How to land a job during Covid-19
No matter how far along you are in your career, going out and looking for a job can be tough. Often it's a long and tedious process of sifting through recruitment websites and LinkedIn, to eventually find one or two openings that might fit you and your skills. You apply, only to never even hear back. It can be a serious blow to your confidence, which makes it hard to persevere.To make matters worse, the current global pandemic has done nothing but magnify these challenges. There's fewer openings and more people applying. However, you're not alone in this boat. So many before you have been in those shoes, and they've made it through. And we're here to help you along the way too. We've prepared some tips and advice specifically focused on getting you through the application process and into the virtual interview chair, during the ever changing state of the jobs market.
Keep Going
Our first and most important piece of advice - don't give up. Don't let a bunch of unsuccessful applications get in the way of your goal. Jobs come and go, and often it's about being in the right place at the right time. But if you don't put yourself out there, you'll never be successful. Be realistic and expect some applications to not go your way. Move on and look forward to the next opening, because if you're prepared to battle through and keep your head in the game, you'll eventually get that win.
Try something out of your comfort zone
If you have some experience in an industry, but you're finding it hard to get something in that field right now, why not consider something else for a while? Skills that you pick up in one industry are often highly transferrable to another, so not only would it mean an income, but you'll be upskilling yourself along to way. It doesn't have to be something you see your long term future in, but who knows - you might end up enjoying it.
Upskill
Don't look at time out of work as a time to sit around and do nothing. Every employer will be looking at what you did with your time when seeking work. Take a step back and see what skills you could improve or learn in order to better qualify yourself for the next position that comes your way. Consider doing a part-time diploma or course, or maybe it's time to refresh your knowledge on your industry so you're razor-sharp for an interview when one comes along. If you're a recent graduate, be willing to familiarise yourself with the industry you're trying to break into. Examine what skills others in that area talk about on LinkedIn. If you don't match them, now is the time to upskill and get yourself there.
Find a career coach/partner
You shouldn't be alone on this journey. Having someone to bounce ideas and applications off is always high valuable. It doesn't necessarily have to be a career guidance professional. You could reach out to a friend, family member, ex-colleague or even someone completely new on LinkedIn, and ask them for advice. Having someone by your side can help you make clearer decisions and figure out how best to present yourself. Maybe they went through this process themselves before?
Be ready for the interview
You can never 'too prepared' for an interview. So many people forget this crucial step along the way and fall at the last hurdle. Interviews are even more difficult now as many are conducted on Zoom, which makes it hard to make a connection to a recruiter. Always rehearse beforehand and run mock interviews, and learn the 5 p's of communicating confidently in an interview to ensure you create a lasting impression.