The COIVD-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down and unfortunately, you can’t put your career on hold indefinitely.
Ideally, you should put off looking for a job right now. Tens of millions of people have filed for unemployment and that means the labor market is suddenly flooded. Furthermore, most companies are in no position to hire. Most HR departments are more focused on managing pandemic-related issue than they are on hiring new employees.
However, everyone’s situation is different and some people, for either personal or professional reasons, need to find a new job right now. The job market isn’t all doom and gloom either. Logistics, e-commerce and other industries are seeing a massive surge right now and they need people to meet demand.
If you are currently looking for a job in these uncertain times, consider the following tips.
Be Proactive
More than ever, it’s essential to be assertive in a job search. Research your industry and the companies within it to see if there is a need for your abilities. Then, email customized applications to the best-fit openings that appear. Don’t be afraid to reach out to hiring managers to gauge their interest in your candidacy.
Be Positive
If you let fear convince your there aren’t any job opportunities right now, then you won’t find opportunities. If you concentrate on all the reasons you shouldn’t waste your time with a job search, you won’t get a new job. You must embrace a positive, can-do mindset.
Regardless of whether or not it feels odd to be optimistic right now, a positive mindset will keep you concentrating on finding best-fit opportunities, as opposed to settling anything because you’re convinced it’s all that’s out there at the moment.
Having a positive mindset will also be appealing to prospective employers. In all your job search interactions, ensure you project resiliency and the ways you can deal with adversity. These are always sought-after qualities, but they’re especially precious right now.
Be Targeted in Your Approach
This isn’t the time fire out resumes to every opening you are remotely qualified for, or opportunities for which you are overqualified. A job search should never be about playing the numbers game, even in the midst of a global pandemic. A job search should be about communicating the best rendition of you in an effort to make a genuine connection with a hiring manager. Always prioritize quality over quantity.
Be a Networker
Simply because we’re all social distancing doesn’t mean you can’t still network. Rather than meeting for coffee, you should be having virtual chats or phone conversations.
Think about how many people are desperate for a human connection right now, and how some people might be more than happy to talk to you about anything other than COVID-19.
We Can Assist with Your Job Search
At SMCI, we are well-prepared to provide you with any career assistance you might need right now. Please contact us today to see how we can help with your job search.
