IT recruitment agency Nicoll Curtin has conducted a study into the current perceptions, expectations and experiences of hiring managers and jobseekers, with some surprising results.
Around 70 per cent of those involved in the study had never worked with Nicoll Curtin, which allowed the results to represent the general industry.
One of the most shocking results was that only 17 per cent of jobseekers tailor their CV to a role they are applying for, despite the fact that 68 per cent of them admitted to knowing that not doing so could affect their chances of being offered employment.
From a hiring manager’s point of view, the study showed that 62 per cent thought that better communication skills would help jobseekers, as a poor understanding of communication was considered a common reason for not hiring candidates.
As well as this, hiring managers rated the importance of a candidate having the proper technical skills and knowledge at 36 per cent, whereas jobseekers put it at just 22 per cent. Similarly, jobseekers believed that having a history of similar job roles was worth 62 per cent, but managers only considered it at 55 per cent, meaning it is less important than many think.
Many jobseekers worry that having gaps on their CV will affect their employability, but the managers surveyed said they believed it did not factor into their decisions and so rated it at an astonishing 0 per cent.
Having industry knowledge is a must though, as hiring managers revealed when marking it at 85 per cent importance. However, only 18 per cent was given to the expectation that candidates have an understanding of the company’s financial performance.
When it came to recruitment consultants, jobseekers said they were good at providing information on the job at hand, giving 76 per cent, but that consultants did not give enough coaching for interviews, with just 2 per cent awarded.
The Managing Director of Nicoll Curtin, Lawrence Hargreaves, said: “The research demonstrates that candidates are falling short of getting a job on simple things such as poor communication or failing to recognise the importance of technical skills and qualifications.
“The best advice is to build a relationship with a good recruitment agency that can highlight the relevant aspects of your CV for the role, prepare you thoroughly and coach you for your interview to communicate effectively.â€
Mr Hargreaves also pointed out that, when applying for a job, candidates need to be properly qualified, find a suitable recruitment agency, make their CV as succinct and attention-grabbing as possible and consult with the agency as much as possible to ensure their consultant keeps on top of things.
