Five Tips for Landing a Good Job During COVID-19 Recovery
Searching for a job is never a light task, but it becomes much more onerous during an economic downturn. The fact that we are in the worst economic dive since the Great Depression is certainly disheartening. But there are ways for jobseekers to get more informed and creative in seeking employment as we gradually recover from the economic impact of COVID-19. Considering the emerging economic and social opportunities during the post-pandemic recovery could be a big help.
Rooted in the most recent data and insights, below are five practical strategies and tips that could help if you are looking for a fulfilling job right now:
1) Refocus your job search — not all sectors or firms are equally hit
While the pandemic shook the global economy to its core, and no country is left untouched, it’s important to realize that its effects on sectors have been divergent. Some sectors and firms have been affected much more than others. For instance, air & travel, automotive, apparel/fashion are among the hardest-hit. Thus, in your job planning, it’s critical to consider that recovery in these sectors might take a long time — some of these industries might even transform permanently. The scale of their operations and the size of their workforce might never be the same again. Boeing, one of the top aircraft manufacturers, recently announced that it was cutting 10% of its workforce. The famous hotel chain Marriott International issued a leave of absence to tens of thousands of employees. The examples are many — and it’s unclear how the ‘new normal’ would look like in these sectors.
Accordingly, instead of concentrating your job search on sectors that are in turmoil or potential transition, you can explore opportunities in less-affected sectors, such as IT and banking. Don’t forget that many occupations exist across sectors too — you don’t have to be a software developer or a programmer to work in the IT sector. During COVID-19, for instance, Zoom and Slack added many new positions ranging from accounting and sales, to customer care and finance. Remember, though, that changing industries still requires you to identify and highlight your transferable skills, such as communication, leadership and creativity, in your resume and job applications. These skills show that you have the potential to perform well in any sector.
2) Learn new skills and knowledge — the need for talent (and learning) is ever-lasting
Even during crisis times, there are still new job openings and some employers are still in search of talent. Right before the pandemic, 54% of companies in 44 countries reported difficulties in finding the talent they need. Accordingly, one of the effective ways to find good quality employment is to become that highly sought-after talent — through learning and acquiring new skills. Continuous learning was already an increasing trend before the pandemic, but now the time frame for reskilling or upskilling ourselves has drastically shortened.
First, it’s important to stay up-to-date with respect to which skills give you that edge in the job market. A pre-pandemic study by LinkedIn underlined that the three most in-demand technical skills were blockchain, cloud computing and analytical reasoning. But the uncertainty created by COVID-19 now requires us to be more innovative and adaptable than ever. This brings soft skills such as creativity, collaboration and persuasion to the forefront. They might be even more important now than technical skills to be an in-demand employee.
Then comes the question of how to best acquire these skills. Online learning has had a spike due to the COVID-19 outbreak, such as in the formal education system and professional development platforms. Even without a resource or time-intensive degree program, there is lots of free or low-cost content available to acquire the skills needed in the market like coding or software development. You can hone your soft skills through leveraging online learning opportunities too. But practice makes perfect, and networking can give you that chance to put your communication and interpersonal skills to the test.
3) Network with professionals virtually — the time is right for connecting
Networking has always been essential to finding jobs that are never posted or become public. However, COVID-19 might have permanently transformed our in-person coffee chats into virtual ones, at least for the foreseeable future. Social distancing is likely to remain a norm long after the shutdown restrictions are lifted in many countries, so we will be keeping our communications virtual — including for professional purposes. This makes it a conducive time to expand your network by reaching out to experts and professionals in your field through social media platforms, following their work and engaging with the content they create.
How do you make the most of virtual networking? It is critical to reach out to not just any professional, but those that you can learn from, and as we sometimes tend to forget, those that can learn from you. Most effective and long-lasting networking relationships are those that benefit both parties involved. Remember also that we are going through stressful times for everyone — being friendly and compassionate is really important to maintaining and advancing your professional relationships.
4) Revisit your personal branding — invest some time into your professional reputation
Searching for a job requires you to invest some time in your personal brand, especially to position yourself for jobs in the organizations and sectors that you are targeting. If you follow the latest trends in a particular topic, and write and communicate about it regularly, your network becomes much more likely to acknowledge you as an expert in that field. Sharing your insights and thoughts through writing blogs and commenting on the posts of colleagues and other experts could come a long way. Again, being informative and friendly in how you interact with others pay off in strengthening your professional image.
The recovery from the pandemic is actually a good time to elevate your personal brand. We are inevitably spending more time online, and we are actively looking for new and engaging content — not only for personal but also for professional use. The thought pieces you create and share today is more likely to catch the eyes of the professionals and thought leaders that you’d like to connect with — when we don’t have to spend time on commutes or travels.
5) Don’t forget the basics — apply strategically & always customize your resume and application
Remember that the basic principles for successful job search does not differ that much across times of crisis or stability. You have to be strategic in which jobs you apply to — where your skills and expertise are most relevant, or from an employer’s perspective, where you could bring the most value. This doesn’t mean, though, that you have to fulfill every single listed requirement in the job post. Women in particular are more likely to not apply for a job if they don’t meet all the requirements — and this approach can harm your job search. So the takeaway is: Be strategic in the jobs you choose to apply — but also be confident in your skill sets and expertise.
The same principles apply to your resume and cover letter. You have to customize these documents for each and every job post that you are applying to. You might feel that this is burdensome, especially when bills are piling up or when you are dealing with the mental health effects of being under lock-down. But remember that you are trying to beat the competition and showcase your talent, and generic applications unfortunately serve neither of these goals.
Keep in mind that job search always takes time and effort, even during an economic boom. Sometimes, reaping the benefits of your newly learned skills or expanded network may not happen immediately. But don’t forget that these tips are useful not just for your immediate job search, but your longer term career growth.
As a final word — these challenging times will eventually be behind us, and things will get better. Be positive and resilient!
