EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEWERS California Occupational Guide Number 38 Interest Area 11 1998
THE JOB
EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEWERS help jobseekers find employment and employers find qualified workers. Employment Interviewers act as brokers, matching the best combination of applicant and job. To do this, they must get concise information from job seekers and employers. They interview applicants to record and evaluate their job experience, education and training, skills, knowledge, abilities and other data pertinent to job classification. After analyzing the client's occupational profile, Employment Interviewers determine the most suitable jobs for the applicant. They then refer applicants to jobs by reviewing orders on hand or by calling prospective employers to develop an opening.
When placing job orders with employment agencies (either public or private), employers describe job duties, education and experience requirements, skills and abilities needed to do the job. Employment Interviewers question employers to determine their exact needs and often help fix the pay rate and working hours. They may visit employers to develop job openings.
Interviewers follow-up with employers after referrals to verify interview results and give additional help if necessary.
Employment Interviewers who work for state or local government agencies spend a good deal of time interviewing job seekers, assessing their qualifications and assigning the appropriate job classification. The California Employment Development Department (EDD) Job Service offices keep lists of job openings and resumes that can be searched on computer by job seekers and employers. Additional duties may include conducting workshops, helping with resume writing, and giving assessment tests.
Private employment agency Employment Interviewers act as sales people. Employers often pay the agencies for finding workers for them, and job seekers pay to be placed in suitable jobs. These interviewers must sell the job to the applicant and the applicant to the employer while performing the general duties of Employment Interviewers.
Employment Interviewers for temporary (temp) employment agencies "hire" workers and place them with employers who need temporary help.
Employment Interviewers in large companies usually work in the personnel or human resources (HR) department under the supervision of personnel or HR managers. Interviewers screen applicants and refer qualified people to managers for further consideration.
Some companies may send interviewers to college campuses to recruit. They must know their company's job classifications, salary structure and benefits, and be familiar with those of their competitors.
Employment Interviewers must be aware of union contracts directly affecting their company and the State and Federal laws relating to employment practices.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Employment Interviewers spend most of their time in well-lit, comfortable offices. Those who work for companies that recruit over a large area may travel a lot.
Most Employment Interviewers belong to at least one professional association, although membership is not required.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division.
Estimated number of workers in 1993 7,090 Estimated number of workers in 2005 12,250 Projected Growth 1993-2005 73% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 2,390
(These figures do not include self-employment or openings due to turnover.)
Employment in this occupation is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations in California. Most new jobs will be in temporary employment or personnel consulting firms. Job growth is not anticipated in EDD Job Service offices and other local government agencies because of reduced budgets and the growing use of computerized job matching and self-service information systems.
WAGES, HOURS AND FRINGE BENEFITS
Salaries for Employment Interviewers vary according to experience, length of service, type of employer and location. As an example of salary diversity, the median wage for experienced Employment Interviewers in Merced County is $11.54 an hour, while in Sacramento and Yolo counties the median earnings is $13.57 an hour. Experienced Employment Interviewers in Orange County report median earnings of $13.60 an hour. The statewide median salary for Employment Interviewers is $12.72 an hour.
Private employment agencies usually pay a commission to the interviewer which may be 30 to 50 percent of the fee charged to either the employer or prospective employee for the successful job placement.
Most Employment Interviewers work full time during regular business hours. Most employers offer paid vacation and sick leave, medical, dental and life insurance, and partially paid retirement plans. Government agencies also provide vision insurance.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING
Most employers prefer applicants with a BA degree. Some employers waive college requirements when candidates have suitable work experience. College courses in personnel and industrial relations, psychology, social studies, and interviewing techniques are especially helpful for Employment Interviewers. In addition to formal training, many employers provide on-the job training in agency procedures, classification of jobs, and interviewing techniques.
Firms that place highly trained people such as accountants, lawyers, engineers or executives prefer their interviewers to have some training or experience in the field in which they are placing workers.
Many Employment Interviewer jobs require a high energy level, excellent telephone skills and strong selling ability. Employment Interviewers must be able to work without ethnic and social prejudices and be able to evaluate facts and present conclusions clearly. They should also have a strong interest in working with people. Other desirable characteristics include poise, tact, patience and a professional appearance.
ADVANCEMENT
Many promotional opportunities for Employment Interviewers exist: employment supervisor, personnel manager, industrial relations manager, personnel classification specialist or wage and benefit analyst. In large organizations, such promotions may involve relocation to another community. Some Employment Interviewers open their own employment agencies.
FINDING THE JOB
Jobs for Employment Interviewers may be found by applying directly to
large employers employment agencies employee leasing services personnel consultants temporary employment services college placement centers county and city employment and training agencies Employment Development Job Service office.
Those seeking jobs with government agencies must pass written and oral examinations. Information about job openings may also be found in newspaper help wanted ads and on the Internet.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
International Association of Personnel in Employment Security (IAPES) 1801 Louisville Road Frankfort, KY 40601-3922 (502) 223-4459 Fax (502) 223-4127 www.iapes.org/ Email: iapes@aol.com
National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS) 3133 Mount Vernon Avenue Alexandria, VA 22305 (703) 684-0180 Fax (703) 684-0071 www.naps.org/ Email: info@napsweb.org
Professionals in Human Resources (PIRA) 888 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 1050 Los Angeles, CA 90017-5459 (213) 622-7472 Fax (213) 622-7450 www.pihra.org/
RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES
Human Resource Specialists and Managers No. 135
OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th Ed., 1991) Employment Interviewer 166.267-010
OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System Employment Interviewers 215080
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
(916) 262-2162.
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