Unemployment in New York state is sitting around 4.5%. It’s miles lower than it was when the U.S. came out of COVID-19. The upper hand that job seekers once had may no longer be the case.
“So, do you know anything about Compass Group?” Dawn Lyons asked a potential hire. “We are a food and hospitality company, one of the largest in North America,” Lyons said.
Lyons is a senior director of human resources for the Compass Group, which was recently awarded a contract to operate a dining facility on Fort Drum. She was recently conducting interviews to fill open jobs.
“We are looking for people who just have that servant leadership kind of focus and that really just want to provide quality food for our soldiers,” she added.
What You Need To Know
Unemployment in NYS is roughly 4.5%
During the days after COVID-19, experts say job seekers had the upper hand
In recent times, they add the ability of companies to consolidate and automate has shifted the market
As candidates sat down for interviews hoping to fill not only these jobs, but any jobs anywhere, they are being forewarned. The job market is not like it was a few short years ago.
“They had the upper hand,” Cheryl Mayforth said of candidates. “That’s where they had the ability to negotiate. They had the ability to say, ‘this is what I’m looking for.’ But that’s not true today.”
Mayforth is executive director of the Workplace of Jefferson County, which helps provide the skills and tools jobseekers need. She says the market has shifted back toward employers.
“They’re looking for people who can produce results, and not the individual who comes in and says, ‘well, what? How much vacation time do I get?’”
That also includes, she says, dressing a little too casual, having your phone out during interviews, requesting to work from home and expectations of immediate promotions. All, she says, are now red flags, speaking to that consolidation and automation have only grown, leading to an employer’s ability to choose.
“The employer has narrowed down what they are looking for, and so that is why you want to be result-driven. You want to talk about what you have done,” she said.
She says by doing that, focusing on results, you can stand out. And also, don’t forget to study up on the company you want to work for.
“Know what they do. Know who their customers are,” Mayforth said.
And while all employers are different, Lyons said following that kind of advice, bringing your A-game, is one way to surely impress.
“Bring that great personality. Knowing what you’ve done in the past and how that connects with the job that you want right now. I think it is also very important,” she said.
Because a match, a fit for both parties, can erase that existence — or thought — of an upper hand for anybody.
For more information on the open jobs in the dining facility on Fort Drum, visit the career page on the Compass Group website.