7 Important Things To Consider In Your Job Search During COVID

Job searching at any time can be stressful, let alone job searching during a pandemic. So what are some of the things you need to consider if you are launching a job search during COVID? Read on to find out.

Here are 7 important things you should consider if you’re starting a job search during COVID.

Review your situation

Firstly, if you’re looking to change jobs out of choice rather than a necessity, then it’s worth reassessing your plans and reviewing your situation. While there are definitely companies that are hiring, the situation is uncertain due to the pandemic, and the number of vacancies available is not what it was before Coronavirus. What’s more, as more companies enter difficulty and make redundancies,there are more people looking for jobs.

Whether you feel its time for the next step in your career, or you’re in a job that doesn’t fit, if you do choose to make a move, make sure you thoroughly analyze the market.

Focus on the companies and industries that you plan to target. Keep up with the company news so you can be as sure as possible that any move you make doesn’t put you in a difficult situation down the line. And if you feel that you can hold off, then this might be a good option for now.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look for a new job if staying with your current company isn’t an option and it also doesn’t mean you won’t find a new job if you do have to job hunt right now. Read on to find out how to maximize your chances if you are having to job search during COVID

Be flexible and play the long game (This is especially important for a job search during coronavirus)

While it’s important to have clear expectations and to know what you want when you’re looking for a job, with the current situation in the job market, you might need to be a little more flexible than you would have been in the past. But take heart. Remember that nothing lasts forever. If you are in a situation where you must make compromises, know that this is just part of your career journey and not the final destination.

What’s important is that you find a way to make things work for you during this difficult time. This could mean making a lateral move or being flexible about the industry, location, or some other aspect of your job search.

Network and get connected

Companies love referrals and recommendations. Hiring through this method typically means a quicker hiring process. And hiring someone that’s been recommended by a current employee is also seen as less of a risk. Since they know someone who works in the company, they’re likely to understand and fit well into the culture. This makes them more likely to stick around. Finally, when you recommend someone, you are vouching for them. This puts your own reputation on the line. Meaning that employees will only recommend people they can count on and trust.

Since priority is given to referred candidates, one of the most important things you can do in your job search during COVID is to reach out to your network and see if anyone works at or is connected to the companies you’re applying to or that you’re interested in. If they are, rather than submitting a cold application, ask for a recommendation- this could result in a win-win for both of you if the company has a formal referral scheme.

But what if no one that you know works in or is in any way connected to a company you want to work at? And what should you do if you don’t have a very big network?

If you’re in this position, then here are 3 networking ideas that could benefit your job search

Join groups

Whatever industry you’re in, there’s likely to be a group that you can join. This could be a LinkedIn group, a Facebook group, or another group associated with your expertise, industry, or even interests.

You could end up meeting the person that connects you to your next opportunity. And if not, it’s a potential source of support which is crucial during a difficult job search, especially during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Attend virtual career events

In-person events might be canceled, but this doesn’t mean career events are a thing of the past. And while you might associate career fairs with University and the start of your career, there could still be a lot of value in attending a virtual career fair even if you’re beyond your first job. According to this article in Forbes not only is it significantly cheaper to attend, but you could also be removing the possibility of bias based on your physical appearance.

Informational interviews

Informational interviews are valuable in so many ways. As well as being a great way to learn about different roles and what it’s like to work at different companies, they’re also an opportunity to connect with people in companies that interest you. You can use them to build relationships and make yourself known. Keep the focus on gathering information and learning more, but be sure to let them know that you would be interested in the company should anything come up.

Be targeted and tailored

If you’ve been made redundant, and you’re worried there aren’t enough jobs out there, you might be tempted to start applying to anything and everything, giving little thought to how tailored your approach is. But this would be a mistake, and will only jeopardize your efforts in a job search during COVID.

The more competition there is, the more important it is that you stand out. The best way to do that is to take a little extra time to tailor your resume/application to the position and company you’re applying to.

As surprising as it might sound, I’ve seen people stating that they’re passionate about finance or sales, on an application for a marketing role or worse. This clearly didn’t help them stand out as the perfect candidate. It shows a lack of care and attention as well as raising concerns about whether or not you have a real interest in the role you’re applying for.

While this might be an extreme example, it does happen and it’s these little things that can make all the difference, because, even with the perfect experience for the role, if the first sentence on resume summary states that you want to be doing something else, or even that your dream is to work in a totally different industry, it raises concerns and doubts around your suitability.

Maximize your use of Linkedin to your advantage

Linkedin can support your job search in more ways than you probably realize. As well as searching for jobs, be sure to explore the companies you’re interested in. Follow them, find and contact recruiters that work there and let them know you’re specifically interested in the company. Connect with the managers of the teams you’re interested in joining.

This isn’t about being spammy, remember it’s important to be tailored in your approach. Let them know why you’re interested in working there and why you’d be a good fit. And let them know you’d be open to finding out more about the company and future possibilities, even if there isn’t a position available now.

Make sure you’re Linkedin profile is complete and stands out

If you look at someone’s profile on Linkedin, high chances are, they’ll look at your profile back. And when they do, you want to send the right message. What’s more, you need to make sure you leave nothing to chance. This means taking the necessary steps to make sure you can get found easily by recruiters. This is always essential, but critical if you’re looking for a new job during COVID, due to some of the job market challenges I highlighted previously.

Make sure your profile is complete with:

A professional-looking profile picture
An attention-grabbing headline,
All your past employment with a few highlights for each role
key skills complete
Recommendations
Endorsements ( A great tip for getting endorsements is to give endorsements)

Another great tip is to make sure you follow the company page as well as competitors and other experts or relevant people in the niche. This gives the impression of someone who is interested and engaged. When recruiters search for you, if you follow the company- Linkedin will flag you as someone who’s interested in their organization and therefore more likely to respond to an approach, which helps you to stand out.

Make sure your resume is up to date and flawless

Finally, if you have to start a job search during COVID, as stressful as the situation is, don’t overlook your resume. Yes, these are strange and difficult times. This just means that you need to do everything you can to showcase your strengths and suitability.

If you’ve taken all the steps above, don’t let your resume let you down with minor errors and inconsistencies. For example, resume dates not matching dates on Linkedin or dates not even making any sense. Another mistake is having formatting issues, or the use of unsuitable styles, designs, or fonts.

One thing you might be worried about right now is the possibility of having to take a sidestep, a step back, or even having to take a role that doesn’t make sense on your resume. If this is a concern, remember that the Coronavirus pandemic is something that everyone’s going through. Therefore, everyone’s aware of its challenges. Recruiters won’t judge you based on one career inconsistency, or gap, but on your whole career history and the full package that you bring to the table. The important thing is to be open and honest about the situation you’re in and to try your best not to worry about work too much. If you do find yourself unable to stop worrying, then consider these 35 powerful questions to coach yourself through COVID and beyond.

BONUS TIP:

On a final note, be kind to yourself and make sure whatever happens you make time for self-care. As corny as this might sound, the road ahead is long and the most important thing is that you get through this with your health intact.