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How to Find a Job During Covid-19

How to Find a Job During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the job market to unprecedented levels. As of June 2020, Trading Economics reported that the national unemployment rate was 11.1%.

In these times of ongoing uncertainty, job security seems like a fleeting wish. From layoffs to furloughs, thousands of people have been left to search for alternative employment. Finding a job amid a pandemic can be daunting, but here are five tips to help boost your chances of finding a job during COVID-19.

1. Seek the Help of a Recruiter

Job boards can be overwhelming and not very time efficient. Building and maintaining a relationship with a recruiter is a fantastic way to get access to job opportunities that are not posted on job boards. A recruiter is going to help place you with the best job opportunity they can find. This is going to help you be able to focus on nailing the interview instead of scrolling through job boards for hours on end.

2. Call on Your Network

Having a network of industry professionals is beneficial for several reasons: advice, mentorship and career help during a pandemic. Your network of professionals want to see you succeed. Now more than ever, people understand that job security is fragile and most often, they want to help you get back on your feet.

Reaching out to your network and inquiring about job opportunities is a strong move that will produce favorable circumstances. Use LinkedIn or email to reach out and inquire about open job opportunities. You never know when a friend of a friend is looking for their next employee – which very well could be you.

3. Go Directly to Company Career Pages

Job boards have always been overwhelming and at a times a lost cause. Thousands of people are applying for the same jobs and the chances of your application being missed are high. Instead of spending your time combing through job listings, identify several companies you would like to work for and apply directly through their career page.

Taking this route to apply for a job shows the company that you took the time to review their website and research who they are. This is a sure way to stand out among the other candidates who applied through a generic job board.

4. Make Your LinkedIn COVID-19 Friendly

Make sure that your LinkedIn profile is up to date – including your profile picture. There is a feature that adds an #OpenToWork filter to your photo. Other job seekers may not be thinking about doing this, which puts you ahead of the game. By updating the LinkedIn profile with #OpenToWork branding, the candidate communicates that they are actively seeking work and that their unemployment is likely due to COVID-19 circumstances.

Showing that you are actively searching in the middle of COVID-19 will make potential employers see that you are a dedicated worker that will show up and do your best despite any circumstances. Having this branding on your profile will help you stand out from the rest of the applicants.

5. Highlight Your Transferable Skills

Applying for a job during COVID-19 means that you might have to seek out alternative industries. If applications in your regular field are not fruitful, it is time to highlight your transferable skills and seek employment elsewhere.

For example: if you have worked in marketing for several years, but found a job in communications, take that opportunity to show your potential employer that your time in the marketing industry has produced applicable skills to the communications job. Whether you realize it or not, transferable skills are the thing that will help you stand out. Showing that you are flexible and eager to fill in any missing gaps will impress a potential employer and just might get you a call for that first-round interview.

In the midst of uncertainty, these are several steps you can take to elevate yourself as a professional. There are tons of resources and actions out there that will help you stand out to future employers. Above all else, remain positive and know that your next employment opportunity is not far away.

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