In the wake of this surge in closing businesses and unemployment, landlords, banks and property renters are pausing payments on housing, businesses, and other properties while tenants find a way to recover. With the need to find a new job in the wake of mass layoffs, now is probably the best time to work on readying yourself for the application process again. The job market is going to be extremely competitive when this is all said and done and many people are going to have to prepare to re-enter a market that will be more competitive than when they last had to enter.
The resume is the backbone of every job application. For people who have held a steady job for a long period, many will find that their resumes haven’t been kept up to date or that they only apply to a certain industry. Money.com suggests that the best way to adapt to this is to reframe your skills and experience to fit a different industry, such as turning a position like “team coordinator/supervisor” into “management and leadership experience”. Employers will be looking for individuals with both hard and soft skills to refill positions once they reopen, and those skills need to be made clear when you apply. Money.com also suggests that you utilize this time to pick up new skills. A few weeks ago, we published a blog entry discussing some of the most in-demand skills that employers are looking for and the best tools to help you learn them, such as edX, Coursera and Udemy just to name a few, with several of them offering free intro-level courses to get you started. Adding more in-demand skills to your resume is a surefire way to get employers to take notice of what you’ll be bringing to the table.
Another huge aspect of the work environment and finding employment is networking. While everything from businesses, restaurants and networking functions seem to be on hold for the time being, that doesn’t mean that you can’t try to network during this time. Forbes suggests using social media, LinkedIn, and webinars to help expand your network and get you to find people who can help you on your job path. Another great way to network within your community is to help others who need assistance. Not only does it allow you to get out of the house for a short period and do some good, but it also shows to others that you are willing to make sacrifices to help others, which isn’t just the quality of a good employee, but also one of a great person. The most important thing to consider when networking, however, is to consider the context of the situation. Many people are still adjusting to a new situation, whether that be balancing working and caring for children, caring for family members who are ill or any number of things that could be causing them new levels of stress, it’s important to know that not everyone will be able to respond to you as soon as possible. A simple follow up a few days later is certainly better than not reaching out again.
Going into an interview will probably be one of the hardest things once you go looking for a new job. Interviews can be one of the most stressful parts of the application process. In a previous blog entry, we discussed some of the best strategies for succeeding in an interview, but right now less and less of those seem to be taking place. However, much like learning new skills, many outlets provide ways to sharpen your interview skills and reduce anxiety when the real deal comes around. There are various simulations and exercises online that can provide insight into your strengths and weaknesses as an interviewer and help you fix any hiccups you may run into.
While getting back to normal may seem like it’s a long way away, hopefully, it’s sooner than we all think. Having time to improve your skills and tune up your resume can be invaluable in finding a job once the quarantine is over, and finding the right tools to help you grow as an employee can make all the difference.