Five job search trends of 2020 that you’ll need in 2021

The first edition of this newsletter in 2020 pointed people to industries that were going on hiring sprees. The information seemed almost obsolete a couple of months later as the world began to shut down due to the spread of the new coronavirus. Lives, jobs and livelihoods were lost and continue to be lost because of one of the worst pandemics in over a century.

A new era appears to be breaking on the horizon as COVID-19 vaccines make their way to market, though. Many people will likely want to forget 2020 ever happened once the pandemic begins to wane, but it’s important for people and organizations to learn from everything that’s happened during this year. So, as we say goodbye to this difficult year, I want to take a look back at some of the trends that will likely endure as we head into a new world of work in 2021.

Virtual interviews are likely here to stay

Job interviews were one of the first parts of the hiring process to be disrupted by the coronavirus. With in-person meetings deemed too risky, companies moved interviews online. Ultimately, many companies began hiring people without ever meeting them in person — something that was almost unthinkable at the start of 2020.

As some companies prepare to bring people back to the office, it doesn’t mean virtual interviews will fade away anytime soon. In addition to needing to stay virtual for the bulk of 2021, video interviews likely help keep costs down for some companies. The cost savings may encourage them to stick with the format.

I spoke with Sarah Johnston, who is the founder of Briefcase Coach, at the start of the pandemic to learn the best practices for video interviews. She suggested that job seekers prepare a quiet, neutral space with good lighting for interviews. They should do their research on the interviewers and keep notes in front of them to reference. Johnston also suggested talking to the camera — not at the screen. 

You can read all of her tips from that edition by clicking here.

Networking can happen anywhere — even online

Many people panicked at the beginning of the pandemic as jobs were lost and in-person networking was taken off the table. People fortunately realized they could build meaningful and important professional relationships online through written and video communications. 

Dorie Clark, who is the author of Entrepreneurial You, Reinventing You and Stand Out, told me in the early days of the pandemic that the good news is that the foundational elements of effective networking apply regardless of where the conversations take place.

She said job seekers should start networking with their existing close contacts. They can also try to rekindle old connections, such as former coworkers or old classmates.

Clark cautioned that people should be careful not to scare away new or distant connections by asking for too much too soon. Asking a person for a job referral after only one or two online conversations could spoil a budding relationship, for example.

She also said it’s important for job seekers to build a digital presence by creating content online to showcase their expertise. A person who builds their brand and footprint online in an industry can end up having people come to them with jobs and opportunities.

You can read all of Clark’s networking tips by clicking here.

Expect the unexpected

The vast majority of people feel like they had the proverbial rug pulled out from under them this year. People — especially in the U.S. — went from one of the tightest labor markets in decades to near-record unemployment in just a couple of months.

The abrupt shift in the job and labor markets was a reminder to many to keep networking, build an online presence and stay on top of their marketing materials like resumes and cover letters.

Those practices are likely to remain important as we enter 2021 and the vaccines to fight COVID-19 roll out around the world because some uncertainty will continue.

Uncertainty can obviously be stressful even if you know it’s here to stay for quite some time. Earlier this year, I spoke to some experts about the use of mindfulness as a tool to deal with the stress and anxiety tied to uncertainty. At its core, mindfulness is the practice of living in the moment and worrying less about the past and future. 

Jeffrey Cohen, who is a clinical psychologist at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, explained how mindfulness works and suggested some tools for job seekers earlier this year in #GetHired.

You can read about mindfulness and tools to practice it by clicking here.

Build a routine to keep up your momentum

A job loss or work-from-home order can take a toll on people. The routines they were accustomed to evaporate and they can feel a bit directionless.

I spoke with Lisa Orbé-Austin, a psychologist and executive coach at Dynamic Transitions Psychological Consulting, at the beginning of the pandemic to find out what job seekers can do to safeguard their mental health during these difficult times.

One of her main pieces of advice involved controlling what you can control by creating routines.

“Creating some sort of routine for the day can create a sense of stability for everyone in the household,” she said. Taking time to coordinate schedules with a partner, roommate or spouse can create normalcy, for example.

You can read all of Orbé-Austin’s advice by clicking here.

Professional development will give you a boost in the job market

As the pandemic was hitting the job market earlier in the year, people turned to online professional development as a way to get an edge in the job market. Some people worked on soft skills like interpersonal communication or time management while others looked to get more specialized training in their specific field or industry.

While the gears of the hiring process are turning again, a large number of people — especially job seekers — will likely keep turning to professional development to increase their value to employers.

Erika Andersen, who is the founder of the consulting firm Proteus International, chatted with me earlier this year about professional development. She suggested people ask professional connections who know their work for unbiased opinions on what skills they need to get where they want to go in their careers. Then, people can seek out those learning programs or courses.

You can read Andersen’s other advice on professional development by clicking here.

What job search trends from 2020 do you think will continue into 2021 and beyond? Join the conversation.

? Defining moments of 2020

Dozens of you responded to a post I published not too long ago about the defining moments of your job searches and careers of 2020. While many of you had a tough year, I was inspired to find that almost all of you learned from the challenges you faced. People who lost jobs found renewed purposes at home, for example. Others spent time learning new skills. Click here to see other defining moments offered by LinkedIn members.

? Want even more #GetHired?

I spoke with Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., who is the president and CEO of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), on the most recent episode of #GetHired Live. You can watch it by clicking here.

#GetHired Live will be off for the next couple of weeks due to the holidays, but we will be back early next year with a fresh crop of shows.

? The follow-up

The hiring process and the people behind it can seem like a mystery to many job seekers, but Zenefits’ Chief People Office Tracy Cote helped demystify that world in the last edition of #GetHired. While the pandemic has forced companies to make the hiring process virtual, the foundational elements of job seeking haven't changed. She suggests job seekers make their resumes succinct and pop. They should engage on social media to get noticed and send recruiters messages that are useful and relevant. Job seekers should also do their best to maintain their confidence during the — sometimes difficult — process. Here’s what people are saying about the advice.

? Other news to help you #GetHired:

Should job seekers think like athletes over the holidays? One job search expert told Riva Gold, my colleague, in Get Hired Canada that job seekers should approach the holidays like an NBA or NHL player does their off-season. Specifically, Rob Kim, a career strategist at The University of British Columbia, said job seekers can use the time to recharge, learn, focus, strategize and reflect. Here’s what people are saying about the advice.

You’ve heard of 9-to-5, but what about the 3-2-2? One of the biggest questions businesses will face in 2021 is where — and when — employees can work. By the time it’s safe to return to the office, many workers will have spent a year or more working from home. And many are enjoying the extra time and flexibility. Companies may let employees work from home two or more days per week, with some opting for three days in office, two days remote and then two days off — or a so-called 3-2-2 work week — according to Ashley Whillans, a professor at Harvard Business School, in #BigIdeas2021. Some employers may even cut down to a four-day work week altogether. Here’s what people are saying about the prediction. 

Here’s who’s hiring right now. As I’ve said before, we’re doing our best to connect you with companies that are still hiring during these troubled economic times. Part of that effort is a regularly updated list of companies we know to be hiring. Some of those include Amazon, Walmart and CVS Health. Click here to see more.

? Up next:

A fresh #GetHired will be out Monday, January 4, after the New Year! We’ll be talking about goal setting and what you hope to accomplish in your job searches and careers during 2021. Tell me about your goals and how you plan to achieve them by clicking here.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to reach out to me if you have ideas on topics or questions I should address in future editions of #GetHired. You can also email me at GetHired[at]LinkedIn.com.