The job market recovery will take time, but corporate hiring managers and career coaches say there are ways to get ahead in the current labor market, from combating bias in the interview process to better handling salary negotiations.
During The Wall Street Journal’s Jobs Summit Thursday, economists and career strategists gave thousands of job seekers plenty of practical advice. Here are key takeaways:
About 10 million fewer jobs exist in the U.S. today than before the pandemic, and it’s “not at all likely” the economy will reach full employment this year, according to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. The central bank will maintain ultralow interest rates until its employment and inflation goals have been met, he said, adding it will take time. Many people still out of work are in service-industry positions, and their rebound depends on post-pandemic economic activity.
2. Ageism Can Be Confronted, Mitigated
Many job seekers fear their years of experience can be viewed as a liability instead of an asset, but there are ways to address ageism, said Kim Scott, a workplace consultant and author of “Just Work.”
Applicants can remove college graduation dates on resumes, for example, or omit experience that may no longer be relevant. They can also reframe how they talk about their past roles. In an interview for a job in which she would have been the oldest employee, Ms. Scott recounted an experience in which she told hiring managers how much she learned from the employees who worked for her.
“Often, a young organization is afraid you’re going to come in and tell them how to do things, and so you want to offer some reassurances,” she said.
3. Your Resume Needs a Refresh
Resumes larded with corporate jargon or flowery language may not stand out, human-resources executives said. Instead, they noted that prized resumes are concise, written in an easy-to-follow format that showcases the results that someone achieved in a role.
Length matters, too. “Don’t make it 10 pages,” said Paige Ross, global head of human resources at Blackstone Group Inc., adding that one to two pages is sufficient.
Many companies use algorithms and advanced systems to parse resumes before they reach recruiters, so including some relevant language from the job description can be helpful, said Scott Bonneau, vice president of global talent attraction at job-search site Indeed. But using colorful formatting, head shots or that bitmoji of yourself at the top? That depends on the job and company—proceed carefully, he said.
4. Time Your Exit
Some professionals frustrated with corporate jobs, or looking to launch their own big idea, may want to start a business, a prospect that can be daunting even in a strong economy.
Entrepreneurs should aim to go into a new venture with at least six months of savings before they quit their jobs, giving them a cash safety net, said Olamide Olowe, chief executive and co-founder of the skin-care line Topicals.
“There’s never a right time,” she said. “You’ll know, one, in your gut.”
5. Deftly Handle Salary Negotiations
It’s a dreaded interview question: “What’s your salary range?”
One tactic is to throw the question back on the company, Blackstone’s Ms. Ross said, and ask the interviewer for the compensation range of the role. “From there, you can use that to negotiate, so that way you’re not stabbing in the dark,” she said.
6. File for Unemployment
For those still out of work, unemployment benefits can offer help—but some people are failing to even apply, said Rebecca Dixon, executive director of the National Employment Law Project.
Workers of color, in particular, may not apply for unemployment insurance because they fear they will not get it, she said. Another divide exists among those lacking in digital skills, unable or unwilling to navigate sometimes cumbersome state government systems.
“It’s not necessarily easy to navigate these online applications,” she said. “Be persistent. Don’t give up.”
Write to Chip Cutter at [email protected]
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