly falling to the ground. So, how can you apply your “new school year” excitement to your adult career? How about starting fresh with a new job? The fall job search is trending.

Above all, the hiring market is on the rise, and it’s a prime time to search for a new position. Now, we all know that searching for a new position is not easy. It takes a WHILE to adequately prepare for a job search – not to mention everything that comes after the search – like the application, interviews, and offer consideration. Research shows that January and February are the most popular months for companies to make a big hiring push – making autumn the PERFECT time to start preparing. Here are some of our favorite ways to get started on a fall career refresh:

  1. Reset your Resume

Chances are, you haven’t updated your resume in a while. Even if you have, there’s always more you can add! Check out our post here on getting that resume started.

  1. Create a Working Cover Letter Template

You may have read a few articles suggesting that cover letters are out-dated and unnecessary. While this may be true, chances are you’re going to come across a few applications that require one, and you do NOT want to have to start over from scratch when your dream job is on the line! Come up with a working template that will allow you to customize your cover letter to each position you apply for. (We like this one from The Muse.)

  1. Prep Your References

When the time comes, you’ll be grateful to have enthusiastic references at the ready. Check out our “Foolproof Guide to References” to make this step a breeze. (Bonus: if you mention that you’re putting feelers out there for a new job – one of your references might have an in somewhere!)

  1. Brush up on the Latest Interview Tips

Ah, the dreaded interview. Don’t get caught off guard when you get invited to interview, now’s the time to brush up on the latest trends! We’ve got you covered here from start to finish:

Interviewing 101
10 Typical Interview Questions & How to Answer Them
Ask These Questions At Your Next Job Interview
5 Interview Fails That Will Make You Look Unprofessional

  1. Check your Online Presence

Of course, this means cleaning up your social media profiles to make sure they’re professional (but you’ve probably already done that… we hope.) But it also means creating an online presence for yourself. Think about publishing professional blogs on LinkedIn, or creating an Instagram account that highlights your portfolio, or even a personal website that displays your resume and contact information. All of these online “extras” will be sure to set you apart from other candidates in this competitive market.

  1. Set up job alerts

Now that you’re all prepped – the fun begins! Set up job alerts with your favorite companies or your prospective job titles, and let them tell you when they’re looking. This will save you a ton of time and keep you informed. (You can join our talent network by location or by job title)

Create your Future through Your Fall Job Search

Here at JSG, we want to help you land your dream career in any season, but we have the tools and recruiters to make this fall the best one yet! Partner with a JSG recruiter today to advance your career faster than the colorful leaves are falling!