January 17, 2022

The Job Market Paradox: Why Companies Aren’t Hiring Despite A Hot Job Market

Sam Caucci

There are currently 8.4 million potential workers who are unemployed, despite there being a record high of 10.9 million jobs available in the job market today. So why is there a big mismatch in the market currently and what caused it? The rate of individuals getting hired is even lower than it was pre-pandemic. This can be due to a variety of factors brought on by the pandemic, as well as outside forces that have been in play for decades. 

In some cases, the jobs are simply undesirable ones that most individuals do not want, or these jobs are not worth the health risks involved due to the pandemic. In other cases, the right candidates and the right positions are not being connected. And, since everything has been moved to the virtual world, this means that it could take companies a longer time to screen and hire people, or it could make it easier for candidates’ applications to slip through the cracks, or employers are so swamped they are unresponsive

Let’s get into a little more detail below.

Reasons Why Companies Aren’t Hiring Despite A Hot Job Market

Many candidates are confused as to why they aren’t hearing back from potential employers, despite having decades of relevant experience. Or, some find that they get stuck in the talent pipeline with no explanation. If you’re a candidate looking for some answers as to what is currently happening in the job market, keep on reading.

  1. Companies are doing more screening. 

When you first apply to a job opening, your application sets off a chain reaction. It first gets sent through to an applicant tracking system (ATS) where it is scanned for specific keywords and other information which gives information about your qualifications and requirements. This is why it is important for you to customize your resume and cover letter to the job that you’re applying for. 

Then, if your application is approved by the ATS it will then be seen by an actual human who works for the company who will review it again and screen you. Background checks will likely be performed as well, where the information on your job application will be verified. In addition, your potential employers will also check out your online presence to see what they are able to find about you. 

Did you know that a staggering 70 percent of employers screen candidates on social media? They take a look at your LinkedIn profile, your Facebook, and even your Twitter account. If they find anything even slightly offensive, they likely won’t be contacting you for a job offer.

  1. The decision is not up to only one person. 

Although you will be sending in your application to one person, or you might be in contact with one person, many people will probably review it before they make the final decision to offer you a job interview. As other people view your application, some could love it, however others might feel as if it is missing some important requirements. 

A hiring manager won’t be able to let you know that one of their colleagues didn’t like your application, so it’s more likely that the potential employer will simply stop responding to your calls or emails. Or just let you know that unfortunately they won’t be moving forward with your application.

  1. There is not enough time. 

With so many candidates applying for a limited number of positions, hiring managers and recruiters can become overwhelmed easily and might not have enough time to respond to every applicant. On average, a single job opening will receive 118 applications, and only 20 percent will get an interview. 

In addition, the hiring process has become lengthier in recent years. Glassdoor reports that the average amount of time for hiring an employee is about 24 days because of various factors. So there is a slim chance you will get any notification someone even viewed your application because many recruiters simply won’t have the time. 

  1. You are simply not qualified. 

You might think of yourself pretty highly, and you should! However, that doesn’t mean a recruiter or hiring manager will after they read over your resume and application. For whatever reason, you might not be the perfect fit for the job opening. This could be because you are missing a certification, you don’t have the required years of experience or your cover letter had some grammatical errors, etc. 

  1. You didn’t submit your application correctly.

You always want to double-check that you are following the right processes when submitting your application to a potential employer. It might seem obvious, but it can be an easy mistake to commit. For example, maybe you sent your application and resume to an email, even though the job application states to submit it through the company’s application portal. 

This can be an easy detail to miss, especially when you are excited to apply. No worries, you can easily remedy the situation by reapplying the correct way, and maybe sending an apology to the hiring manager to explain what happened. 

Recruiters Can Use 1Huddle to Help

You can use 1Huddle to help bolster your recruitment efforts and shave time off of your employee onboarding process. You can even use 1Huddle to help screen and interview potential talent, all from a convenient online platform. 

Do you want to learn more about how 1Huddle can help you level up your own workforce? Request a demo today.

Sam Caucci, Founder & CEO at 1Huddle

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