Survey Results – Best Places to Work in NJ referred to in Job Search Strategies III
Survey of New Jersey’s Best Employers
In the late spring of 2006 New Jersey’s business magazine, NJ Biz, issued a special report on the best places to work. The 64 page report profiled the best places and highlighted the reasons why their employees had chosen them.
The names and contact information for the CEOs of these companies were included in the report. So, it occurred to me that, perhaps, these men and women would have an insight into the hiring process they used that resulted in high employee satisfaction. They did, somewhat. But, there were some other truly interesting results that are worth exploring.
The survey questions follow. Then an explanation of the results.
1. Does your company advertise to fill openings? yes ____ no ______
2. If yes, what medium or media do you use:
Local newspapers? yes ______ no ______
Regional newspapers? yes ______ no ______
National newspapers? yes ______ no ______
Radio? yes ______ no ______
On-line (Monster, etc.)? yes ______ no ______
Trade journals/newsletters? yes ______ no ______
Other? ___________________________________________________
3. Have you calculated the cost of making a hire? yes ______ no ______
Is that cost equal to or greater than one months pay? yes ______ no ______
4. Do you hire individuals who approach you unsolicited? yes ______ no ______
5. If someone were to do research on your organization and
discover hidden profit opportunities for you would you a. ignore them?
b. listen to them?
c. hire them?
6. If someone were to do research on your field and find ways
to solve problems that are annoying, recurrent, or
insoluble, would you give them a chance to solve them? yes ______ no ______
7. Have you hired anyone who has approached you in ways
other than the traditional résumé submission route? yes ______ no ______
If yes, why? a. we are always looking for people who take initiative
circle b. we hire individuals who come highly recommended
all c. we recognize that a résumé is not the best indicator of job performance
that d. we hire individuals who are problem solvers
apply e. we hire people who are opportunity spotters
f. Other ____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
If no, why not? a. we have a time-proven hire process with no exceptions
b. we have never had anyone approach us unsolicited
c. Other______________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
8. What is the best way to approach your firm for an interview? (indicate only one)
a. Send us a résumé
b. Send us a résumé with a cover letter
c. Respond to one of our ads
d. Approach us with a referral
e. Approach us with a solution to our problems
f. Other: _____________________________________________
If you’ll notice, the survey asked how the Best Places used the traditional method (questions 1, 2, 3) and it asked if they had any experience with non-traditional job-seekers (questions 4-8).
Only 30% of those surveyed responded. Of those who did respond 100% used both local newspapers and Monster.com to fill openings. And 100% answered yes to questions 4,5,6, and 7, indicating that, if a person was able to get past the gatekeeper (usually HR) and make a proposal to a decision-maker based upon valid research and the ability to solve a problem or discover a profit making opportunity THEY WOULD GET AN INTERVIEW.
Non-traditional job seekers, those who’ve been downsized, and those marginalized by age or other discriminatory factors CAN GET JOBS, IF THE CAN GET INTERVIEWS. In other words, getting past the gatekeeper or circumventing the Traditional Method of job change, can get results if you know how to do it.
This is what the 24 Hour Job Change method does for you
