5 Tips for Job Hunting During a Pandemic

The last few months have been tough. Adjusting our lives due to Covid-19, finding our feet whilst adapting to a new normal has been challenging to say the least. For people who were previously contemplating a role – or even an entire career change, then it’s difficult to know just how much this pandemic will impact your plans. While certain industries are still hiring, there is no denying that market uncertainty has led to some recruitment being frozen.

Of course, people’s health and wellbeing is the first priority at the moment. But for those who were set on making a career move before the outbreak, what should you focus on now? Is it just a case of sitting tight and waiting for the storm to pass, or are there things you could work on right now?

Here are my 5 top tips for looking for a new job during a pandemic

1. Create a written action plan

Many professionals are working from home full-time at the moment. With existing commitments in the form of our current job, home-schooling, and caring for loved ones – looking for a job can be hard to prioritise. If a new job is something you are committed to, you need to reflect and write down your action plan.

The most common concerns people have with creating a plan on their own is that they don't know where to start. Truth is, it doesn’t matter exactly where you start – there is no one magic formula towards job hunting, so simply start by creating an action plan. To achieve your goals you need to start somewhere, and we are much more likely to achieve things once they are written down.

Write down your end goal, as well as key milestones and actions you want to complete on the way. You might want to work on your CV, research current vacancies online, or work on increasing your professional network. Whatever you decide to do, write down your next steps and most importantly – put time aside to put your plan into action.

2. Know what you’re aiming for

During uncertain times, it can be tempting to take a scattergun approach to job hunting – throwing lots of applications out there and seeing what sticks. This is also a common approach for those that have experienced a set back or two. Untailored and unfocused applications are a sure-fire way to wind up with a lot of rejections, which can cause your self-confidence and motivation to take a real hit.

Write a clear list of what you’re looking for in your next job. List your non-negotiables, your ‘nice to haves’, and what you want to avoid. To help with this, reflect on what you have specifically enjoyed in previous roles and more importantly the things you wish to avoid in a new role. What do you want to start, stop, and continue in your next job?

3. Reconnect with old contacts

Whether you are looking for a new role immediately, or at some point in the future, career moves are helped by having a healthy professional network. Start by reaching out and reconnecting with old friends and colleagues. Do so with the genuine intention of reconnecting and checking in with them, rather with the sole objective of wanting something from them.

Be mindful of the context in which you are reaching out – you don’t know how the pandemic may have impacted them personally. Express a genuine interest in how they are doing in your communication, and reflect on what you have to offer to help reconnecting feel reciprocal, rather than transactional.

4. Proactively extend your network

We’re often told “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. I would challenge this and say it’s not just about who you already know, it’s about who you meet and how you nurture these relationships. Very few people are gifted with a large, active network. Your network has to be worked on consistently and proactively.

Write a list of your ideal employers and check your LinkedIn network to see if you are already connected with anyone that works there. Ask friends and trusted connections for new introductions, and ask considered and curious questions that will enhance your commercial awareness and build a rapport with employees.

As with checking in with your existing network, be sensitive to the current situation and think what you may be able to offer to the person you’re contacting. This could be a genuine and specific compliment to work they have visible, and offer to introduce them to someone in your network, or engaging with their content on LinkedIn.

5. Focus on personal development

Times of change are often times of reflection and we certainly have time to reflect at the moment! If you could wave a magic wand and improve your skillset in a particular area, what would it be? Networking? Public speaking? CV writing? Personal Branding? Decide one or two specific areas for development, and brainstorm ways you can improve them over the next few weeks. These may even fit in with your action plan and help you achieve your goal.

There are many fantastic online courses on everything ranging from coding, leadership, networking, and personal branding – some of which are now available for free during the pandemic. Do your research – particularly for paid courses – and make sure you block out the time to finish what you start.

And finally…

If you are going to convince someone to hire you either now or in the future, you need to be confident enough to get your best self across at interview. It’s not easy to stay positive when looking for a job – even without the added anxiety the current situation has caused.

Focus on what you can control, and take responsibility for managing your mindset as best you can. This doesn’t mean feeling happy all of the time, but it means doing what you can to focus your brain on what you want to focus on. Rather than focusing on the problem (“I don’t have a job/career that makes me happy”), focus on possible solutions (“What can I do today that might help me get a job that makes me happy?”).

Make time to look after yourself. Whether this is through meditation, FaceTiming friends and family, or getting an early night, remember that you are not facing this pandemic alone.

Take control of what you can in your job search, and most importantly – stay safe.

For further advice and guidance on how to optimise your job hunt specifically to your industry, Karey-Anne offers Employment Assistance. You can reach her by emailing: [email protected]