How To Make Your Job Search Less Stressful During Covid-19

Show:

May 13, 2021 Career

Securing a decent job was a hectic endeavor long before COVID-19 came about. After the pandemic hit, finding a job became even more challenging as economies went into recession and companies started downsizing. However, some decent opportunities still exist out there, but you can only take advantage of them if you know where to look and what to do.

1. Polish Your Resume

Before you even start looking and applying for new positions, scan your resume and cover letters and make sure they are updated.

The pandemic made so many changes in the corporate world. For instance, many companies have adjusted to the new normal by allowing their employees to work remotely. Your documents must reflect your ability and willingness to work under these difficult times.

It’s pretty obvious that different jobs will have different requirements. Therefore, it doesn’t make any sense to use the same resume on all job applications. Look at the description of the position you are eying and customize your CV to align with the company’s expectations for the ideal candidate.

In the modern age of AI, it’s critical that your application contains the right keywords for the job. This increases the chances of your resume passing the initial screening stage. If you didn’t know, some of the top hiring companies use algorithms to scan through applications identifying the ones that are a good fit for the position in question. It makes sense for firms to use AI tools since most of them receive hundreds of applications making it humanly impossible to go through each application.

Therefore, adding relevant keywords at the right places makes it easier for the AI to pick your application and pass it on to HR. For instance, if you apply for a position in a digital marketing agency, keywords such as SEO, PPC, funnels, google analytics, and content marketing will help you stand out from the crowd.

2. Monitor Social Media Platforms

Social media is an excellent way of staying in touch with employers. Some companies are also switching from publishing their openings on hiring websites to social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn.

Hiring agencies also advertise new openings on their social media pages. By monitoring these pages, you’ll always be aware of new opportunities as soon as they are announced. This gives you the advantage of being among the early applicants.

Something else you should know is that hiring managers are continually monitoring the social media pages of prospects. They’ll check LinkedIn, Indeed, and Facebook profiles of promising candidates before or after the interviews. It’s critical that the managers see a profile that resonates with their brand as a company. Therefore, make sure your pages are a reflection of the professional you are.

3. Network

Staying in contact with the right people opens doors to opportunities you could have never dreamt of. But, how do you get these contacts in the age of lockdowns and travel restrictions? Social media is the answer.

LinkedIn is one of the biggest professional platforms on the internet. Polish your profile and start building networks with some of the companies or professionals you would love to work with.

Facebook is another brilliant platform for building networks. There are dozens of professional Facebook groups out there that you could join at no cost at all. The best part is there is virtually a group for every profession you could think of. Some fields even have multiple groups.

These online societies will help you stay in touch with the profession you love. You’ll get information on the emerging trends within your career which should help you make the proper adjustments to make yourself more marketable. You’ll also get the opportunity to interact with influential people that can give you valuable referrals making the job hunt less stressful.

4. Be Flexible

Flexibility and open-mindedness will open new doors for you. Don’t get too caught up with the specific job you want and ignore other opportunities that could be the stepping stone to your ultimate goal. As you hunt for your dream job, keep an open eye on other options that could be beneficial in the short term. And who knows where such opportunities may lead you.

In the same manner, maintain an open mind on the remunerations you expect. With so many companies struggling to stay afloat, you need to be mentally prepared to receive offers that are below your expectations. This is a problem affecting many industries across the world.

The good news is the season of weak wages is expected to pass as the major economies recover. This will give you the opportunity to renegotiate your compensation in the future.

5. Boost Your Skills

Many people would argue that this is the perfect time to increase your skills. There are plenty of online courses offered free of charge from reputable colleges, including the likes of Havard and Stanford.

Some courses charge a small fee, but they provide a recognized certificate showing you’ve done and passed the program. This strengthens your resume even further.

In addition to boosting your employability, these courses can also equip you with valuable skills that you could use to generate revenue while hunting for a job.

For instance, a short, affordable course on something like Pinterest Marketing allows you to start making money online, working for only a few hours per day. Online surveys and focus groups can also get you extra money which you could use to fund your short course and meet other needs you may have. All these options will only take up a few hours of your day, yet they can give you enough money to make your job search less stressful.

6. Maintain A Positive Mindset

The truth is there will be some really bad days during your job search. There will be moments when you are excited about an interview you’ve just completed, only to receive a crushing regret email the following morning.

It’s critical to maintain a positive mindset through this period. Don’t let the temporary setbacks stop you from filling new applications.

Job hunting needs some patience. Understand that the storms in the current market will not last forever. Economies will get better, companies will drop their recruitment freezes, and wages will improve. So, continue making those applications and staying in touch with your networks.