There are reports all over the news about the economy getting better, but it seems that there is still a way to go before the job market recovers. It's true that employers are still hiring and posting jobs, but there continues to be more applicants than jobs to fill.
In a report on Hispanic Business website and the Montgomery Advertiser, as of early last week nearly 20,000 people have applied for the 877 new jobs that Montgomery's Hyundai plant created to add a new production shift. And the applications are still coming each day.
"It just continues to grow," said Scott Gordy of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama's human resources department.
The deadline to apply for a position is June 2, but Hyundai was so overwhelmed by the initial response that they suspended the application process on May 18 because of the high volume. Last week, HMMA issued a statement saying that it would reopen the application procedure through June 2 but warned that anyone who applies after May 18 may not have time to be processed. Gordy said later applicants will be seen "as needed" for future hires.
Everyone is applying through aidt.edu, the website for Hyundai hiring partner Alabama Industrial Development Training, which filters all of the applicants into a database and schedules the strongest candidates for assessments at HMMA.
Of the 18,500 applicants, who were in the system by May 22, an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 will make it to the assessment stage. Some get that chance immediately, while others are banked" to be assessed later.
Most of the hiring should be finished by mid-July, but the work doesn't end there. The new employees must then be trained, pairing up with veteran Hyundai workers. That's all before the third shift starts rolling.
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