If you could paint a picture of the job seeker journey, what would it look like? Which destination points mark the map? What ‘travel advice’, tips, tricks and tools do job seekers rely on throughout their journey toward finding the ideal job? Using insights gained from Bayt.com’s Poll: Job Seeker Journey in the Middle East and North Africa, we can visualize the process, the mile-markers and the tools job seekers use the most as they strive toward their future goals. We have compiled a list of six enlightening observations we gained from the results of the poll.
1. Job sites come out on top
A staggering majority (95.5%) of respondents claimed they use online job sites to find and apply for jobs. Almost all of those surveyed (81.1%) also said that job sites are an easy, user-friendly way to apply for job. In a digital age, the technological ease of using the internet to find and apply for jobs without having to leave your desk is a comfort to many. Gone are the days where you have to physically hand in your CV and not know whether or not it reached the hiring manager’s desk. With job sites, you can apply, track your application status, search for related jobs, and even get automatic job alerts all in one place.
Respondents clearly agree on the benefits of online job sites with nearly two thirds of them saying online job sites are useful because “they group all available jobs into one easy-to-access place”. On top of that, more than one in five also vouched for the usefulness of job sites due to the fact they can help them improve their CV and professional profile and receive job alerts. In addition to the user-friendly comfort of online job sites, more than three in four job seekers said they find the search tricks, tips and information provided on online job sites as ‘very’ useful.
2. Smile for the camera!
When it comes to building CVs, more than four in five respondents claimed that they have a picture on their CV. Whether or not you feel having a picture on your CV helps, it certainly can’t hurt when the majority of job seekers feel that it’s necessary. Further to that, five in eight respondents added that they “always” send a cover letter with their application. With those odds, it becomes even more critical to get in the habit of sending a cover letter yourself. Cover letters are known to give an edge and provide applicants with an opportunity to market themselves directly to the employer.
3. Search savvy
How often do you think the majority of people search for jobs online? 2-3 times a week? More…? Less? Well, it turns out that an overwhelming majority of seven in ten respondents look for jobs on a daily basis. If you’re looking for a job, it’s important to dedicate some time daily to look and apply for jobs. On Bayt.com, there are over 10,000 available jobs on any given day, so it’s important to check regularly for any new and exciting opportunities.
4. Don’t wait for “the one”
When you apply for a really great job, it’s easy to let everything else fall to the side and wait to see what happens with that application. There are two problems with this. The first is that you lose the momentum you’ve built in applying for jobs. The other is that you really shouldn’t be putting all your eggs in one basket. If it doesn’t work out with that one position, you need to have a backup plan or two to cushion your fall. Over half of the respondents seem to fall into this trap, waiting up to one week before applying for a different job, whereas only 23.5% say they don’t wait at all. Our advice? Where there’s one exciting job opportunity, there’s always another. Make sure you actively search and apply for more than or two jobs so that you don’t lose out betting on the wrong horse.
5. Do your homework
It goes without saying that you should never go to an interview unprepared. More than four in five respondents said that they “always” research the company before heading into an interview. If you fall into the percentage of people who ‘sometimes’ or ‘never’ do, you might want to rethink your strategy. Employers are more likely to hire someone who demonstrates good knowledge of their organization, its products, goals, achievements and vision than someone who does not.
6. Technological tendencies
When it came to the type of device that job seekers like to use the most when searching for a job, 81.6% of respondents said they prefer using a desktop or a laptop computer. Having said that, more than six in ten respondents added that they believe having a job search mobile application is useful because they can “search and apply for jobs on the go”. Job mobile search applications not only give you on-the-go access to jobs, but they also provide users with 24/7 access to their application status, job alerts and are easier and more efficient to use than a browser.
If you found yourself relating to one or more of the most popular steps and tools job seekers are taking on their journey, then you’re on the right track by popular vote. And if not, we hope that the results enlightened you and provided you with fresh new ideas on how to tackle your job hunt.
Looking for a job? Apply now to one or more of the 10,000+ jobs available on Bayt.com. We wish you all the best luck on your job seeker journey.
