Job applications in 2021: what you need to know

There is no denying it: the pandemic changed the employment market in 2020, and the effects of the global health crisis will continue to be felt for many years across many sectors.

With any increase in unemployment, there is a corresponding increase in applications to open roles.

One question about this increase is where do job applicants put their efforts when applying to open roles in Türkiye?

Interestingly, recruitment consultancies are key for 12,2% of job applicants who look for jobs every day, highlighting the pull of using a specialist to help job seekers find a new role. Some benefits of using a recruitment consultancy are the assistance they will give you regarding shortlisting candidates, their understanding of the employment market, and which skills are in high demand in any sector.

This information is important for hiring managers, as it can give an indication of where they should focus their efforts in terms of job ads promotion, and when thinking of using a recruitment partner.

When do candidates think it is too late to apply to an open role?

Other key statistics our recent survey found relate to the frequency people apply for jobs and when they consider it too late for a role. In general, 48,9% of applicants use LinkedIn everyday, 30,3% several times a week, and 7,3% once a week.

This statistic tallies with job applicants checking when the job ad was posted – 7,7% of applicants in Türkiye said they felt it was too late to apply for a job after it had been live for 2-3 days, compared with 14,7% who felt it was too late to apply when the job was live for 5-10 days.

However, with 67,2% saying they would still apply for a role even if it was live for over 10 days, it seems as though the quality of a position will prompt a dedicated job seeker to send their CV in.

In terms of time of day for applications, almost half of the candidates in Türkiye (50,9%) applies at any time of the day. 17% applies in the mornings, 11,7% before and at the lunchtimes and 27,9% in the evenings.

What approach do job applicants take: apply to all open roles, or only ones that match their profile?

When applying for open roles, candidates in Türkiye generally look for positions that match their skills and experience, with 64,4% following this path, and only 3,8% applying for all roles.

Why is this? Further statistics from the survey suggest that candidates today know about keywords on CVs and in cover letters, with 13,7% adapting their CVs for each role they apply to. 21,7% alter their CV most of the times, and 23,5% only sometimes.

Their knowledge of keywords and of applicant tracking systems (ATS) means that job seekers today are very aware of the why behind adapting a CV for a specific role.

But for what reason specifically? 48,9% explaining that they know it adds value to an application, with another 44,7% said they do this to increase the response rate from the potential employer. 38,3% adapt their CV because the role is a perfect fit, meaning they want the opportunity to interview, and know a role specific CV is the gateway to this.

39,1% of job applicants adapt their CV to meet a specific job description, potentially highlighting many people’s ability to perform one or more roles in their specific skills area.

To send a cover letter or not send a cover letter, that is the question

Job applicants in Türkiye are very aware of the importance of cover letters when sending in an application – or at least 27,1% of them are, as they include one with every CV sent.

13,1% include a cover letter specific to the role, and 32,7% include one sometimes and specific. However, a surprising 22,1% only send a cover letter when it is mandatory. Which prompts the question – why do candidates include a cover letter?

49,7% explain it is to prove their motivation for the role, with 36,8% explaining it is to prove their understanding of the role. With 40,3% including one to explain their experience in an engaging way, and 14,2% saying they include a cover letter to add keywords/phrases from the job description, are cover letters growing in importance?

Cover letters can help an application pass through specific points of a job application process by helping the candidate detail their history in an engaging way, and by meeting search terms from the potential employer.

If you want advice on writing job descriptions, asking for cover letters or any part of the hiring process, Michael Page’s team of expert recruitment consultants are waiting to help you. Simply get in touch via this form, or find your local office from our contact us page, here.