Job seeking during corona outbreak !

As companies move to remote work to fight the corona virus pandemic and an increasing number of workers are being laid off or furloughed, you might be wondering if you should continue to send out resumes or just assume that no one is hiring for the foreseeable future. It’s true that economists are predicting a recession, but career experts say it’s best to keep networking and applying, provided you change your approach a bit to acknowledge these are uncertain times.

With all that said, you can still be actively working on your job search. These tips will help you navigate the process during the pandemic and the accompanying economic slowdown.

1.     Consider How Urgent Your Search Is

If you can afford to put your job search on hold, you may want to wait it out, because it could be challenging to get on a hiring manager’s radar right now. If you’re not employed, don’t think of your next job as the perfect job. It might be short term.

While many industries have and will continue to be hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, others are still hiring. If you’re unemployed and need a stopgap, consider looking there or wherever else you can find an opportunity that makes sense for you and pays the rent and puts food on the table in the meantime.

2.     Get Comfortable Networking Online

Events will be cancelled for a while, so you’ll need to find a new networking strategy. Seek out like-minded professionals online and ask about virtual events. Look for professional groups to join on Facebook and LinkedIn. Both platforms offer a wide range of options with groups for every profession.

3.     Stay In Touch

Maybe you recently had a promising interview and a job offer seemed to be on the horizon, but now the company has moved to remote work and you haven’t heard from the hiring manager. What should you do? Check in with the hiring manager by email, acknowledging that they might be scrambling to help their employees get used to the new setup,

Make sure you also demonstrate a thoughtful attitude. Rather than asking them to help you, ask if there is anything you can assist them with. Networking should be driven by what the company needs and how it matches up with your superpower.

4.     Gather Intel

The COVID-19 crisis can provide a unique glimpse into company culture. Take note of how leadership deals with this emergency and treats its employees by following the company on social media and watching for any media coverage. For instance, is the company allowing employees to work from home? Are they supporting workers in other creative ways? Did they lay off staff?

5.     Use the Time to Reflect

Job seekers often jump at the first available opportunity or go into their search without fully considering what they want to do next. Take advantage of the slowing job market by getting clarity about where you want to work and the type of role and title you're seeking.

Be prepared to think about your role more broadly and possibly pivot to an adjacent position that would also make use of your experience and skills.

6.     Boost Your Skills

Now is the perfect time to work on bolstering your qualifications. Analyze job descriptions by listing each required skill and experience. Then consider whether you have that exact skill, if you have the skill but haven’t used it in a few years, or if you’re lacking the skill entirely. Use that information to determine what you need to brush up on to make yourself an even better candidate when the job market picks up again.

During an economic slowdown, it’s important to focus on what you can control, improving your skills and reaching out to your network. You can lay the groundwork now so that when the crisis is over you have opened doors and rekindled relationships.