November 30th, 2018

Tough odds

Some jobs are harder to get into than Harvard, while others are begging for applicants

ZipRecruiter.com

Photo: freepik

If you’re applying for a job as an administrative assistant, you might be growing tired of the non-responses and the “thanks for applying, but …” emails. Don’t feel dejected. It may have less to do with the strength of your application and more to do with the numbers game: There were 113 applications for each administrative assistant job on ZipRecruiter over the past year, and 97 for each office assistant/receptionist job.

Administrative assistant jobs have always been popular with entry-level job seekers because they are a great way to get a foot in the door. They also typically pay well and come with benefits. But if your search for one has been fruitless, it may be time to change tack — especially given the labor shortages and abundant opportunities in other occupations.

There are still some entry-level roles out there with little to no competition. And if you’re able and willing to invest in some additional education and training, the odds could certainly shift in your favor.

Employers are desperate to hire pilots, registered nurses and truck drivers, for example. Airlines are hanging around flight schools signing up new hires before they graduate and offering them perks ranging from bonuses to student loan assistance. Trucking companies are raising pay. Hospitals are offering hiring bonuses, housing and tuition assistance to attract nurses.

Physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists are also in very high demand. The training and certification requirements for these jobs can be onerous. But if applying for administrative assistant jobs is becoming your full-time job, perhaps it’s time to make an investment and start winning the numbers game.

Jobs harder to land than Harvard

Harvard’s acceptance rate this year was 4.6 percent, the lowest on record in the college’s long history. Although this denotes heavy competition, it pales in comparison to the climate for job seekers for many entry-level openings right now.

So far this year the average ratio of applicants to administrative assistant receptionist jobs posted to ZipRecruiter is 166 to 1. That’s an acceptance rate of 0.6 percent.

Administrative assistant receptionist: 166 applications per job
Pharmaceutical sales representative: 123 applications per job
Medical receptionist 118: applications per job
Administrative assistant 113: applications per job
General warehouse: 103 applications per job
Customer service call center rep.: 103 applications per job
IT support specialist: 99 applications per job
Front desk receptionist: 98 applications per job
Office assistant receptionist: 97 applications per job
Executive assistant: 95 applications per job
Warehouse associate: 95 applications per job
Office assistant: 93 applications per job
Graphic designer: 89 applications per job
Warehouse forklift operator: 87 applications per job
Personal assistant: 86 applications per job
Office administrator: 85 applications per job
IT support technician: 83 applications per job
Warehouse manager: 82 applications per job
Warehouse general laborer: 81 applications per job
Shipping receiving clerk: 81 applications per job

Where workers are in high demand

With two to three applications per job opening, the roles listed below had an average acceptance rate of 50 to 33 percent through August 2018. Many are in health care, which currently has the tightest job market of any industry, according to the latest ZipRecruiter data.

Aside from indicating that education and training provide for greater job opportunities, the data also show there is no one, monolithic “job market.” Yes, the unemployment rate is at historic lows, but for some workers competition is still fierce depending on the role they’re after.