If the number of people interested in a job increases while the number of jobs decreases, you get a ‘supplier market’. If you have jobs to give, it’s easier and faster to decide. Recent research by employment agency OfficeTeam also shows that we are in such a provider market. The Dutch HR manager needs less than five minutes to assess a CV. About the figures, the facts and of course how you prevent your CV from ending up in the ‘no pile’. If the number of people interested in a job increases while the number of jobs decreases, you get a ‘supplier market’. In other words, the person who has a job to do has so much to choose from that decisions are simplified and accelerated. This is also evident from a recent study by employment agency OfficeTeam, specialized in administrative employees. The agency conducted research among approximately 1,900 Human Resources Managers in seventeen countries. And the results don’t lie: in five minutes a CV of a prospective employee is viewed… and possibly also discarded.
Less than 5 minutes decision time
The research shows that Dutch HR managers decide very quickly whether a candidate is eligible for a job. More than one in six or 60% of HR managers spend less than five minutes looking at their CV. The Dutch therefore occupy an exceptional position. There is no other European country where it is determined so quickly whether a candidate can advance to the next round or disappear from the picture. In other countries in the study you see a slightly less ‘harsh’ picture. Take Belgium, where more than four in ten or 42% of managers make the decision in less than five minutes. And in contrast to the UK’s tough job market image, only just one in three (29%) of managers can complete a CV in five minutes. The most lenient is the German manager, because only one in two (22%) of the managers there quickly decide whether a CV deserves further attention.
About the Workplace Survey
The Workplace Survey developed by OfficeTeam is conducted four times a year in nineteen countries. In Europe these are the countries Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom. The research was conducted by an independent market research agency among 1,900 Human Resource managers.
,Use the first three lines,
Stephan Renken, Director of Robert Half, the organization to which OfficeTeam falls, provides an explanation and a valuable tip: The wheat is therefore separated from the chaff more quickly. In the current labor market and with the increased workload of HR managers, they can spend even less time reading a CV. The CV must give the right impression. We therefore emphasize that our candidates list their most important qualities in a maximum of 3 lines at the beginning of the CV.
How do you create the ideal resume?
Golden tips from labor market expert Robert Half
- Clichés such as ‘smooth communicator’ are no longer acceptable. Is this really your great quality? Then demonstrate this through your performance in previous positions.
- Knowledge and skills are best described in the present tense. This also applies to skills that you no longer use in your current position. Using past tense makes people assume that you no longer have those qualities…
- Limit yourself to two pages of information. List your work experience in reverse order, from then to now. It is good not only to mention the tasks you performed, but also to mention the concrete results and the skills you used for this.
- Don’t forget to mention all the important points in relation to the vacancy you are applying for. An open door, but this is often forgotten!
- Make work experience and results clear. Mentioning your responsibilities is useful, but what speaks is the added value you have added to a project.
- Assets in knowledge or functioning must be crystal clear the first time you read them. A layout that is not only stylish but also clear helps.
- Business trump: forget the creative fonts or other graphic elements.
- [email protected] is an email address that does not help to get a response to a job application. Pay attention to such details.
- When you send your resume by email, it is important to use a format that is common and to avoid heavy files.
- Especially in these difficult times, you can distinguish yourself with extra-curricular activities – provided they are related to the position.
- Read your own CV critically. Are there any ambiguities? Be prepared for difficult questions during the conversation. Especially if there is a gap in your CV, you can expect such difficult questions. Prepare yourself, and above all: don’t lie.
About OfficeTeam
OfficeTeam is a specialized division of the American group Robert Half. The company is the market leader in temporary employment and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Since its founding, OfficeTeam has specialized in placing qualified temporary administrative, secretarial and commercial support staff. With more than 325 offices in North America, Europe and Australia, OfficeTeam has an extensive international network. In the Netherlands, OfficeTeam is located in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht. www.officeteam-interim.nl