Searching for your next job during a pandemic
What is it like searching for a job during a global pandemic?
It certainly has not been easy.
Along with the thousands of other Americans who have lost their jobs during these trying times, you are fighting for a chance to get in front of a recruiter. And once you do, how do you stand out?
Now is the time to prepare.
At Slalom Florida we talk to dozens of candidates every week and are actively looking for great people to join our team. Here are a few pointers for standing out and separating yourself from the competition.
This may sound obvious, but focus on your resume…
Your resume should be the first priority. Recruiters look at several resumes a day and making sure yours stands out is crucial.
Many people use a boilerplate resume for every job application. This is a mistake. Tailoring your resume to align with the skills outlined in the job description makes it easier for recruiters to find the information they are looking for. Often, recruiters seek key words critical for the position. For example, if you are a software developer this could be specific coding languages or technologies. Directly mapping your skills and experiences to the job description will improve your odds of being noticed, which is the first gate to getting hired!
While it is critical to make sure you possess the experience required to be successful in the job, the best firms are not just looking for people who have done the work, they are looking for impact.
This makes it critical to quantify your success.
A good rule of thumb is to make sure each line describing the work you did led to some sort of business result. This could be growing revenue, cutting cost, or driving innovation, among others. In the age of COVID, budgets are tight, and companies are looking for impact. Make sure you make it clear what you have accomplished.
A final point on developing a good resume is, and this should go without saying, before submitting take the time to edit and review. Make sure verbiage is correct and that there are no grammatical errors. You would be surprised by the number of resumes that get turned aside based off simple writing errors.
Develop new skills
As you begin looking for a new job, take time to get new certifications and learn new skills. Employers will notice this and acknowledge your hard work during your time off. This is especially true if the skills and certifications you acquire are relevant to the role you seek.
So, if you want to be a certified scrum master or product owner because you have had some exposure in your previous roles, then the next best thing to do would be to become certified.
Do not be discouraged by certification prices. Often these certifications will pay for themselves after you receive a job offer. There are also a ton of free learning websites that can help advance your tool set: CodeAcademy, Udemy, PluralSight, just to name a few. LinkedIn also offers free learning courses for the top ten jobs in demand, check it out here!
Prioritize communication
One last tip: Don’t fall off the radar! Over communicate and keep in contact with recruiters. Be transparent and be honest about your job search. If you are constantly popping up in a recruiter’s inbox, the chances of getting a reply are much higher.
Make sure to exercise your network too.
Previous contacts and friends can help with getting you in front of the right people. Don’t forget to send follow-up thank you messages to those who have assisted in getting your foot in the door and remember to stay positive and patient.
Wrapping up…
We are living through challenging times. The last decade included the longest economic boom in United States history. Unemployment was at an all-time low and many of us were in jobs that we loved. Unfortunately, COVID has fundamentally changed our economy. Businesses are rethinking hiring and resource plans from the ground up. Now, job searching can take months… while this process is difficult, it is important to not get demoralized. We believe if you follow the simple steps listed above it will greatly increase your odds of finding a position. Keep your nose to the grindstone and the right opportunity will arise.
And if you are interested in learning more about what we are building at Slalom Florida, check out our open positions, or reach out to us directly on LinkedIn!
by Isabel Toledo, Morgan Soladine and Laura Hohnhaus
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