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Bonnie Johnson
October 30, 2018
Newsletter ArticleNo longer do we have to wait for the Sunday newspaper’s help wanted page. With the surge in online options, candidates can search, apply and network 24/7! This “anytime, anywhere” scenario has led to a sense of urgency, but also convenience for applicants and employers.
Recruitment online has become the standard for agribusiness hiring and the primary method ag job seekers find out and apply for new opportunities. AgCareers.com recently asked candidates how they find out about new job opportunities in the Candidate Experience Survey. Illustrating the power of the internet, the top four sources were all online; topping the list were general online searches, followed by niche job boards (e.g. AgCareers.com), company websites, and national job boards.
SEARCH ACTIVITY
Your fellow ag candidates are becoming more active in their job search. More than 60% of those surveyed searched for jobs weekly or daily. Unemployed respondents were significantly more likely to search daily. However, even if employees are satisfied at work with no intention of leaving their job, they are still exploring other opportunities available. Online recruitment has made the job search process easy and accessible to everyone, whether they are actively or passively searching. Apps and web-based tools, such as the AgCareers.com Job Email Alerts, also help you sort through the maze of options, directly sending you job postings that meet your search criteria.
EVALUATING THE JOB POSTING
Job seekers told us that job responsibilities were the most important details to be included in a job posting. Location and compensation are becoming increasingly significant for candidates. After the job description, respondents said the next most vital information included in a job posting was the location. Salary/benefit information was important to nearly one-third of respondents. How will candidates see this in online job postings? It has been more and more popular to list the location in the job title, such as “Electrician – Clinton, North Carolina.” Likewise, AgCareers.com job posting history has demonstrated that job postings with a blank salary field don’t perform as well as those with something in the salary field, so look for either an actual number, salary range, or simply “competitive” or “DOE (Depends on Experience).” After all, neither you nor the employer want to waste time applying and interviewing if you aren’t a good fit.
You can make sure your application was processed by logging into your AgCareers.com job seeker account and checking your application history. This automation and technology can make today’s online application process seem impersonal. Employers may use an applicant tracking system to scan your resume to determine your job fit. You may receive an automated message about the status of your application materials. Employers could even use an online scheduling tool to set up your interview. Networking, relationship-building, and using social media to enhance search efforts can be impactful. Look for creative ways to follow-up and express yourself when you make it to the in-person interview.
Discover more in the AgCareers.com Career Cultivation Interviewing blogs.
