Jobseekers not living up to employers' expectations

THE MAJORITY of jobseekers are not meeting employers’ expectations when preparing for interviews, new research has revealed.

A survey by specialist recruitment agency Hays Ireland found that 18 per cent of those seeking employment spend under an hour preparing for an upcoming interview, while 53 per cent of survey respondents said they spend less than two hours doing so.

This compares with 52 per cent of employers surveyed who believe that jobseekers should spend either between two and five hours (39 per cent), or about a day (13 per cent), getting ready for an interview.

The survey was conducted during May and comprised the responses of 1,565 people looking for work and 623 employers. Its results also found that 58 per cent of jobseekers put more effort into preparing for an interview now than before the recession.

“It’s not surprising that jobseekers are spending more time preparing for interviews given that there are more people applying for fewer jobs,” said managing director of Hays Specialist Recruitment Richard Eardley. “However, it is clear from the survey that candidates are still failing to meet employer expectations when it comes to preparation and performance at interview.”

Furthermore, in a sign of the state of the economy, 33 per cent of employers surveyed said they had not interviewed anyone since the beginning of the recession, while 35 per cent of jobseekers have not had an interview at all during this time.

In terms of CV preparation, the survey’s findings clearly demonstrate that employers notice when interviewees have edited their CVs specifically for the job they are applying for.

The research found that 38 per cent of those applying for work change their CVs to cater for the position, while 36 per cent of interviewers believe that jobseekers do this. In comparison, 22 per cent of employers think that those seeking work rarely or never alter their CV to fit the available role, which is the same percentage of jobseekers who said that they do not change their CV.

In terms of employers noticing whether job applicants have increased their preparation for interviews, 26 per cent said they had seen a slight increase in the levels of preparation, while a further 16 per cent noticed a significant rise. Some 23 per cent of employers didn’t notice any difference.

When asked if they would go socialising the night before a job interview, 27 per cent of interviewees said that they would on the condition that they return home at a reasonable time, while another 2 per cent would have no problem in going out for the night.

The research also found that 29 per cent of employers found that many interviewees fail to demonstrate the necessary skills for the job they are applying for, while 22 per cent said that jobseekers do not understand what the position they are applying for entails.

In terms of the reasons why interviewees are unsuccessful in securing employment, 51 per cent of employers cited a lack of experience as the core reason, while 42 per cent had said no to an applicant due to a lack of basic skills, such as writing or problem solving.

According to Eardley, jobseekers need to follow a few simple rules when preparing for an interview. “Firstly, preparation is key – investing half a day in what could turn out to be your future career doesn’t seem too much to ask.

“Secondly, know your CV, be able to demonstrate your key strengths and, vitally, be able to make your skills relevant to the job.

“Finally, demonstrate enthusiasm – it’s an old adage, but if you don’t make it abundantly clear that you want the job, you probably won’t get it.”