I am preparing a virtual Bootcamp to help job seekers turn their job search around with the help of a coach leader and a peer group.
To make the Bootcamp super useful, I wanted to have the needs of people in the Mister Cover Letter community while I tailor the content.
I surveyed over 400 people and asked them “What’s your #1 biggest challenge when it comes to looking or getting your new job?” together with some questions about how they find different aspects of the job search process.
I asked data scientist Juan Candiani to help me analyse the survey responses and find patterns and insights to consider in order to help different people in my community better.
In total, 57/400 (14,25%) people responded. The answers to this survey where very helpful and revealing. Here’s what I learned from the people that answered.
Roughly, what’s your overall feeling in each step of a job hunt?
1) Research and find out about job opportunities
It seems clear by this graph that those with a full-time job find it very easy to map out the market and find job opportunities suitable for their goals, whereas those that are unemployed find it very challenging.
2) Write or update your resume
Those without a job, surprisingly find it very easy to create and update their resume, and it’s relatively more difficult for those who have a job. Is it because maybe they are out of shape?
3) Write your cover letter
Something similar happens when it comes to writing a cover letter.
4) Write or update your LinkedIn profile
Writing or updating a LinkedIn profile is very easy for those having a full-time job and very challenging for those having a part-time job. Is there any type of pressure on the latter? For those who are unemployed, it seems to be 50/50.
5) Apply for suitable jobs
Applying is very easy for those who are unemployed. (But talking from my experience quantity not necessarily correspond to quality nor conversion in interviews or job offers. I see this all the time in people I help).
6) Prepare and practice for job interviews
Funny one. Preparing for the interview is both easy and very challenging for those having a full time job. 😛 Those unemployed find it difficult.
7) Attend and perform well in a job interview
It seems that those having a part time job find it really easy to perform well in an interview. I wonder what’s the scene behind that…?
8) Get a concrete job offer
Getting a concrete job offer seems to be easier for those having a full time job already and more challenging for others.
Direct correlation
According to the survey results, it shows that there’s a direct correlation between:
- Preparing well for an interview and performing well at it
- Writing a resume and cover letter
- Performing well in an interview and getting a job offer
Main challenges per group
Last but not least, here the most important outcomes of this experiment.
- Those having a part-time job find it challenging to write a resume, a cover letter and applying for jobs.
- Those having a full-time job find it challenging to write a LinkedIn profile, a cover letter, and a resume.
- Those who are unemployed find it challenging to prepare for an interview, map out the job market landscape of opportunities, and get a job offer.
Thanks to everyone that took the time to fill in this survey and get the discount.
I’ll be running this survey and analysing this data on a quarterly basis.
Do you want to contribute giving your input on your specific situation? Please fill in the survey here. It will help me help you better.
