Job hunting during a period of a pandemic and economic crisis isn’t easy. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be successful.
Back in 2020, America experienced a collective wake-up call as Covid-19 hit. I’ve taken this advice from a senior American recruiter published in Forbes, back then.
It’s good advice as landing a job is still bloody hard.
Do:
Broadcast your career ambitions to your personal and social networks openly and be willing to get leads and introductions for new opportunities. Start by asking for referrals from family, friends and previous co-workers/bosses.
Diversify the types of companies and industries you are job searching in, regardless of your prior experience or skills. This will protect you from losing all your job prospects in the event that one particular industry struggles during your search.
Focus on companies that aren’t overly dependent on discretionary consumer spending because it will likely be among the ones challenged for a meaningful recovery.
Consider freelance and contract opportunities if you are nearing a financial hardship.
Have multiple variations of your resume available for different jobs and industries, using relevant industry language where appropriate.
Have a 30-second elevator pitch about your skills and experience memorized and ready to use in any daily interactions you may have with neighbours, local business owners, and prospective employers.
Remain positive, persistent and ambitious. Everything is cyclical and things will get better.
Don’t:
Don’t compromise significantly on large salary variations from what you can demand in the market today. It will be much harder to work your way back up to where you are now.
Don’t try to make upward leaps in job scope and responsibility if you aren’t moderately qualified for the job. Taking this risk could increase the likelihood you don’t last in that job and may put you right back to where you are now.
Don’t limit the places you are looking for new opportunities. No candidate is too attractive to not leverage job boards. Google, LinkedIn, Indeed, Seek and other platforms should all be sources for your job search.
Don’t take a job that requires relocation or drastic change in your lifestyle unless you will be fully compensated for any and all relevant expenses.
Don’t stop investing in learning new skills that could make you more marketable in a healthier economy.
Don’t constantly listen to news or TV programs that repeatedly harp on the economic challenges – just take action and stay focused on your goals.
While some of these tips may be obvious, others may be the right message you need to see right now.
Being proactive and energetically searching for your next career is the only sensible thing to do if you are without a job or nearing that point.