The job outlook blooms slightly this April with the employment rate dipping below 7.5 percent and the economy adding 165,000 new positions. It is time to remain cautiously optimistic this progress will continue. Historically staffing slows during the vacation months of summer due to conflicting schedules and unavailable interview participants. Additionally, nearly 40 percent of firms have job requisitions and/or postings for positions that have remained open since last year. Employers are having difficulty filling multiple positions leading to an overworked staff. It is time to buckle down over the next 6-8 weeks to accomplish 2013 staffing levels.
Other positive news is that candidates are more enthusiastic and interested in seeking out new opportunities today than they were a few years ago. Yet employers are frustrated when they cannot find the right talent. There must then be a disconnect with the job opening and the candidates who are lining up to meet the employer. Candidates are frustrated because they are being dismissed for only narrowly missing the criteria for the job. Employers are also spending more time on the hiring process. Reducing the time to fill a job and being more flexible on the job requirements will increase the company’s success filling open positions.