5 Considerations to Improve Your Job Search

While the demand for skilled talent remains strong, professionals need to be increasingly strategic and intentional when making career moves. "As the job market evolves, companies are taking a more measured approach to hiring, and workers should prepare to put in greater effort to show their value to potential employers," said Paul McDonald, senior executive director of talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half. "Finding the right role starts with understanding your needs and what companies are looking for in new hires."

A Robert Half survey of more than 2,300 senior managers in the U.S. reveals five key considerations for those launching a job search. View a video of the research highlights.

1. Resume red flags — When evaluating candidates' resumes, top factors that give employers pause include:
   • Frequent job hopping (77%)
   • Vague descriptions of past jobs (76%)
   • Insufficient skills for the position (74%)
2. Referrals — Nearly 9 in 10 managers (87%) are more likely to hire a candidate with a referral from a current employee. 
3. Range of knowledge — Two-thirds of team leaders (67%) prefer hiring specialists with deep subject matter expertise in a particular field of study over generalists with varied skills and knowledge across multiple areas. 
4. Remote compensation — Companies hiring workers who live outside their location are setting pay by:
   • Employee location: 46%
   • Company location: 33%
   • Candidate's experience (location is irrelevant): 21%
5. Returnships — Nearly 7 in 10 managers (69%) have rehired a former employee who left the company on good terms. The biggest benefits of boomerang employees are that they:
   • Bring in-demand skills, knowledge and experience (29%)
   • Have proven job performance and skill sets (22%)
   • Can quickly assimilate and begin contributing (20%)

McDonald added, "We're seeing some employers be a bit more discerning about who they hire compared to a year ago. They want to avoid hiring mistakes and invest in people who want to build their career with the company and can contribute immediately."