For students graduating college and those on the job hunt, the pandemic has dealt tougher times than usual. Jobs have been lost, 64% of summer internships were called off, and hiring for entry level positions has been reduced by 68%. With the new year around the corner, you may be losing motivation...
But don’t let your guard down just yet, companies are still hiring! You just have to adapt to a new virtual world. Forbes explains how the rules have changed during the pandemic and what you should be doing to ensure you stand out to potential employers.
This week, we asked George Washington senior Emily Lou and Rutgers University senior Hamza Elfilali how they are handling the job search during a time when all traditional guidelines are thrown out the window. It’s no longer firm handshakes and coffee chats, now it’s all about maintaining eye-contact with your laptop camera and a stellar LinkedIn profile.
Know Your Value & Be Concise
When GW college senior Emily Lou was asked about finding a job during the pandemic she was more optimistic about her answer than one might imagine.
“Finding a job is always difficult because the job market is so competitive, [and] finding a job during COVID is definitely more difficult than usual but not as hard as I thought. I’ve had a lot of work experience in the past and that allowed me to get internship opportunities even during this difficult time.”
If you have the experience and confidence, it will be easier to apply for jobs and put yourself out there. But even if you feel you don’t have enough work experience, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply--you just need to market yourself accordingly. Make sure you’re using key words from the job description in your resume and cover letter. Your extracurriculars, volunteer work, and hobbies can also be included on your resume.
Prepare your elevator pitch ahead of networking events or an interview to boost your confidence. Knowing your capabilities and skills and then being able to articulate them will help you when pitching to recruiters. In a time of uncertainty you’ll need to be clear on what you’re looking for so you can pinpoint jobs that interest you and really invest time in those applications.
Networking
If you’ve been keeping up with The Niche Movement, you know that we’re big fans of networking and LinkedIn. During a time when finding a job is highly competitive, the more connections you have, the better. Still aren’t convinced networking is worthwhile? LinkedIn reports that you’re more likely to receive a job offer if you have a connection at the company. Although networking can be time-consuming, it’s still an important step when you’re job searching. Lou expressed her take on networking in a virtual world.
“I found that there’s more flexibility with networking because they’re all virtual, so you don’t have to dress up in business-casual and attend events in person. But that being said, there’s also less personable interactions and virtual networking can feel very robotic and forced.”
There are definitely upsides to virtual events like more relaxed dress codes and less time wasted on getting ready and physically getting to the event. But connecting through a laptop screen also isn’t always the most efficient way to make personable connections. You can combat networking fatigue by reminding yourself that these interactions should be genuine, not transactional, and that there is knowledge to be gained from a conversation.
Try challenging yourself to attend a number of events per month or invite a colleague to attend virtually with you to hold you accountable. There are other ways to network besides Zoom events, try engaging more on LinkedIn or other platforms by commenting, liking, and sharing other posts to expand your connections. Check out our previous blog post Networking 101: How to Build Your Network Online about making meaningful connections virtually.
Flexibility
Although you should be strategic with your job search, it also helps to be flexible and adaptable. Companies are changing the qualities they look for in candidates and what they will be asking of their employees during and after the pandemic.
McKinsey explains that companies are looking for more independent employees who can operate fully online and keep up with the quality of work. They also want to hire people who have greater strategic thinking skills and can think about multiple tasks at once. Make sure you research the job responsibilities, use keywords in your resume, and be transparent about what you do and don’t know, and express your willingness to learn.
Something else to consider is your flexibility with location. Rutgers senior Hamza Elfilali explained how COVID-19 has changed expectations he had for companies.
“Many companies are on hiring freezes and I’m unsure if I will get to work in my city of choice or if I’ll be asked to work from home.”
It’s completely appropriate to be concerned with the location of your potential future employer and employers should be transparent about expectations regarding remote versus in-person work. But it’s also important to note that companies are doing the best they can to keep their employees safe and comfortable. If a relocation or work-from-home order is asked of you, you need to be clear about what works for you.
Job searching during COVID-19 isn’t easy but hopefully this blog lifted your spirits and motivated you to keep applying. For more advice on staying positive while looking for jobs, read our blog post from earlier this year.
It can be challenging and discouraging to be ghosted or rejected from a company, but it’s all part of the process. Make sure you have a clear goal, keep networking, and stay flexible so you can maximize your chances of landing a job. For more guidelines on how to network during a pandemic, read this Wall Street Journal article.
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