Latest news with #applicants
Forbes
18 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Quantify Or Be Overlooked: The Resume Mistake Costing You Interviews
Stand out among the rest of applicants with adding metrics in your resume It is no secret that we live in a data-driven world. However, when it comes to resumes, many overlook the power of numbers. While there can be many other reasons why your application is rejected, a qualifiable versus quantifiable resume could be a contributing factor. If you want your accomplishments to stand out and resonate with hiring managers, start thinking in metrics. Here's why leaving out numbers on your resume could be costing you interviews. Hiring Managers Will Not Grasp Your Impact Without Metrics The absence of metrics on a resume is rarely intentional. Even in data-heavy roles, we often fail to step back and evaluate our broader impact over time. For some positions, quantifying results can be especially challenging - whether due to complex workflows or a lack of visibility into how individual contributions impact the bigger picture. However, hiring managers do not have access into your daily tasks, nor do they need that level of detail. What they care about is measurable impact. Quantifying your impact means taking the time to step back and analyze how your responsibilities fit within the larger company. Think about: Reflecting on questions like these can help you surface your strengths and make a compelling case for the value you bring in your next role. What Matters To You Now May Not Matter In Your Next Company, And Vice-Versa The work we do often feels significant, especially in high-pressure or toxic workplace environments. But what one company or leader values may not be of importance in a different organization. Conversely, an achievement you consider minor could resonate deeply with a hiring manager elsewhere. Even business units at the same company, for internal transfers, will have distinct focus areas. As such, it is essential to quantify as much as possible on your resume. Think about the scale and scope of your work: How many people did you collaborate with? What was the size and duration of the project? Who saw the results of your efforts? These details help bring context and credibility to your accomplishments. For example, managing a team of five versus thirty requires different, but equally valuable, skill sets. A small, highly collaborative team may require more guidance than a larger group of independent contributors. The key is to communicate those distinctions clearly so your next employer can fully understand your impact. Extensive Resume Reading Time Is Not An Option For Recruiters A 2018 eye-tracking study by careers site Ladders, Inc. revealed that recruiters spend an average of just 7.4 seconds reviewing a resume. With hundreds of applications flooding in for a single job, time is not on your side. Write your resume with clarity, conciseness, and impact recognizing the short read-time of resumes. Neuroscience research emphasizes that our brains process words and numbers using different regions. Words are interpreted primarily by the brain's language centers in the left hemisphere, while numbers activate areas linked to numerical cognition and quantity processing. Basically, numbers grab a reader's attention in a different way. Use this to your advantage and interject metrics often when summarizing accomplishments. By weaving metrics into your resume, you help recruiters understand your value faster. Use concise bullet points that balance descriptive language with quantifiable results. The easier you make it to connect your skills to impact, the more likely you are to stand out. Resumes need to capture attention fast and the most effective way to do that is by clearly demonstrating your impact. Incorporating numbers throughout your resume adds clarity, credibility, and context to your accomplishments. Whether leading teams, optimizing processes, or delivering results, metrics translate your work into a language that hiring managers understand. By expertly quantifying your successes, you will stand out and be more likely to land more interviews.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's arrests over talent scheme scam show need for vigilance
Hong Kong has long been a magnet for the best and brightest from overseas, even more so under the government's ambitious talent trawl in recent years. Regrettably, the much-touted admission scheme has also become an opportunity for scammers to make money. The authorities must stamp out abuses and ensure those recruited can enhance the city's competitiveness. Advertisement In the first crackdown of its kind, the immigration authorities arrested a syndicate allegedly offering applicants a ' one-stop service ' with fake academic qualifications, employment proof and other documents for the Top Talent Pass Scheme. Eighteen people were arrested, including five Hongkongers behind the scam and 13 mainland applicants. The group was believed to have operated for 1½ years and worked on at least 22 applications, with each case potentially costing clients up to HK$2.5 million (US$319,000). The talent scheme has received about 135,000 applications since it was launched in December 2022, with 109,000 approved as of June. The number in connection with the alleged scam is relatively small. But for a recruitment drive of such a wide scale, there is always room for abuse, be it individual acts or well-orchestrated syndicates. The application mechanism has already been strengthened through the requirement for proof of academic qualifications certified by designated third-party credential verification bodies or the awarding institutions. The authorities have rightly pledged to vet every application strictly and step up random checks. Closer collaboration with law enforcement agencies across the border will also help. Last December, local media reported that there were talent agencies on the mainland offering to create fake salaries and other records for those applying for the talent scheme. Officials warned aspirants not to trust such agents, adding that assessment would be strict and there were no loopholes to exploit. Advertisement We hope the latest arrests show the monitoring mechanism is working well, rather than otherwise. The authorities must vigorously check every case to ensure all approvals are worthy ones. At stake is not just the city's image and reputation, but also its manpower and competitiveness.
Forbes
20-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
10 Pros And Cons Of Using AI For Your Job Application
AI is changing how applicants approach the job application process. AI is transforming the job application process, with more than 40% of job seekers turning to artificial intelligence for help, according to research from Jobseeker. Over 90% say it makes their job application better, but there's a catch—41% of hiring managers are less likely to consider candidates who use AI. As reliance on algorithms and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) grows, the debate over AI's role in hiring is just beginning. Here are the key advantages and disadvantages to consider before incorporating AI into your job search strategy. The Pros: Why AI Can Give You an Edge Let's start with the benefits that are making artificial intelligence an increasingly popular choice among job seekers: AI tools can dramatically speed up the job application process. With just a few ChatGPT prompts, you can generate resumes, cover letters, and answers to common questions in minutes. This makes it easier to apply for multiple roles without feeling overwhelmed. The traditional approach of crafting each application from scratch can take hours per position, but AI-generated resume tips allow job seekers to maintain quality while significantly increasing their application volume. Action Step: Use AI to draft content, then set aside time to review, personalize, and edit each document before submitting. AI Tool Tip: Teal is a free platform that uses artificial intelligence to organize and speed up the job application process, track your progress, and manage documents. AI-powered writing assistants can spot typos, grammatical errors, and awkward phrasing, helping you submit polished job applications every time. This is especially useful for non-native speakers or those who want their resumes and cover letters to sound more professional. Beyond basic corrections, these tools suggest improvements in sentence structure, word choice, and overall readability that might escape even careful human review. Action Step: Run your materials through a grammar checker, but always read them over yourself to catch subtle mistakes or unnatural language. AI Tool Tip: Grammarly instantly checks spelling, grammar, and tone, and can suggest improvements for clarity and professionalism. AI can help tailor your job application and cover letter to match specific job descriptions, increasing your chances of passing automated screenings and impressing hiring managers. By analyzing keywords and role requirements, artificial intelligence helps ensure your materials are relevant and targeted for each position. This level of customization would be nearly impossible to achieve manually across dozens of job applications while maintaining consistency and quality. Action Step: Feed the AI key details about the company and role, then customize the final product with your own insights and examples. AI Tool Tip: Rezi uses AI to automatically tailor your resume to each job description, optimizing keywords and ensuring your application stands out to both ATS and hiring managers. Submitting an AI-enhanced job application can help you feel more prepared and professional, especially if writing isn't your strong suit. Knowing your resume and cover letter have been reviewed and optimized gives many job seekers a confidence boost during their job search. This psychological benefit can translate into better interview performance and a more positive job search experience. Action Step: Use artificial intelligence to check your work, but make sure your own achievements and voice come through so you can confidently discuss your materials in interviews. AI Tool Tip: Kickresume offers AI-powered resume and cover letter creation with personalized templates, making it easy to produce professional documents. Many companies use ATS software that scans for keywords before a human ever sees your application. AI to optimize job applications can meet these requirements and help ensure your resume makes it through the initial digital screening. Without proper keyword optimization, even highly qualified candidates may never reach human reviewers, making this AI capability particularly valuable in today's automated hiring landscape. Action Step: Research keywords from the job description and use AI to incorporate them naturally, ensuring your application gets past initial digital screening. AI Tool Tip: Jobscan compares your resume to job descriptions and uses AI to maximize your keyword match for ATS systems. The Cons: Where AI Can Work Against You While AI offers compelling advantages, it's important to understand the potential drawbacks that could hurt your chances with employers: AI-generated resumes and text can sometimes lack personality or feel overly formulaic, which may cause hiring managers to lose interest in your application. If every candidate's responses sound the same, it becomes harder for you to stand out in a crowded job market. The risk increases when applicants rely too heavily on AI without adding their unique perspective and experiences to differentiate themselves from other candidates using similar tools. Action Step: Add personal stories, specific achievements, and authentic language to make your application memorable. AI Tool Tip: ChatGPT can generate personalized responses when you use advanced prompts, but always edit to reflect your unique experiences. Over-reliance on AI-generated resumes and materials can make your application feel less genuine, raising questions about your true abilities and motivations. Employers may wonder whether you actually possess the skills you describe or if the AI made them up. This authenticity gap becomes particularly problematic during interviews when candidates struggle to elaborate on AI-generated content or demonstrate the capabilities their applications claim they possess. Action Step: Balance AI assistance with your own insights and experiences, and make sure every statement accurately reflects your background. AI Tool Tip: Jasper AI can help you write and refine job application materials with the ability to inject your personal tone and stories, so your application remains authentic and unique. Some hiring managers view AI-generated resumes and cover letters as shortcuts or question the effort behind them, especially when answers sound robotic or vague. Many HR specialists say they are less likely to consider candidates who use AI in the application process. This growing skepticism means that obvious AI usage could hurt your chances, even if the content quality is high. Action Step: Use AI as a supportive tool, not a crutch. Be prepared to discuss your materials honestly and highlight where you added your personal touch. AI Tool Tip: guides you in generating AI-assisted cover letters while ensuring your voice and motivation remain front and center. AI can introduce errors or suggest experiences you didn't have, especially if prompts are vague or information is misunderstood. If unchecked, these inaccuracies can misrepresent your qualifications and potentially damage your credibility with employers. Action Step: Double-check every detail in your job application for accuracy and truthfulness before submitting. AI Tool Tip: QuillBot lets you rephrase and fact-check text, ensuring accuracy and helping you verify that the language matches your real experience. Sharing personal data with online AI tools for job seekers can expose you to privacy risks, especially if you're not using reputable or secure platforms. Action Step: Use only well-known, secure AI platforms and look for privacy features such as data encryption and user control over submissions. AI Tool Tip: Blacklight by The Markup uses AI to scan job application sites for trackers and potential privacy risks, helping you understand how your data might be used or shared. The key to successfully using AI in job applications lies in finding the right balance between efficiency and authenticity. As Anthropic notes, "Where it makes sense, we invite you to use Claude to show us more of you: your unique perspective, skills, and experiences." The future of AI-assisted job searching will favor candidates who can leverage these powerful tools while maintaining their genuine voice and demonstrating real value to potential employers.
CBS News
18-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Application window for 2025 Minnesota e-bike rebates opens July 30
The window for Minnesotans to apply for a state-funded e-bike rebate will open later this month. The Minnesota Department of Revenue announced Friday that applications will be open online from 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 30, to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7. The rebate will cover 75% of qualifying expenses, which include the bike itself and certain accessories, up to $750. Those selected via random lottery will receive a rebate certificate to present at the time of purchase. The revenue department said this year's lottery will be held within two weeks of the application period closing. Last year's lottery was so popular that the number of applicants took down the website upon its initial launch. When the site reopened, the portal closed within 20 minutes because of the influx of applicants. Out of 61,000 hopefuls, 14,000 successfully applied. Applicants must meet a certain set of criteria to be eligible for the rebate, including income limit. The income limit is based on your 2024 adjusted gross income. For married couples filing jointly, that figure must be under $78,000. Heads of household are capped at $62,000 and all other individuals cannot make more than $41,000. Individuals with disabilities also qualify and are not subject to income limits. Applicants must be older than 15 and have lived in Minnesota full-time in 2023 and 2024.
CBC
17-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Newcomer used savings and borrowed money to get permanent residency effort right
Federal cuts have made immigration more competitive. Now many immigrants seek professional help to strengthen their application to stay in Canada.
