Our pick of the week:
Basically, not only is it crucial that you know how to do all the job entails, but that you can do it while working well with others, managing your time properly, and being an open and reliable communicator. So, what kinds of soft skills matter the most? We asked nine hiring managers to weigh in on the most important traits they look for in candidates. Here’s what they said (Yound Entrepreneur Council, 2017).

In the working world, there are many perceptions that are held so tightly that they often take years, even decades, to break. One of those is the perceived notion that passive candidates are superior to active candidates. Active candidates are desperate, and there must be some deep-rooted reason why they’re unemployed. If they had the skills and drive to be successfully employed, they already would be. If they were willing to work hard, they would have channeled that passion into their job search. Passive candidates are comfortably employed because they deserve to be (John Feldmann, 2017).

As technology evolves, artificial intelligence is quickly becoming mainstream in the recruiting world. Whether it’s sorting through high volumes of resumes, analyzing facial expressions in a video interview, or scanning social media profiles, AI is quickly becoming more of an industry standard. Artificial intelligence is simply cutting down time-consuming work, especially repetitive high-volume tasks that can take up hours of a recruiter’s time (Noel Webb, 2017).

There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding the hiring process straight out of college. Much of the misinformation is rooted in the fact that every employer and recruiting firm operates differently. But with that being said, there are some common threads when it comes to an attractive resume (Larry Alton, 2017).

Soft skills are becoming increasingly vital to employers when differentiating between candidates with similar experience and education. Be it team spirit, communication skills or being a quick-thinker, expressing and demonstrating the right soft skills can make hopeful applicants stand out from the crowd (The Undervocer Recruiter, 2017).

So you’re in your very last semester of college. This is the time to launch into career mode with a few career prep secrets! To help you do just that, and make the most out of your last semester in college, we asked members of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) this question: What is one thing every senior should do in his or her final semester in college? Take a look. Then put their advice to work (Young Entrepreneur Council, 2017).

Sometimes personality is all it takes to make a lasting impression. According to Westlake, “Plenty of less qualified candidates win over a hiring manager by simply being engaging and interesting to talk to.” That’s why certain moments that feel like a given, like small talk at the beginning of an interview or those final questions at the end, can mean everything (Liu, 2016).
It could be any one of a number of reasons why you didn’t get the job and it can be hard to figure out what cost you the chance to get hired. You can ask a recruiter why you weren’t chosen and occasionally receive some meaningful feedback. However, in almost all cases, interviewers will either not respond to requests for feedback or will offer a rationale like “Though you were a strong candidate, we found someone who was more qualified.” (Doyle, 2016).

This definitive list is carefully curated for accurate, contemporary information and guidance from job search experts. I’ve compiled these resources based on several criteria: First, I regularly reference these sites myself to share quality content on social media. Two, in my opinion, the author(s)/publisher show an understanding of modern job search trends and methodologies. And third, these sites consistently provide answers to popular job search questions. Technically there are even more than 43 sites listed! (Morgan, 2016).