Get a Job During the Coronavirus Outbreak
No doubt this is an unprecedented dynamic time, it looks like every single day COVID-19 is either causing people to work less, or causing them to lose their jobs entirely. So, here are some essential Job Searching Tips suggested Workers Direct During this Pandemic which can benefit you to find an instant job in this tough time. You might feel a little unsure of how to proceed with your job search and wondering, "How do I even job search in a situation like this?" Things are changing every day. If you follow these job search steps you can enhance your job search and land your dream job.
Contents
- 1 Steps
- 1.1 Do not waste your time in this pandemic situation
- 1.2 Being ready for more phone and online interviews.
- 1.3 Doing Your Research.
- 1.4 Showing off your transferable skills.
- 1.5 Customizing your CV for each job accordingly.
- 1.6 Staying up-to-date.
- 1.7 Asking Specific Questions to Hiring Manager
- 1.8 Being Flexible & Consider Temporary Opportunities.
- 1.9 Being Patient with Slower Processes.
- 2 References
Steps
Do not waste your time in this pandemic situation
- Make sure you do not let your extra time go to waste on unproductive things. It’s difficult to not watch Netflix all day, or not to scroll through social media accounts for hours, but you should ensure that you are putting your time to good use. Reserve a few hours, or maybe even just half an hour a day that you can dedicate to your job search activities. This could be things like,
- Learn some simple steps to help you write a professional resume that will enhance your chances to get you hired. Another way to take benefit of your extra time is by learning new skills, or by polishing any old skills that you already have. Think about something that you can do right now that will help you stand above the job competition and will help you stand out in the job seekers crowd. Look for free or paid short courses online such as:
- YouTube
- Udemy
- Skill Share
- Learn some simple steps to help you write a professional resume that will enhance your chances to get you hired. Another way to take benefit of your extra time is by learning new skills, or by polishing any old skills that you already have. Think about something that you can do right now that will help you stand above the job competition and will help you stand out in the job seekers crowd. Look for free or paid short courses online such as:
Being ready for more phone and online interviews.
- Understand that all people are social distancing and staying at home as much as possible now. That means that your interview will probably be over the phone or even online on Skype or Zoom. Once your interview is scheduled get ready for it.
- Find a good location where you can have your interview. A location that is free from any kind of distraction is recommended. It should also be free from loud noises and other people.
- Have good and reliable Internet and phone connection. You feel it would be better not to find yourself halfway through an interview when suddenly you are disconnected!
- Prepare yourself just as you would for a face-to-face interview. This means learning as much as you can about the job, the company and the industry. Prepare for common interview questions that you may be asked, and prepare a set of questions that you yourself might ask your interviewer.
- Get important documents ready and have them in front of you such as your CV and the job description.
Doing Your Research.
- Make sure you are saving valuable time by avoiding daily commute. You can use this extra time to explore and research target companies which are relevant to your skills and your experience. Set up Google Alerts for all those companies you are interested in. Also, observe how they are responding to the pandemic.
- Follow them on social media and in other media. Take note of how the top leadership team deals with the crisis and its staff. Are they supporting their employees or laying them off? As part of your job searching, also consider setting up an informational interview via phone call or on Skype chat.
Showing off your transferable skills.
- Do not give up quickly. There is so much competition for jobs, so it is vital to up your game right now. First, prioritize jobs that have been posted most in recent times because that is a clear sign that the company has a current role that needs to be filled on an immediate basis during the pandemic. If a posting has been up for a few weeks, it may be less of a priority for the company right now.
- Be positive when you're reading job postings, and remember that you can still get the job, even if you don’t meet all the job requirements. Use your CV and covering letter to show you have the transferable skills that employers are looking for.
Customizing your CV for each job accordingly.
- Spend more time on each job covering letter, and resume, so your job application gets noticed. It takes more time to adjust them for each job application. When you apply to a job online, your application often goes into an Applicant Tracking System software that reviews your resume to find out how well you fit the job requirements.
- The secret to getting approved by the ATS is written right in the job posting keywords such as the job title, duties, and skills. Do not copy everything word to word, but make sure that the majority of the most important parts of the job are in your resume and covering letter. According to a recent survey conducted by Monster Job site.
- Nearly 75% of resumes that go through an ATS software are eliminated because they don't meet the job requirements the hiring manager stated, such as the right skills, education level, or job title, so it is key to get your CV in the hands of a hiring manager.
Staying up-to-date.
- Stay focused. With so much uncertainty in the job market right now, it can be overwhelming to try to carry out a job search. Do not get discouraged. Need help keep focused? Join various career websites, forums and start getting weekly emails update with the latest expert advice on how to find a job, update your resume and prepare for back to back interviews. You can also upload your resume on various jobs related platforms so recruiters and hiring managers can find you and get in touch as soon as a new vacancy posted. Think of this as one of the first steps in finding the right fit.
Asking Specific Questions to Hiring Manager
- Do not afraid to ask questions. According to Caroline Castrillon, writer and contributor of Forbes. This is an unprecedented time, so it is reasonable to ask questions linked to the pandemic. First, find out what is the interview process and timeline look like. Also, ask questions like,
- How are your company supporting employees during this time?
- Are there any implementation about remote work?
- Has the pandemic impacted general company strategy or appointing objectives?
- Since I will not be able to meet with you face to face, can you tell me more about company culture?
Being Flexible & Consider Temporary Opportunities.
- Consider temporary work from temp agencies or freelance work to meet your day-to-day expenses and tackle this difficult time. If it is your very first time entering the realm of freelancing work, take as many of your top transferable skills and then search for the opportunities to leverage these in various capacity. Think of a passion or a prospective side hustle that you have not tapped into yet. How can you be able to convert that activity into a part-time job or a freelancing opportunity? Be agile enough to pivot as required.
Being Patient with Slower Processes.
- Try to be patient with yourself and the hiring employers. This is a tough time for all of us and especially companies are experiencing challenges undergoing so much changes in a short period of time. Recognize that hiring processes will go slower than usual, given that companies are struggling to adapt a new way of hiring.
