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Human Resources
More Job Seekers Recognize Value of Researching Potential Employers, Survey Shows
TORONTO - Prepping for the job interview is much more common today than a decade ago, a new survey shows. Seventy-nine per cent of executives polled said candidates they meet with display at least some knowledge of the company or its industry, up from 59 per cent in a 1997 survey on the topic. Despite this trend, would-be employees still may be missing an opportunity to demonstrate that they've done their homework in their resume cover letters: Only 44 per cent of those polled said it's common for applicants to use their cover letter to show they've researched the job, up slightly from 37 per cent in the previous survey.
The poll included responses from 150 senior executives from human
resources, finance and marketing departments. It was conducted by an
independent research firm and developed by Accountemps, the world's first and
largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and
bookkeeping professionals.
Executives were asked, "How frequently do job candidates demonstrate
knowledge of your company or industry during interviews?" Their responses:
2008 1997
------ ------
Very frequently..................... 34% 15%
Somewhat frequently................. 45% 44%
Somewhat infrequently............... 14% 29%
Very infrequently................... 2% 9%
Don't know.......................... 5% 3%
------ ------
100% 100%
Executives were asked, "How frequently do job candidates demonstrate
knowledge of your company or industry in their cover letters?" Their
responses:
2008 1997
------ ------
Very frequently..................... 7% 10%
Somewhat frequently................. 37% 27%
Somewhat infrequently............... 39% 30%
Very infrequently................... 13% 30%
Don't know.......................... 4% 3%
------ ------
100% 100%
"By learning as much as they can about a company before interviewing,
prospective employees demonstrate resourcefulness and a sincere interest in
the job," said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Job Hunting
For Dummies(R), 2nd Edition (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). "Job seekers who
uncover beyond-the-basics knowledge of a firm by using the Internet and
corporate websites are better able to identify specific ways they can
contribute to the organization's success."
Interviews are not the only stage in the job search process in which
company and industry knowledge provide an advantage, Messmer added. "The cover
letter and resume are typically what prompt a hiring manager to extend an
interview invitation. Applicants who fail to present a compelling case in
writing may not get an opportunity to shine in a face-to-face meeting."
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