Covid-19 has brought many uncertainties in the job market. This has led to a whole new world of job hunting. With an increasing number of businesses closing down and an increase in the unemployment rate, standing out in the job market is now even more important.
Job hunting can be quite challenging and feel like a whole job in itself. And this has become even more frustrating due to the Coronavirus. However, it’s important to be resilient and stay optimistic. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to stand out while job hunting during a pandemic.
Refresh your CV
It has probably been a while since you last had a proper look at your CV. In order to stand out while job hunting it’s important to critically analyse your CV again. Take the time to update your work experience and make any necessary improvements. When you have a job and are not actively job-hunting, you don’t actually realise how fast the job market changes.
For example, some sentences and words on your CV may become outdated and a turn off for employers and recruiters. Also, you might need to look at rephrasing your work experience responsibilities to help your CV pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
Don’t stop networking
Yes, even though we are going through a pandemic, networking is still very important and a crucial part of your job search. In fact, building strong relationships is now more important than ever. Even though many people have unfortunately lost their jobs, there are also a number of people who have secured exciting new roles and promotions with the help of their network.
Sometimes one door closes so that a new door of opportunities can open. So don’t feel ashamed to reach out to your network. Especially during these times, many people are more than willing to help out someone in need of a new job or opportunity.
Become a pro at video interviews
Video interviews are not a new invention. However, as the pandemic is forcing many of us to stay indoors, video interviews will even be more important now. Spend time practising video interviews, for example via Zoom.
It can be quite challenging to show off your personality and skills when not having face-to-face interviews. This makes it even more difficult to stand out and convince employers you’re the right candidate for the role. So take the time to practise, practise and practise.
Be flexible
Not only has the pandemic been tough on job seekers, businesses are also learning to cope through these uncertain times as well. So in order to stand out, this might require quite a bit of flexibility on your end. For example, this means that processes might take a bit longer than usual.
Also, you may need to be willing to work from home more than expected or work flexible hours etc. Being flexible, however, does not mean that you need to settle for just any job – Absolutely not. If needed, don’t be afraid to negotiate the job offer.
Invest in yourself
This is exactly the right time to start investing in yourself again. When you’re working full-time, you may not have the time to invest in yourself as much as you want to. If you have been furloughed or made redundant, now is the time to learn or even perfect your skills to enhance your CV and job search.
Besides learning a new skill, you can also start doing something you really love and turn it into a side hustle. There a quite a number of encouraging stories where people who lost their jobs have turned their side hustles into successful businesses – Yes, during the pandemic.
