Job seekers get smart

Generation Y is employing a new weapon on the job hunt front, a recent survey suggests.

job-seekers-get-smart

The Robert Walters Employee Insights Survey shows 73 percent of Kiwi Gen Yers use smartphones when job hunting, while only 50 percent of Baby Boomers do likewise.

James Dalrymple, from recruitment consultancy, Robert Walters, says job seekers are embracing new technology.

“More and more job seekers are using smartphones at the start of the search and for researching companies. Employers should take note of this and make sure their sites have been optimised for mobile viewing.”

Kiwis were questioned about technology use in the job search process, including browsing job boards, looking at employer sites, interview preparations and displaying portfolios.

When it came to actually submitting job applications, six percent of Gen Y respondents (those born 1980-1994) used smartphones, compared to one percent of Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964), with laptops favoured for this purpose by both groups.

The survey also concludes Gen Yers spend an average of  one to two years in any given role, while the majority of Baby Boomers and Gen Xers (born 1965-1979) are more likely to set down roots with three to four years service the benchmark.

“While the differences in average tenure could be due to Gen Y not being in the workforce as long, the results also point to a trend for young professionals to leave New Zealand and gain experience overseas,” says James.

“International experience is looked upon favourably by local employers, but on the other hand, the trend to gain experience in larger international markets is creating a shortage in the local market at the three to four year experience level.”