Employers are introducing new rigor into their hiring process, according to recent research conducted by the talent solutions firm Robert Half.

As a result of the company’s newest research findings, Half stressed five trends applicants need to keep in mind before embarking on a job search this year.

"Landing the right job requires patience and persistence,” observed Paul McDonald, senior executive director of Robert Half. Job seekers “should target their search, tailor application materials, network and be proactive throughout the process," he adds.

For entry-level candidates, Employers typically conduct four interviews before extending an offer, Half notes. In addition, companies typically take five weeks on average to make a hire.

Expect questions that gauge soft skills. One in five managers attribute their hiring mistakes to placing too much weight on technical skills. To avoid making the same misstep, they are asking situational questions to learn more about a candidate's traits and interpersonal abilities, such as self-motivation and collaboration, especially critical in hybrid and remote work environments.

Beyond skills, managers said the following actions can tip the scales in an applicant's favor: researching the company (67%); maintaining a respectable online presence (51%); and sending a thank-you note after an interview (49%)

Except for certain roles, employers today also are focusing more on in-office experience than they did in the immediate aftermath of the Covid pandemic.

Fewer than one in three entry-level jobs (29%) are advertised as hybrid or fully remote. However, off-site opportunities are more common for technology and finance and accounting positions, Half says.