Accountemps Offers Advice on What's In and Out in the Job Search for 2014
TORONTO, Jan. 23, 2014 /CNW/ - Is your resume covered in cobwebs? You're not alone, according to a recent Accountemps survey. More than half (56 per cent) of employed workers interviewed said it's been at least five years since they last looked for a new job; this includes 32 per cent of survey respondents who haven't conducted a job search in more than a decade.
In the same survey, one in five (20 per cent) employees polled said they plan to look for a new job in the next 12 months. Among those, 72 per cent expect the effort to be somewhat or very challenging.
The Canadian survey was developed by Accountemps, the world's first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals, and conducted by an independent research firm. It includes responses from 391 employees 18 years of age and older who work in an office environment in Canada.
Workers were asked, "How long has it been since you last looked for a new job?" Their responses:
| Within the last 2 years….. | 25% |
| 2-4 years…………………. | 19% |
| 5-7 years…………………. | 16% |
| 8-10 years……………….. | 8 % |
| More than 10 years……... | 32% |
| Total | 100% |
"For many professionals, it has been a long time since they've embarked on a job search; it's important for them to recognize how techniques have evolved," said Dianne Hunnam-Jones, Canadian district president of Accountemps. "In order for applicants to be as successful as possible, they must keep up with the latest trends and familiarize themselves with new hiring tools adopted by prospective employers."
Accountemps offers advice on what's in and out in the job hunt in 2014:
| In | Out |
| An executive summary on your resume that emphasizes your most relevant skills. | Objective statements on resumes. These self-focused openings may do more to weed you out than gain an employer's interest. |
| Highlighting key accomplishments on your resume. Hiring managers want to see results, such as how much time or money you saved a previous employer. | Lists of job duties on resumes. Employers typically know what a job entails. Providing a laundry list of responsibilities without results may land your resume in the "no" pile. |
| A concise cover letter or email introduction that's targeted and relevant, and complements the information in your resume. | Long, cookie-cutter cover letters that only reiterate the information on your resume. |
| Compelling social media profiles. How you present yourself on social media, from LinkedIn to Twitter to Google+, can be a major boon or bust for your job-search efforts. Use these sites to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise. | Keeping a low profile on social media. A limited presence on professional networking sites won't get you noticed. |
| Video interviews. These have become increasingly common, and can be tricky to master. Learn to present yourself well on camera. | Travelling for interviews. It's more likely that you'll interview via video, unless you are interviewing for a senior-level position. |
| Multiple interviews. Get ready to meet with many people in a company before a job offer is extended. Although the process can be tiring, keep your energy levels high throughout the process. | A single interview. It's less common to be hired after one meeting with a hiring manager. Prepare yourself for many interviews and target your remarks to each audience. Potential coworkers may have different concerns than managers, for example. |
| Emailed thank-you notes. Once considered a shortcut, a timely email is now a must. The two or three days it takes to get a letter via post is too long for a hiring manager to wait. | Sending only handwritten notes. A note sent via post is still a classy move -- but send an email first so you get the advantage of a timely response. |
About Accountemps
Accountemps is the world's first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. The company has more than 345 offices worldwide and offers online job search services at accountemps.com. Follow Robert Half on Twitter at twitter.com/RobertHalf_CAN, and gain insights on the latest financial hiring and salary trends at www.roberthalf.ca/salarycentre.
Image with caption: "Majority (56 per cent) of Canadian workers haven't looked for a new job in at least five years. (CNW Group/Accountemps)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140123_C4541_PHOTO_EN_35770.jpg
SOURCE: Accountemps
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