The Disadvantages of Relying on Technology During Your Job Search was originally published on Ivy Exec.
Virtual innovations have undoubtedly simplified job searching and networking and offered workers more opportunities to work virtually.
However, only some developments that have impacted job search norms and expectations have been positive. Some developments mean that certain roles are more complex than ever to land, while others can offer false hope or misleading opportunities.
Here, we’ll talk about how technology has negatively impacted job search.
The more you know about some of the pitfalls for modern job seekers, the less likely you are to get discouraged.
Remote work lets you apply for jobs that you’re uniquely qualified for – but the competition is fierce.
More companies shifted to remote work during the pandemic, but even more job seekers are looking for remote or hybrid opportunities. What’s clear is that workers want remote opportunities – Payscale says that 43 percent of workers want to see an increase in remote opportunities; this number is even higher in sectors like tech, marketing, and advertising.
But employers are not keeping pace with this demand for remote work. While 52 percent of job applications come from those seeking remote opportunities, only about 20 percent of job listings are for virtual opportunities.
These figures indicate that these positions are highly competitive, with companies offering virtual work being able to be extremely picky. These numbers also suggest that some positions may receive applicants who want to work solely from home, some who want hybrid work, and some who may be available for the occasional in-person meeting.
So, companies can choose candidates with the modality they prefer, even if they list a number of “options” candidates can choose from. What’s more, organizations based in areas with desirable pay premiums often discover their remote job opportunities glutted with applicants from around the country and the world.
“Although there are still labor shortages even in professional roles due to the Great Resignation, there is stiff competition among job seekers looking for remote job opportunities,” says Career Coach Lori Bumgarner.
To help job candidates stand out from the crowd, Lori suggests the following strategies:
- Network both in-person and virtually to make new contacts and reinforce your connections.
- Demonstrate that you understand how to work remotely and manage yourself; these skills are important to hiring managers seeking workers who understand what remote work entails.
- Ask questions about problems the person hired for the role would be expected to solve before the interview. Then, you can come prepared with answers to those questions.
“Friction” exists between the job posting and the candidate’s skills.
Searching for jobs online can get candidates into different positions more quickly. If they’re unhappy in a role, it takes less time and effort than before online applications became commonplace. At the same time, employees feel less tied to organizations where they may be unhappy for one reason or another.
However, it is also easier and cheaper for companies to post vacancies online than it used to be. This simplicity can inadvertently create “friction,” making it harder for job seekers to find best-fit positions.
One problem, for instance, is phantom vacancies, or jobs that are advertised online even after the position has been filled.
“This new development makes it difficult for workers to know which listing is a true vacancy and which is a phantom, turning job searching into a less efficient process,” said the Washington Center for Equitable Growth.
Online applications can screen out viable candidates – or miss them from the start.
Since the early 2000s, many companies have started reporting a large, unwieldy number of candidates for their open positions. So, these companies began implementing screening technologies, like applicant tracking systems (ATS), that removed candidates from the pool before hiring managers even had the chance to review them.
These tools automatically match keywords on resumes and job postings, sometimes even requiring that candidates match them exactly. This means that candidates who didn’t know how to play the “game” often fare better on job applications.
Moreover, those who can access often paid resources that help them “game” the ATS are certainly more likely to land jobs. In turn, the ability to find and use job search materials often is limited to those from certain socioeconomic brackets.
“If online job searches led to more valuable employee-employer matches, then the disparities in internet use and access along the lines of race, income, and formal educational attainment could create further disadvantages for already-marginalized U.S. workers and households,” the Washington Center for Equitable Growth added.
Ways Technology Has Negatively Impacted the Job Search
Technology has been a boon to the job search process for many job seekers.
However, these innovations have negatively impacted job search, as well. For instance, only some workers can “game” online systems, and competition for the most desirable positions – remote jobs – is stiffer than ever.
So, while job search technology can make workers feel like getting a new job is easy, they should also be wary of its “simple” allure. Factors like international competition for roles, ATS, and “phantom” postings mean that finding a job may take longer than workers think it will.
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