According to the USAToday’s take on the 2015 job outlook, hiring trends are certain to put a spring in your step even if it doesn’t quite feel like spring outside! When you drill down, however, there is good news and some that is less so.
The Good: Jobs ⇑⇑⇑
☑ Hiring improved dramatically in 2014, and economists expect the trajectory to continue in 2015.
☑ 36% of employers plan to increase their full-time staff in 2015 — up from 24% last year and the most since 2006, according to a recent CareerBuilder survey.
The Bad: Pay⇓⇓⇓
☑ Stagnant pay. Economists disagree on the degree to which wage growth, stuck at 2% for most of the recovery, will increase. Most concur that any increase if at all will be nominal.
What this Means for Job Seekers: ⇔⇔ ⇔
☑ More jobs to be had but steep competition for those roles commanding top pay.
3 Ways to Maximize Your Earning Potential:
#1 Write for Online Readers
In the last two years online resume reading has become the norm, and small screen, online reading is on the rise. Your resume must look good in print but also be easy to read on a screen of any size. Do this by:
☑ Keeping bullets to about two lines on a standard laptop screen
☑ Selecting sans-serif fonts (i.e. Arial, Tahoma, Calibri)
☑ Keeping at least .5 pts between each bullet.
TIP: Read your resume on your handheld – see if you can read the salient points in less than 10 seconds.
#2 Remember that Numbers Speak Louder than Words
Numbers are more compelling than words when it comes to resume reading. Wherever you can quantify an achievement, do so. Having trouble translating successes into quantifiable achievements?
Ask yourself:
☑ Did I save money?
☑ Did I save time?
☑ Did I contribute to the company’s bottom line?
☑ Are people happier because of me and by how much?
TIP: My earlier post 5 Questions to Make Your Resume like a Brochure and Not a Blueprint offers more help on this front.
#3 Results v. Responsibilities
Ask yourself when/if you walk(ed) out the door what you are/were proudest of…and lead off with it when describing each role.
Skim readers often never make it past the first bullet when reading about a role – make sure your response to a proud moment is the first thing they see.
TIP: Read just the first bullet under each job description on your resume to confirm it showcases achievements only you could have achieved.
Your Best Shot at Top Pay
According to the above-referenced USAToday article, Goldman Sachs Chief Economist Jan Hatzius says wages will rise only slowly as discouraged workers who stopped looking for jobs stream back into an improving labor market.
Let’s hope this happens sooner rather than later but until then put your best foot forward to maximize your shot at top pay!