Had a job interview but no call back? Submitted your CV but haven’t had an email? Judith Bright, Asset Recruitment’s Permanent Recruitment Specialist looks at how best to manage expectations when applying for a job.

Waikato’s recruitment market has started strong in 2023, providing job seekers with permanent and temporary employment opportunities. A revival of tourism activities, ongoing need for healthcare workers, a surge in administrative requirements, and increasing demand for industrial products and supplies have seen Waikato employers continue to advertise for a variety of roles.

Job seeker numbers also tend to increase in the first quarter of the year, with the prospect of a new job or challenge appealing to many. But applying for a new job takes time, energy, and commitment. There’s the preparation of your CV, the writing of your cover letter, and the submission before the job listing closes!

While your effort won’t be immediately rewarded, understanding the recruitment process your potential employer undertakes to select a new staff member, can help to manage your expectations of the job-seeking experience.

The recruitment process

Judith Bright, Asset Recruitment’s Permanent Recruitment Specialist says companies actively recruiting for new team members will go through a carefully prepared process. “They’ll start by identifying the need for additional resource and then market the role. This is followed by the review of CVs, short-listing of candidates, and interviews, before an offer is made. It’s a process that can take a week or two and, in the case of executive positions, this can extend to several weeks or even months,” she says.

Waikato, and indeed much of New Zealand’s, employment market and the tight supply of quality candidates means employers are fast-tracking recruitment processes, offering positions to ensure job seekers are presented with an offer in an increasingly competitive market.

So, for candidates who have put the time, energy, and effort into applying for a new role, what can they expect in return?

“Organisations are well aware of the competitive recruitment landscape so good employers will have streamlined their recruitment processes to ensure they don’t miss out on quality candidates. That means a quick turnaround time between each stage of the recruitment process and regular communication along the way,” explains Judith.

“We are seeing a number of organisations recruit faster than ever before because they know if they don’t act quickly and provide job seekers with an indication of their interest, candidates will go elsewhere.”

Top tips to understand the recruitment process

Confirm interview expectations. Upon confirmation of an interview, ask whether the company has any particular interview approach they follow or questions/tasks they would like you to prepare for. Preparation is key when it comes to successful job interviews.

Ask for a clear timeline of the process. At the end of your interview, ask when you can expect to hear from the company on their decision. If they’re interviewing other candidates they’ll have time set aside for those as well as a deadline to select their preferred person. This will ensure you know whether to expect a response in a few days or a week.

Be upfront about remuneration expectations. Some job advertisements provide an indication of the offered salary; others keep it vague. Have the confidence to ask about remuneration and state your expectations. For the majority of positions, there is always room for negotiation, but both parties need to having a starting point!

Looking for a new role in 2023? Get in touch with the Asset Recruitment team. They have been positioning excellence across Waikato for more than 30 years.