Job openings still scarce!

Wes Bucey

Prophet of Profit
As many of you are no doubt aware, reporting of job statistics is really slow compared to many other available statistics from the U.S. government.

Here is an excerpt from an AP item appearing in many news outlets today
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of U.S. job postings didn't increase in May, a sign that hiring is unlikely to pick up this summer.

Employers advertised 3 million job openings, the Labor Department said. That was the same amount as in April and down from 3.1 million in March.

May's figure is higher than the 2.1 million job openings posted in July 2009, one month after the recession ended and the lowest total since the government began recording the data a decade ago. But it is also significantly below the 4.4 million openings recorded in December 2007, when the recession began.

Companies can take anywhere from 1 to 3 months to fill a job opening. And there's heavy competition for each opening.

Roughly 4.7 unemployed people, on average, were competing for each available job in May. That's up from 4.6 in April. In a healthy economy, the ratio is about 2 to 1.
So what does that mean for the average job hunter? Lots of competition for fewer jobs!

It also means that the successful job hunter has to set himself apart from the large pack of "average" job hunters. Many of the tips we have given in these threads will help an average candidate become "leader of the pack!"

If it's been a long while since you got a good vibe from an interview or especially if you haven't gotten any recent interviews, it's time to re-evaluate the methods you are using!

Candidates:
Thinking about a New Job for New Year?

Resume and cover letter - How good are yours?

The Job Hunt - Care and feeding of references

Tips to get past the "gatekeeper" when job hunting

Consulting – Is it in YOUR Career Future?

Contracting/Temping - Viable Alternates in Tough Times
 
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