Gone are the days when job searches were arduous and time-consuming, particularly for those under 30. Today, job portals and aggregators such as Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and many others have revolutionized how we search for jobs. Job aggregators function like search engines, gathering job listings from various sources and presenting them in search results based on an algorithm, while job boards solely display positions from companies that approach them to advertise vacancies online.How to Harness the Power of Job Aggregator Sites
These platforms allow job seekers to narrow their search criteria precisely, including factors like location, company, salary, and more. What is even better is that you no longer have to sift through countless advertisements; instead, the results are conveniently delivered to your inbox daily or weekly. This simplicity and specificity exemplify how a focused approach can significantly benefit your career planning and development.
However, it is essential to acknowledge that these portals have drawbacks. Once you become a registered user, they track your activity, gather data about you, and follow your journey, often without your knowledge. When you upload your resume, CV, and personal information, the portal starts building a professional profile of you. Your data remains stored with the portal and, naturally, with potential employers.
Whether you want to keep your professional career data in the cloud is your choice. However, your data, or parts of it, may be sold to recruiters, advertisers, and hospitality companies specializing in recruiting. You must carefully evaluate the potential benefits and risks associated with this.
Let me present a comprehensive and concise overview of what job seekers should focus on when utilizing job portals and aggregators to find new opportunities.
Delve beyond the surface: Understand the core requirements and specify your desired role. Scrutinize the essential qualifications, skills, and experience mentioned in the job posting. Assess whether you possess the necessary prerequisites or if you can acquire them through training or self-improvement. Look out for the specific education or degrees required. Pay careful attention to the job description, as they can vary significantly, even for similar positions. For instance, if you aspire to pursue a career in the Food & Beverage department, be specific in your search for roles such as Assistant Restaurant Manager, Restaurant Manager, Banquet Manager, Event Coordinator, Catering Assistant, Assistant F&B Manager, or F&B Manager.
Similarly, if you are focused on a culinary career and have completed an internship, look for the next logical position, like Commis or Chef de Parti. Very important is to understand the kind of personality the company is looking for. One crucial aspect you need to consider in the posting is the kind of personality companies seek. For various reasons, this is frequently not directly visible, and you need to read between the lines.
Research the hotel or chain: Conduct thorough research on the company advertising the job posting. The most important is understanding the brand architecture of large companies like Marriott or Hilton. Visit their official website, explore their social media platforms, and read online reviews to gain insights into their work culture, values, and reputation. This information will help you assess whether the organization’s search aligns with your career goals and expectations. Speaking of career goals, which is my area of expertise in assisting you: Even before heading to job boards and exploring opportunities, you should have three top companies in mind that inspire you. Those readers who follow my blog are aware of these companies. For the sake of your career trajectory, it is crucial to concentrate on securing a position in one of these companies, even if it might be at a different level initially. This becomes especially important if you have already achieved a certain level in a lower-rated company, say a three-star establishment, and can obtain an equivalent position in a five-star hotel company. Exercise patience and stick with the only company, as it takes at least two years to overcome the shadows of a lesser-known establishment on your resume.
Seek additional information: Leverage your professional network or connect with individuals who have worked in the hotel industry or, better, even in the same hotel company. They can provide valuable firsthand insights into the realities of the job, the work environment, and the key decision-makers. They may even be in a position to introduce you directly. This information will enable you to make a more informed decision about the opportunity. It will not help your job search to follow LinkedIn’s Big Wigs and CEOs; It will be purely informative. Follow and connect rather than those who are direct decision-makers. Here a referral from a colleague or connection will be very valuable. Most importantly: Avoid hasty job hopping at any cost. My definition is holding a job for at least 2 years or more.
Read between the lines: While job postings offer a general overview, they will not always capture the complete picture. Look for subtle cues or additional responsibilities that may be mentioned. It will give you a better understanding of the role’s scope and its challenges. Consider the long-term prospects: Evaluate a job post’s growth opportunities and career trajectory. Assess whether there is potential for rapid advancement within the organization. Make sure the job aligns with your long-term goals and if it offers avenues for professional development.
If you identify a posting that meets your requirements and interests, ensure it provides a logical continuation path toward your career objectives. If it appears to be a dead-end posting, simply discard it. I cannot emphasize this enough, having made this mistake myself. Getting into the right company is often challenging. Once you secure your position and plan for the long game, the individuals who hired you will likely consider this themselves. Accepting and hiring by a reputable company serves as a ticket toward your career objective, as these companies have a vested interest in retaining you for as long as possible.
Evaluate compensation and benefits: Consider the offered compensation, benefits, and work schedule. Determine if they align with your expectations and requirements. Assess the balance between financial compensation and other perks, such as employee discounts, healthcare benefits, or opportunities for skill development. However, it is essential not to make compensation the sole criterion.
Suppose you are located in the USA or Europe. In that case, you have a higher chance of increasing your compensation in a relatively short period compared to South Asia, where the perception of a labor shortage is just a perception. It is worth noting that even international companies need a better track record regarding fair compensation. One more reason to read the posting carefully, and when I see the demands of the jobs, the high skill- and personality traits put out there, I am not surprised that there truly is an imbalance between compensation and expectations from many companies.
Trust your instincts: When evaluating a job posting, rely on your instincts and intuition. Consider how the posting resonates with you and whether it sparks excitement about the opportunity. Gut feelings often provide valuable insights when making career decisions. However, it is crucial to reserve judgment until you have thoroughly assessed the opportunity and not let your gut feeling override the strategic decisions you have made throughout the process.
Let’s discuss a few additional factors you should know about portals and aggregators. These platforms compile job listings from various sources, including company websites and job pages, and consolidate them in their central database. Updates are frequent, occurring daily and spanning across the globe. Utilizing the search and specification tools makes the job search incredibly convenient and effortless. The list of worldwide jobs is continuously updated, meaning if you subscribe, you will likely receive notifications daily or weekly.
Once you have identified a job that aligns with your goals and meets your requirements, it is crucial to determine its origin. Finding out the company behind the posting is, of course, obvious. For example, Hilton is seeking an Executive Assistant Housekeeper for a hotel in the Maldives, and you found the posting on Indeed. You are interested in precisely this type of position, but there’s a catch: you reside in Australia, Europe, or even the USA. It might be worth considering if you are independent, free to relocate, possess a strong track record, and have an exceptional and updated resume and cover letter. However, if you are bound to your current location or have no intention of pursuing an international move, you can simply disregard the job.
But if you are genuinely interested, ask yourself: How long have you been in your current job? Why are you considering leaving? These questions arise in the career game, and the answers may differ for each individual.
Now, let’s take the example a step further. If the answer to all those questions is a resounding yes, the next step is determining where to apply. Should you apply through the job board where you found the posting or on the company’s career page, where it is also listed? Or should you take a more direct approach and bypass the intermediate steps?
Speaking from my own experience, here’s what I would do: contact the resort’s General Manager directly. This quick and decisive approach breaks all the rules set by portals, career pages, and other intermediaries and helps companies in their recruitment process timeline. I would prepare a personalized email with my attached resume and send a printed copy via registered express mail to General Manager. Parallel, I mail a copy to the HR Manager to maintain a professional balance.
Afterward, I would wait for a reply while mentally preparing for the most important interview questions. I will likely receive a call or reply email, whether positive or negative. They might also refer me to the online application process, which I may interpret as a “no.” However, the point is that I acted swiftly and stood out from the crowd.
A competent General Manager will respond, either personally or through an assistant, and provide a friendly “no” or refer me to a contact person in HR for further conversation or email exchange, potentially leading to an interview.
It’s important to note that this route differs from the traditional one. It requires a certain level of boldness to break the rules. However, it is worth a try. After all, what do you have to lose? In contrast, when you apply through a portal, your application may not make it through the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) or land on the desk of an unknown recruiter handling numerous other applications.
I feel uneasy about feeding all my work information into an ATS or company portal without knowing where, when, and to whom my application will reach. There are too many unknowns to stake my bet on.
I prefer a direct and swift approach. However, as I mentioned earlier, this is my personal opinion. Consider this strategy only if you are confident that the job and the company resonate with you. Then there is LinkedIn, where you find job postings directly from the decision maker. For instance, Hilton in Germany has been searching for an Operations Manager for the past six weeks, and the position still needs to be filled. Despite the abundance of top talent, the role is still open.
This presents a perfect opportunity, as the decision-maker is advertising personally. However, as previously mentioned, this approach may only be suitable for some. With a well-crafted resume and a professional LinkedIn profile, nothing is holding you back. The current labor shortage works in favor of young hoteliers more than ever before.
In conclusion, job aggregators and portals are valuable tools for identifying great opportunities. However, the approach you take to apply ultimately depends on you. There is one more point, though. Avoid making comments on LinkedIn. These comments are visible to everyone, including your superiors or people who know You. Nothing can hurt your progress more than writing “I am interested” or commenting on another position. This will disqualify you in the eye of the recruiter.
Please contact me through my web contact page if you require a personal assessment or assistance. There is no cost to you. Make your call at https://thecareerhotelier.com, and I will get back to You within 24 hours.
Helmut H Meckelburg