COVID-19 and Job Hunting

I’m not a medical professional and I’m not a true optimist (more of a realist), but the one thing I am sure of is that “this too shall pass.”

While you are waiting for some sense of normalcy to return, my thoughts turn to productivity.  Whether you are unemployed and looking for work or unhappy in your current role but temporarily at home under quarantine; may as well make the best of the situation.

Some companies have implemented a hiring freeze.  Many companies have shut down and sent employees home.  That puts a serious crimp in their ability to recruit for new workers.  That doesn’t necessarily mean the need for those workers has gone away. In some instances, it doesn’t even mean they’ve stopped recruiting. Some of those companies are still recruiting from home.  Conducting phone interviews or on-line interviews and sometimes meeting people outside of the office.

Offer letters are still being extended with a tentative start date sometime in the future…so with everything else you have to be worrying about; wouldn’t it be nice to know that when everything goes back to normal, you have a new job to start?

What to Do While You are Waiting

• Polish up your resume. Make sure there are no typos.  Make sure it is targeting the type of work you are seeking. Run it by some friends and professionals (remotely) for review and advice.
• Network! Just because you can’t or shouldn’t be doing it in person, there is still:  email, phone, Skype, Facetime, WhatsApp, etc.
• Check out the job postings. While they have slowed down quite a bit, there are still some jobs posted.  Even if you don’t apply, you can keep an eye on what is appearing so you’ll know where to apply when the time comes.
• Check out the information on-line about what companies are doing during this stressful time. Network with your friends to see how they are doing. How are they being treated by their current employer.  You can learn a lot about a company’s culture/environment from how they treat their employees.

Help

There are still many people out there who can help you: career counselors, resume writers, and recruiters to name a few.  Many of us work independently and often remotely, so a phone call is a common and convenient way to connect.

Stay positive.  Don’t let the uncertainty get you down. Everything changes in time…this too shall pass!