How to Job Search During COVID

Job searching during the coronavirus comes with many challenges. First, many job seekers are having to do their job searches from home, while there are children and other family members present. Next, with family commitments increasing and more time spent on computers and devices, one might feel unmotivated to put the work into their job search, but now is not the time to lose steam.

Even though in-person networking and interviews are not possible during the pandemic, the fundamentals of job searching remains the same – be diligent, set reasonable expectations, track job searches, continue networking and present yourself as the best possible candidate for a potential employer.

Companies are hiring and they are looking for talent with transferable skills that can apply to any industry. As our work environment evolves, candidates who possess skills within customer service, change management, communication, process development/improvement are going to stand a good chance of capturing a company’s attention. People are still landing jobs. Now is the time to build relationships, strengthen your network and start conversations with target companies and hiring representatives.

To start, make sure you have a base resume ready and target it to the position(s) you are aiming for. Next, prepare for interviews. Presenting well during an interview (virtual or in-person) and following up are key. Also, have conversations with people in the field you want to be in. This is currency in any job search.

Lastly, something that has changed, and possibly for the better, is more people are on social media. Employers are now more open to connecting online with people, making them easier to contact.

So, what does this mean for you?
Social media can be useful and understanding how to utilize the different platforms – Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn – can give you an advantage. However, it’s extremely important that you have positive messages being portrayed on your accounts. Employers will look for “digital dirt” and if you are reflecting any non-professional behaviors online, you may not be the candidate for them.

If you don’t already have one, an easy one to start is LinkedIn. Make sure your profile is robust – reflecting your skills, experiences, accomplishments, education, career history and have a professional picture. Make this a priority and should you need guidance on how to build an effective profile, there are a number of tutorial videos on YouTube. You can even connect with us, Easterseals Veteran Staffing Network, to have a conversation with one of our career coaches.

Once you have a profile, be sure to sign up for the free premium subscription for veterans. The premium subscription allows you to send messages to people you are not connected to and research more people and companies.

Link available here: https://socialimpact.linkedin.com/programs/veterans

What else do you need to do?
Treat your job search like a job. Make time for it each day. Structure your calendar for the job search, ensuring to discuss with your family what all expectations are for you and them, while you are doing your job search. Discussion is important because it sets clear expectations.

Figure out what’s the best time of day to do your job searches and stick to it. Harness your energy to: design targeted resumes, conduct informational interviews, stay educated on subjects in your profession that make you more marketable, practice interviews, attend employer panels, webinars and network leveraging the experiences for the job search.

Finally, make time for other things – spend time with family, exercise for stress relief, eat healthy meals, engage in hobbies and find ways to relax. This pandemic is not going away soon, so prepare yourself for the long-haul.