TSP • @myTSPnet
With the United States facing an unemployment rate of 10.2%, many Americans are wondering how they will regain employment when COVID-19 passes. Of employees who have retained employment during the pandemic, over one-third are working from home. That is a 25% increase from previous work from home numbers. Many will likely not return to traditional office space for the remainder of the year, if ever.
So, with the downturn in the job market and change of venue for unaffected jobs, what can those looking to return to the workforce post-COVID-19 expect? Keep reading to find out what it will take to find a job after COVID-19.
CONTINUED EDUCATION AND CREATIVITY
With unemployment numbers sky high and climbing, job seekers can expect stiff competition. To keep your skills fresh and mind sharp, look for free online courses in areas that interest you or that are important for your industry. There are boundless resources for continued education such as Coursera, LinkedIn Learning and even YouTube. Coursera is offering unemployed workers access to over 3,800 free courses to ensure you stay learning and are putting your best foot forward post-pandemic.
AN INTRIGUING RESUME AND PORTFOLIO
Now more than ever, your resume and portfolio must be updated and unique to your brand. Having up-to-date documents that highlight your work skills, experience, education and accomplishments is arguably the most important tool when searching for a job. A resume is essentially a personal advertisement. Think of it as how you can make yourself look like a product employers will want to invest in — you’re essentially a human product when job searching.
Potential employers are also looking for portfolios, so make sure yours is updated, modern and eye-catching. Portfolios are a useful tool to showcase the skills and experience you highlighted in your resume. With the number of job seekers on the rise, the more you have to sell yourself, the better.
BROADENING YOUR NETWORK
Before COVID-19, job sites such as LinkedIn, Indeed and Glassdoor were flooded with opportunities of all kinds, but now the sites seem bare. Because of the lack of job postings, you must get outside of your comfort zone and network.
This period of self-isolation is the time to call on the people you know to enhance your connections. Connect with old friends and colleagues via text or email and simply check-in. How you make people feel now will linger far past these turbulent times. While in-person networking is paused, groups like Creative Mornings have moved their events to Zoom. Facebook groups are another great way to get your name out there. All it takes is a quick search of ‘your profession in your area,’ and presto, you’re now connected to several hundred — if not thousands — of other industry professionals in your area. It only takes one connection to find a job.
FLEXIBILITY
Being flexible while hunting for a position is key. While most companies are not hiring full-time employees at the moment, they might be looking for freelance or contract help. Freelance may not be your most ideal scenario, but it’s a form of income. Allowing yourself flexibility with the exact job and industry in which you are searching increases your likelihood of finding employment. If you typically would prefer an agency environment, try searching for corporate workplaces instead. Expanding your possibilities will increase your opportunities.
PATIENCE IS KEY
In the post-COVID-19 world, you will not find a job overnight. Unfortunately, It'll likely take over a year for the job market to fully recover from COVID-19. Your best strategy for job hunting is to be proactive when searching. Regularly check job boards such as LinkedIn, Indeed and Glassdoor and even email companies directly to see where they stand with hiring. Stay persistent and patient and your hard work will pay off.
Maintaining a positive outlook is paramount in this job market. Having a negative outlook won’t increase the chances of finding employment — employers will pick up on your negativity. It’s going to take time, flexibility, determination and maybe even a refresher course or two to land a job post-COVID-19. But, remember that this job market isn’t permanent — it will get better and you’ll find a job. It may not be your dream or forever job but securing a job post-COVID-19 will propel your career and open up opportunities down the line.
