We are living in interesting times. The COVID-19 virus is upending our world and severely changing how we go about our day to day lives. There have been wide ranging implications to schools, workplaces, sporting events, travel plans, and how we simply interact with each other. And if this uncertainty wasn’t enough for the average person, throw a job search into the mix and manage that stress.
It’s true that if you are job searching right now, you might be worried about how Coronavirus is going to impact your ability to find employment. We will be the first to tell you that your concern isn’t unfounded. The short answer is the Coronavirus can impact your ability to get a job. Hiring managers are out of the office. Many companies are freezing expansion or putting a hold on hiring to see what happens next—both with the pandemic and the economy.
Ultimately, life is in a state of “wait and see.” However, we can provide some guidance on how to keep your job search in motion while we navigate the holding pattern that is our society.
Job Hunting During Uncertain Times
We should all be thankful that we live in a digital world. Can you imagine facing a job search 30 or 40 years ago when you actually had to search newspaper want ads and go hand in a resume in person? So, be thankful for small blessings that come in the form of the Internet and technology platforms that still allow us to remain connected and let information flow.
With that in mind, consider the following tips to implement with your job search during the Coronavirus pandemic:
- Practice your virtual interviewing skills. This might mean over the phone, via video conferencing, or even through the submission of a video file. Ultimately, you must be comfortable transitioning from a face-to-face interview—this isn’t going to be common as we work, collectively, to prevent COVID-19 from spreading.
- Begin using LinkedIn (in earnest). As a platform, LinkedIn is an amazing tool for connecting with other professionals, sharing pertinent information about happenings in your industry, and for uncovering potential opportunities. Engage in some outreach, connect with old colleagues or partners, and spread the word that you are job hunting—you never know when an amazing opportunity could present itself. Plus, the mere fact that you are using digital technology to look for job prospects already shows you are comfortable operating in a remote, tech-focused environment.
- Make sure your job search is organized. Even in the best of times, managing all that comes with a job search can be overwhelming. Couple that with a pandemic and you have a recipe for a personal storm of disorganization. Therefore, set up job alerts so you are notified the moment a new posting is published. Also think about using hashtags to learn about potential opportunities. For instance, Twitter has a popular hashtag called #HireFriday that some employers use. Or, in order to be more specific, perform a search that has geographic modifiers present in the hashtag—#CharlotteJobs or #DetroitSTEMJobs are two examples.
- On that same note, help recruiters and hiring managers find you on LinkedIn and on Twitter by using hashtags like #resume #jobsearch #hireme.
- Enhance your personal brand. Use this time of social distancing to ensure that your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile are highlighting your abilities so that if an opportunity does arise, a hiring manager understands the value that you bring to a company. Guarantee that your hiring collateral stands out and is sending the right message so you don’t get lost in a pile of resumes. When you are faced with living virtually and digitally online, you must feel confident that your personality and what makes you special shines through until it is safe to once again meet face to face.
At the end of the day, not every company or industry is going to put hiring on hold—they simply might modify their processes to ensure that hiring professionals and job seekers stay safe.
The team at Grammar Chic wishes you a productive job search—and we encourage you to stay healthy in the process. Wash your hands, don’t touch your face, and if you need help making sure your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile have the ability to go viral in a good way, we invite you to reach out. All of our resume consultations can be completed over the phone or through Skype—and we are here to help. Contact us today, there is no reason to put your life and your future professional success on hold. Call 803-831-7444 or visit us online at www.chicresumes.com.
