Companies are still hiring.
It may be hard to believe but jobs are still being posted, job seekers are still being interviewed, and employers are still making offers. But that doesn’t mean job searching during COVID-19 is easy. In fact, during this uncertain time, your job search probably feels less certain than ever before.
The key is to bring the focus of your job search back to what you can control.
Making a recruiter respond? Not in your control.
Willing the interview process to somehow spontaneously become expedited? Not in your control.
It may seem like you can’t control much, but I’m here to tell you about 10 things you definitely can influence.
1. Update Your Resume
Now couldn’t be a better time to take the time to update your resume. Being stuck at home, you might be wondering how to fill the days. I say, spend some time dusting off and brushing up that old resume, or better yet, starting over to make sure it’s up to current, modern standards.
If you’ve been laid off due to COVID-19, you’ll need to address this on your resume. Here are a couple videos to help you with that process.
2. Include Ways You’ve Thrived Through COVID-19
How have you picked up the slack at work during COVID-19? In some cases, there are reduced workforces, which means more work for you. Note in your resume how you kept your team, department, or company running like a well-oiled machine.
3. How Have You Led Teams Through COVID-19?
How have you kept your team keeping calm and carrying on during the pandemic? If you’re a leader, or want to be a leader, make sure you note on your resume how you’ve guided your teams and helped them with navigating this uncertain time.
4. How Did You Enable Remote Work?
This is largely for the IT folks: how did you implement tools or workforce solutions that enabled teams to work remotely?
5. Are You Working Remotely? Call It Out.
If you’re working remotely, call it out on your resume and also point out how you ensured minimal downtime, maintained service levels, etc.
Hint: If you want more remote work, this is important to show that you are more than capable of working remotely.
6. Get Really Comfortable With Technology
Work has gone remote and so has interviewing. Make sure you’re really comfortable with the technology used for interviewing. Set up your interview environment, do some practice runs, and make sure all your hardware works properly (web cam, microphone, speakers).
7. Have Virtual Coffees
Networking with no pants required? Networking has never been more comfortable. No need to show up to an event and drink cheap wine and see how many business cards you can hand out. Instead, it’s never been easier to set up a virtual meeting, including a virtual informational interview, to learn more about your target roles, companies, and to build meaningful relationships.
8. Use LinkedIn Like It’s Going Out of Style
While increasingly more people go remote, they’re spending increasingly more time online. But what doesn’t change is that human need for human connection. LinkedIn provides this all with the added benefit of physical distancing.
9. Warm Up an Old Relationship
COVID-19 is a great icebreaker. Use this time to reach out to old contacts and ask them how they’re doing during this uncertain time.
10. Take Care of Yourself
Your physical, mental, and emotional health should be our #1 priority. Without them, you can’t work. #selfcare
Let me know how you’re doing during this uncertain time.
If you have any questions about your job search, please join me every and any Friday on LinkedIn for my #OfficeHours. Just search by the hashtag #OfficeHours, or visit my profile any time on a Friday.
You can also always reach me on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram.
TL;DR: If you prefer watching rather than reading, check out the video with 10 tips for your COVID-19 job search.
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