Controlling the Controllable: 5 Tips to Set Yourself Up for a Successful Job Search

Raise your hand if this is your first pandemic. Yup, me too. I find myself saying “what a weird time.” at least 5 times a day in conversations because there’s really no easy way to wrap your head around what’s happening. 

The job market completely shifted in just a few days as well as everyone’s situations at home. We are home. Just home. I tell myself it could be much worse, but I still cry at the drop of a hat. I cry sad tears when I see healthcare workers on the frontlines that can’t be with their families and I cry happy tears when I see a new mom meeting her baby for the first time after 11 days of being quarantined. Ok, I sobbed on that one. 

Now that we are home 24/7, I’ve tried to limit my access to the news. It’s hard not to be on this emotional roller coaster but at least I can tune out and bake some muffins from scratch. That didn’t go well by the way. Limiting my exposure to the media and baking inedible muffins is something I can control.

Some people are homeschooling their kids between Zoom calls and some people are finding the ability to go for a walk (socially distanced of course) or scoring that grocery delivery window to be the highlight of their day. Getting some fresh air and produce is something we can control. 

I’ve been lucky to not have my role affected at HubSpot, but my husband’s job has been placed on hold. We’re dealing with a new dynamic at home and taking everything day by day. Our toddler Griff doesn’t need to be homeschooled but he certainly requires a lot of attention and balancing everything has been challenging. My son is doing laps around our kitchen island as I type this with Baby Shark blasting to give you a proper visual. Playing Baby Shark on repeat because it makes my toddler happy is something I can control. 

If your role has been directly impacted by COVID-19 or you had just decided to kick your job search into high gear before this all started, you might be feeling a little lost at the moment. And that’s ok, but there are things you can do right now to set yourself up for a successful job search that are in your control:

1. Map out your goals:

It sounds simple and obvious, but having a set of goals in place is key in tackling your job search. In today’s climate, this is a time to be focused yet flexible so try to have clear cut goals, but also don’t be rigid. 

Build out a list of your target industries, companies, and job titles. It’s best to focus on the companies you admire and would want to work for and then start looking into the openings listed on the site. Focus on which companies you want to work for and who you can reach out to at those companies. 

2. Improve and enhance your social media presence:

It’s time to clean it up. If you wouldn’t want your grandparents to see it, then delete that post or make sure your privacy settings are up to date. Future employers are looking at your internet presence. 

Focus on your online resume, LinkedIn. Make sure your work history is up to date and add detailed responsibilities about your past roles. When recruiters are doing searches, we are using keywords and boolean strings to find you. Make it easy to get found for the roles you’ve mapped out. 

Create content and/or start getting involved in the conversations online. If someone you admire posts something, don’t be afraid to leave a thoughtful comment. 

3. Reach out to your network:

Rekindle relationships with current connections. With the current climate, I find that people are happy to hear from people they haven’t heard from in a while. We’re all longing to socialize like we used to and it’s nice to hear from a familiar face.  

Make new and targeted connections. Over the past month, I’ve been having informal conversations with people I’ve never engaged with in the past. Make sure to send a thoughtful note and avoid vague questions. Be deliberate and thoughtful and offer something of value on both sides. 

If you are looking to pursue a specific role within a company, find a person currently in that role and send them a request to connect. Follow up with a brief and genuine note on why you are looking to connect and they may be willing to hop on a call. It doesn’t hurt to look for mutual connections or overall commonalities and share those as well. 

4. Look into honing your skills and interviewing style:

This applies to both soft skills and hard skills. If there are certain areas where you’ve received feedback to improve upon, now is the time to think about how that could be important in a new role you are targeting. 

In terms of hard skills, have you been putting off that workshop or training? If it’s available, then it’s time to sign up. You can also ask someone in your network how they developed their skills. A lot of companies are offering free trainings that you can take advantage of as well. 

We often use the STAR method at HubSpot for our interview process. Preparing answers to behavioral questions is a great way to showcase your skills in a thoughtful way. 

5. Focus on what brings you joy and allow yourself to have off days:

Our People Operations team has been talking a lot about things that bring us joy and some of the things we miss. Some of us have found joy in virtual workouts with friends and the extra time with family. It’s also ok to miss those leisurely trips to Target and giving your friends a hug when you’re within 6 feet of one another. 

This applies to your job search too. This can feel like a job in itself and it’s important to take breaks and focus on your mental and physical health. Try to find a path that truly motivates you but don’t put a ton of pressure on yourself. It’s ok to not wake up every single morning and want to apply for roles. Take some time for yourself and do something that brings you joy. 

Here's to controlling what we can control and coming out on the other side of this as a stronger community and hopefully better dancers. I see you on TikTok and I’m here for it.