MELVILLE, N.Y., May 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sixty-six
percent of hiring managers believe that new college graduates are
unprepared for the workplace that awaits them, according to a
recent survey of hiring managers from Adecco Staffing US, the
nation's leading provider of recruitment and workforce solutions.
The survey found that, in fact, 58 percent of hiring managers are
not planning to hire new grads and of those who are, 69 percent
only plan to hire one or two.
When it comes to finding a job in this competitive job market, a
flawless resume is critical. More than half (54 percent) of hiring
managers don't even offer interviews to job candidates with weak
resumes. What often gets a candidate in the door is attention to
detail. Hiring managers are most likely to cite spelling
errors (43 percent) as the most common misstep that causes them to
disqualify a candidate from consideration. Spelling errors
were considered a more unacceptable offense than any other gaffe
including time gaps on a resume (5 percent).
To rise to the top of the resume pile, young adults must focus
on being personable and engaged during the interview process.
One-third (34 percent) of hiring managers said young adults'
inability to directly and clearly answer questions and articulate
their skills and experience during the interview are main factors
for them not getting the job. Other slip-ups include: lack of eye
contact (33 percent), checking phone/texting (30 percent),
fidgeting (26 percent), and bad posture (22 percent). Some hiring
managers (12 percent) also consider discussing the interview on
social networks a mistake. Survey respondents also advise job
candidates to be engaged, actively asking and answering questions,
and authentic (33 percent and 29 percent respectively).
"The message from America's hiring managers on what makes a
winning candidate is loud and clear," said Joyce Russell, president of Adecco Staffing US.
"Beyond the tactical advice, the soft skills like confidence, a
respectful demeanor and showing a genuine interest in the job are
equally important for new grads to separate themselves from the
competition during an interview."
Other survey findings include:
Objectives are NOT a thing of the past. Perhaps
surprisingly, objectives and goal statements on resumes still prove
relevant, as 39 percent of respondents say those two things, in
addition to work experience and internships, can get you an
interview.
Put your best (and best dressed) foot forward. Half
(50 percent) of the hiring managers surveyed said one of the
biggest interview mistakes young adults make is dressing
inappropriately, while 44 percent said showing up late or on the
wrong date was the biggest flub.
Be reasonable. Of the respondents, 36 percent said they
have seen candidates with an aggressive approach when it comes to
personal job expectations, including time off, salary vacation
days, and benefits, which can be detrimental for their chance of
getting the job.
A little experience goes a long way. Most hiring managers
(84 percent) say they only look for one or two internships.
For job candidates without experience, many (47 percent) hiring
managers suggest being flexible and starting out in a different
area of the company.
Concentrate on the basics. As far as qualifications go,
previous paid work experience (36 percent) and level of education
(28 percent) are two of the most important factors for hiring
managers when considering a job candidate. Interestingly enough,
GPA and the prestige of the college/university that the applicants
attended are considered among the least important qualifications
for a job.
"Today's college graduates are entering a highly competitive job
market, so honing their skills to develop a standout resume and ace
an interview are extremely critical," said Russell. "For many new
grads, the job search itself can become full time work, but in the
end, those who take the time and use all of the resources at their
disposal to prepare will be best positioned to land a job."
Methodology
This telephone survey was conducted by Braun Research on behalf
of Adecco among a sample of 500 hiring managers. The survey was
fielded March 4 - 8, 2013. Results
have a margin of error of +/- 4.4% at the 95% confidence level.
About Adecco Staffing US
Adecco Staffing US is the
nation's leading provider of recruitment and workforce solutions.
It is the pre-eminent workforce management partner for Fortune 500
companies and career advisement expert for American workers,
serving all of the key industries and professions that drive the US
economy forward. Adecco has more than 900 career centers and, on
any given day, connects 70,000 talented workers to the best job
opportunities across the country, making them one of America's
largest employers. Visit adeccousa.com for more information.
About the Adecco Group:
The Adecco Group, based in Zurich,
Switzerland, is the world's leading provider of HR
solutions. With more than 29,000 FTE employees and more than 5,800
offices, in more than 60 countries and territories around the
world, Adecco Group offers a wide variety of services, connecting
more than 500,000 colleagues with more than 100,000 clients every
day. The services offered fall into the broad categories of
temporary staffing, permanent placement, outsourcing, consulting,
and outplacement. The Adecco Group is a Fortune Global 500
company.
Adecco S.A. is registered in Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and is listed
on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN).
About Adecco Group North America:
Every day we provide our clients with the talent they need, and
help solve the business challenges they face today – and will
encounter tomorrow. Our clients rely on us for a wide range of
workforce solutions including:
- Contingent staffing and direct hire recruitment for large
enterprise organizations across all skill sets
- Workforce solutions and consulting including Managed Services
Programs (MSP) & Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)
- Career transition and leadership consulting
- Specialty staffing, project solutions and consulting
services
Additional information is available through our websites at
www.adeccogroupna.com and www.adeccousa.com.
SOURCE Adecco Group North America