Searching for a new job has always been a tedious process. You’re in a pool of several other candidates who are often just as qualified as you, and any number of factors could determine whether or not you’ll actually get the job.
But the job search in 2021 has its own unique difficulties. The pandemic has restructured the way organizations employ, and the kinds of skills they are looking for. Even though it may feel like the odds are stacked against you, there are several factors on your side.
Because the nature of work has changed, you have the opportunity to stand out above the competition before everyone completely adapts to the new normal. Here are 7 ways for you to take advantage of this new horizon.
Get In The Job Hunting State Of Mind
One of the first things you learn at job seminars is that looking for a job is, in itself, a full-time job and you need to treat it as such. This means committing to the process and doing everything you can to become a better candidate.
You can start by writing down a list of job sites that could be great for you. These may be general job boards or more niche ones like those that share leads on English tutoring jobs. Make it a point of duty to visit these sites regularly to look out for new opportunities.
You should also schedule time for other relevant activities, like networking, submitting applications, and communicating with people in the right positions.
Polish Your Online Presence
Even though everything is changing, employers still vet employees in many of the same ways. For example, they may Google your name just to see what comes up. Your first step, even before you apply for jobs, is to see what the first impressions of you will be.
LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram will be the top results so you need to clean those up and make sure you look like an employee that fits into an organization’s culture. That means removing offensive photos, polarizing tweets, and drunken rants.
Make Your Linkedin As Professional As Possible
LinkedIn is your most public CV so you need to dial it in. Get a professional headshot as your profile picture and make sure your experience matches whatever you have on your CV. You also have the chance to highlight some of your strengths by asking your network for skill endorsements and recommendations (if you’ve worked with them.)
While we’re talking about LinkedIn, you should harness the platform’s power by searching for jobs in your area. LinkedIn allows you to create job alerts that match your search, expertise, and experience.
Another great idea is to network with hiring managers and develop a relationship with them. By engaging with them (commenting on their posts and sharing), you stay on top of their minds and they’re more likely to think of you when opportunities come knocking.
Tweak Your Resume
One mistake people make all the time is using one resume for all their applications. This is a terrible mistake because some irrelevant work experience will probably find its way in there somewhere.
Instead, create multiple resumes based on the various job roles you’re applying for. That way, you can include all necessary experience and skills without making the document too bogus.
Also, don’t forget to include any volunteering experience you have. These are great because they are extra experience points, and it shows that you are conscientious.
One unique thing you can do is to reflect whatever skills or knowledge you picked up during the pandemic. It shows that you’re conscientious and are self-motivated enough to turn a negative situation into a positive. Even if you only attended one webinar, it doesn’t hurt to include it.
Focus On Pandemic-Proof Industries
This may not be possible for you because of your background and past experience. But if you can, focus on industries that survived and even thrived in the pandemic. We hope we never get another pandemic, but if the past 2 years have shown us anything, it’s how quickly things can change. You want to work in an industry that continues to grow despite unfortunate global phenomena.
One industry that stayed strong was tech and telecommunications. If anything, companies in this field actually grew – zoom became a necessity for business, and internet demands shot through the roof. Individuals in these fields will find it easy to stay in the job, which is great for you.
Another industry to look out for is E-commerce. Despite the challenges of 2020, Amazon and other large e-commerce companies continued to grow, and even hired employees to keep up with the demand. Smart brick-and-mortar stores also pivoted to e-commerce to stay open.
Do Smart Research
Job seekers often apply to several organizations before ever landing an interview. So it’s unreasonable to research every single organization that receives your resume. But if you ever get called into an interview, you need to do some due diligence.
Employers want to know what you’ve heard about the company, and why you want a job there. Luckily, most organizations publish information about their operations online. The official website and social media accounts are a great place to begin.
It’s also a great idea to find out what you can about the role you’ll be occupying. If you can stalk the previous employee on social media to see what their day-to-day was like. That way, you can have even more insight into what the company expects from you.
Show That You Can Work Remotely
Working from home is not as delightful as we first thought, and everyone is starting to realize that. Show that you have the focus and self-motivation to work from home by taking some related courses. LinkedIn has some free materials on this subject.
The Bottom Line
The job search is tough, but not impossible. You can get the job you want by following the same path others in your position did. And thanks to this article, you’ll be ahead of the competition.
Follow Technoroll for more!
Editorial Staff of the TechnoRoll, are a bunch of Tech Writers, who are writing on the trending topics related to technology news and gadgets reviews.
