Human Resources – Jobseekers Friend or Foe?

With 15 years experience as a Career Consultant and HR insider, I regularly help clients understand the role HR has in the job search process. First of all, human resources prime objective is not meant to be a road block. They are equally comitted to helping an organization bring in top talent. However due to the overwhelming role of the internet their capacity to review, sort and consider applicants has become grossly diminished. In the day of paper applications, they would receive a few dozen applications, be able to sort through them and reply to the applicants with a kind “thank you for applying” note. Now HR literally receives hundreds and hundreds of resumes for a single position and with the same size if not smaller staff has to quickly determine who is qualified. There is no time to take calls from prospective applicants to talk about the job. The best tip I give job seekers is to remember HR coordinates the hiring process for an employer, don’t side step them, follow the process, give them all the information asked for, including salary requirements and trust they are doing the best they can to find the most qualified candidates.