#JobSearch : 6 Tactics For Succeeding In A Pandemic-Era Job Search. Studies Found 42% of the Work Force was Working Remotely, 26% were Working On-Premises, and the Remaining 33% Unemployed.
Covid-19’s impact on career paths has been massive. For some people, the pandemic has halted current plans or caused a slight change of course. In other cases, the pandemic has shifted entire teams, offices and companies from daily in-person interactions to remote setup, potentially permanent.
Just look at the numbers pulled by Stanford University economist Nicholas Bloom last June. At that point, Bloom found that 42% of the American labor force was working remotely, 26% were working on-premises (mostly essential service workers), and the remaining 33% were not working.
What could possibly be the upside to that? A job market wildly in flux that is simultaneously ripe with possibilities. Remote jobs are available, new career paths are available, and the opportunity to turn hobbies into profitable ventures is out there for the taking.
To make the most of these new employment possibilities, embrace these six strategies:
1. Resist the urge to adopt tunnel vision. We all have best-laid occupational plans or visions for what we should be doing. But as 2020 has shown us all, getting your heart set on any set plans could be a recipe for disappointment. The best course of action in the current climate is approaching everything with an open mind.
According to Christine Alemany, CEO of branding and marketing firm TBGA, no career opportunities should be out of reach, and no marketable skill should be above exploring or exploiting.
“When browsing open positions, keep an open mind about how you can apply your experience and abilities to address the company’s current needs,” Alemany said. “When you submit your application, include a note where you clearly state which of your skills could transfer to the current role.”
See your employment search as a blank canvas, with your skills and background serving as your paints. Don’t get too tied down to anything, and make an effort to be open to all options present at this uncertain time.
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2. Turn the job search into your job. While the unemployment rate is declining after a record 14.7% spike in April, that doesn’t mean job seekers should ease up on their searches. Not in the least.
If anything, the unemployed need to pour all of their time and mental resources into securing that next gig. Apply the same urgent, proactive nature you would use while executing a project for your boss.
Check job boards daily, reach out to recruitment coordinators and contacts after submitting your application materials, and make time each day to exhaust all avenues. You can even dip into your network to see whether any former employers or colleagues know about open positions or promising companies that’d be a good fit. Be diligent about your search to unearth the results you want.
3. Keep your digital presence current. A résumé is no longer the be-all and end-all of the job search process. Your personal brand has moved online and you need to manage it and ensure that your bits and bytes brand is congruent with your real-world brand. Social media gives applicants the opportunity to build a wealth of digital samples and examples to present potential employers well before the interview.
A CareerBuilder study supports the push many employers are making toward factoring digital presence into an applicant’s job prospects. The research found that 70% of employers look at social profiles when researching candidates. Dive deeper into those numbers, and you’ll see that 37% of employers found information in those profiles that corroborated a candidate’s professional claims, while 33% came away from those social searches impressed with a candidate’s level of professionalism. Your personal brand has moved online. Manage it so you can impressive those who are making decisions about you.
Social media connects friends and families, and it can also connect you to the job and company of your dreams. You just have to keep it updated, focused, and relevant to whatever path your search is on.
4. Lean on and expand your professional network. One study found that 85% of available jobs are filled by leveraging professional connections. Think of a job search the same way you might think about looking for a new product or restaurant to try — check with the people you know and respect in order to discover potential opportunities.
If you see that a former co-worker is now at a company you’re applying to, pick that person’s brain for insights. Even if there’s an indirect connection with the company, use that bridge to get in on the ground floor of a potential job opportunity.
5. Practice the tough questions before the interview. Most employers have a file with all of their go-to interview questions. Some are the standard strength/weakness queries, while others are designed to draw deep insights out of applicants but sometimes trip candidates up. Glassdoor reviews sometimes include interview questions that companies are known to ask.
Get in front of those tough questions by setting up time to practice your answers. And practice delivering them via video. Your job interviews will be done online so master the medium so you can bolster your brand during Zoom interviews.
Research frequently asked “tough interview” questions with friends and family members and focus on how you’d answer them in front of your computer camera. Find the experiences that present you in the best light, and figure out where those experiences fit into the scope of those tough questions. The more prepared you are, the fewer surprises you’ll encounter — and the more you’ll stand out from other candidates.
6. Settle in for the waiting game. For reasons of legal compliance and circumstance, most jobs don’t get filled instantaneously. According to a Society for Human Resource Management study, it takes about 42 days on average to fill a position.
With that in mind, understand that nothing will happen immediately. Do your check-ins, keep applying for open jobs, and understand that your next opportunity won’t fall into your lap immediately. Account for that time in your search while remaining positive that your outlook will improve as long as you keep taking action.
The job market is constantly shifting, but it’s also brimming with opportunities — they just aren’t presenting themselves in the most traditional manner during this less-than-traditional time. When approaching the job market, be open-minded, steadfast, current, connected, prepared and patient. Infused with those traits, you can leverage the possibilities in your favor.
Author: William Arruda is a founder of CareerBlast and co-creator of BrandBoost – a video-based personal branding talent development experience.
Forbes.com | December 3, 2020
