How the Pandemic is Changing the Job Hunting Industry

The year 2020 was considered a virtually “unwanted” year when the world took a painful pause. The COVID 19 epidemic wreaked havoc across the world. National economies collapsed, and millions were suddenly left jobless. Fortunately, as the pandemic abates and the world enters 2021 with the promise of a vaccine, people now have bright glimmers of hope for a better year.

But the COVID-19 pandemic definitely instigated a drastic change in the world of business, including job hunting. Companies have restructured operations, strategies, office design, floor plans, and other factors to instill the safety of their staff while keeping their business alive. We have to face the possibility that these changes may be in place for quite a long time, if not permanently.

Thus, if you want to flourish in your job hunting journey, you accept and adapt to these new business practices.

Online Application and Recruiting Process

According to important info on COVID-19, the SARS COV-2 virus is transmitted through droplets of oral or nasal moisture from infected people. Often, these droplets fall and stay for quite some time on surfaces. Inhaling these droplets, or touching contaminated surfaces then touching your face, can run the risk of infection. In other words, being in close proximity with another person—such as a physical interview—can increase your chances of becoming infected.

Thus, companies are now more open to online applications. You may need to fill up application forms and entrance tests online. Interviews may be done via Skype, Zoom, or some other video-conferencing application.

The prevalence of online applications may require you to update your computer, increase your Internet speed, purchase a headset and camera, and so on. You may need to rearrange your background so it wouldn’t look messy on camera.  We also suggest recording yourself on a mock interview so you’ll have an idea of what your potential recruiter can hear and experience.

Home Workstation Upgrade

Pre-COVID-19 while working in our offices, we enjoyed the high-tech servers, computers, and other tools. The company funded these expensive and powerful pieces of equipment, so we tend to take them for granted. Post-COVID-19, however, businesses are rapidly embracing the concept of remote work.

While working at home seems like working in paradise for many, it puts others in a quandary, especially if their job requires a massive amount of computer power. This is especially true for computer programmers, graphic designers, video editors, and other professionals that need powerful machines.

If you’re applying for such a position, you may need to invest and upgrade your equipment at home to match—or come close to—the specifications and performance of your equipment at the office. By doing so, you’d be able to maintain a consistent turnover for your tasks, assignments, and projects. It’s really frustrating to suffer sub-par performance on sub-par equipment when you’re used to working on fast and powerful equipment. Not only that, the business may be affected if you’re working on critical tasks on equipment that fails to perform as expected.

Tough Competition

As 2021 starts, people will be racing to find a job. The competition will be absolutely fierce; in fact, HR departments of various companies are now overwhelmed by massive amounts of applications. In this dog-eat-dog era, only the most proactive people will win.

Thus, don’t sit on your haunches. Don’t wait for a vacancy for your ideal job within your dream company; chances are it won’t happen any time soon! Remember that people are hanging on to their jobs by a thread.

You need to take daily actions in searching for a job. Don’t limit yourself to job sites or want ads. Proactively search jobs in other avenues such as social media groups, discussion forums, directories, and other sources. Build a profile in platforms such as Upwork, FlexJobs, and Freelancer then check out available jobs that fit your skills. Finally, you can ask around if they can help you find job openings; word-of-mouth is still incredibly effective.

Comprehensive Online Profiles

When you apply for work, employers often want to know more about you than what you submitted in your CV or application form. The more employers know about your capabilities, the more you have a chance of getting that job.

Thus, create or update your online profile on LinkedIn, LetsLunch, MeetUp, and other professional networking services. Having one such profile gives employers a glimpse of your professional career. Don’t forget to update your social media account as well. Clean up your social media of stuff that could give viewers the wrong idea that you’re not a professional.

It’s also highly recommended that you publish a blog, video channel, photo portfolio, or podcast that focuses on your specialties and skills. In that way, potential employers can see the actual results of your capabilities. Results are way more concrete and persuasive than just the information you send in your CV.

Patience, Understanding, and Empathy for Employers

As more and more people find jobs, employers are swamped with applications that they need to sift through. They get anxious and tired as well as they look for the right candidates. Processing applications is not an easy or quick process.

Thus, be considerate to employers. Be patient, and don’t follow them up too frequently. A single follow-up email after two weeks of non-reply would be fine but don’t overdo it. If the employer doesn’t call you within a week or two, most likely, a person has already filled up the position.

Conclusion

It all sounds really hard. Just like in all things, job hunting, especially in hard times like the COVID-19 pandemic, can be quite challenging. But don’t worry. Follow the tips mentioned above. Most importantly, persevere and never give up. The right job is just waiting for you.