Tips for Job Seeking During Coronavirus
Job seeking can stressful at the best of times. But in recent months, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has added another layer of complexity. It’s business, but not as we once knew it. It’s business, but not as we once knew it. So how do you proceed from here in such an uncertain time? How do you best position yourself to find secure employment, taking into consideration the “new normal”? Here are some things to consider and some tips to help you navigate through.
Job seeking can stressful at the best of times. But in recent months, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has added another layer of complexity. It’s business, but not as we once knew it. Many things have changed. Some industries such as hospitality, tourism and retail have experienced significant hardships, whereas others such as information technology, customer service and delivery services are booming.
Depending on where your skills and experience lie, this could also affect your job search, the type of roles you apply for and the interview process. So how do you proceed from here in such an uncertain time? How do you best position yourself to find secure employment, taking into consideration the “new normal”? Here are some things to consider and some tips to help you navigate through:
- Your skills: Previously, you may have been employed in the hospitality and service industries that are now struggling. If this is the case, then you may need to update your skillset to reflect the current market. There is a high demand for staff in customer service, food delivery services, logistics/warehousing and cleaning roles. If you do need to retrain and reskill in another area, there are many courses available that you could research online, but if you are unsure of where to start, an AimBig Employment job coach can help to guide you in the right direction.
- Technology: With many businesses moving to virtual work and interviewing, now is the time to ensure your computer skills are up to scratch. Depending on the type of role you would like to apply for, now could be an excellent time to undertake a basic office computer skills course (which will also help you with the following point).
- Job seeking: Nearly all jobs are now advertised online, so you need to monitor job boards such as Seek, CareerOne Gumtree and LinkedIn. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, it is a good idea to create one to help you to stand out from the pack and network directly with businesses and human resources contacts. The JobOutlook website has a wide variety of resources to help you decide your next career move.
- Interviewing: Interviewing as we know it has changed, with many companies are now discussing roles with candidates via the Zoom video conferencing solution, so it is a good idea to download Zoom onto your PC and familiarise yourself with video conferencing. Maybe you could practise with a friend to make sure that when the time comes and you score that interview, you are all ready to go.
- Prepare your resume: If you haven’t already done so, you need to prepare a brief resume with a cover letter. If you are applying for your first job, then a cover letter may be all you need, outlining how the skills you learned at school and in everyday life could relate to work. The Seek website has some sample resume templates that you can download if you need some guidance, and CareerOne has a handy tool where you can upload your resume for evaluation. Ask a friend or family member to help and proofread your resume before sending. Ensure that your contact details are precise so that the company in question can call or email you at any time. Once you have your resume ready you can…
- Contact employers directly: Job seekers can often be reluctant to approach employers directly, but the job-seeking market is competitive, and you need to do what you can to stand out. Even if the employer doesn’t have any roles currently advertised, reaching out directly to an employer shows initiative (a great quality that employers look for when recruiting) and they are likely to keep your resume on file for when suitable roles do come up. Call the company in advance if you need to get the email address of the correct person to send it to. Then carefully construct a polite and friendly email with your resume attached and wait for the phone to ring.
Yes, the job market is competitive, but don’t let that deter you. Many employers would be more than happy to employ someone with disability, and there are many employment options available. We currently have several roles available that could suit you.
If you need any guidance with any of the tips provided above, AimBig Employment can help. Call us on 1300 034 997.
