April 08th, 2020

Job Search Strategies In Times of Uncertainty

With news of 10 million filing for unemployment benefits, it's enough to send us all running and confused. 10 million??? How am I ever going to land a job or transition to another job if there are so many out of work?
Here's what you need to do:

1. Don't stop your job search. There are millions of job losses, and yet there are millions that will be created. I.e. Now more than ever, remote positions are surfacing and will be the norm. What we always wanted is finally becoming a reality. Companies that have been reluctant to embrace the remote work style will start to realize that using remote workers may be their only key to survival. So start evaluating your job skills and areas of expertise, and begin to explore what industries and positions may align with what you can offer. You may be very surprised.
2. Be one of few, not one of many. If you think that sending off traditional resumes and applying online to dozens or even hundreds of positions will land you an interview, think again. Even before this crises, the average success rate for getting a phone screening call and interview for jobs applied to online was a meager 3% success rate. Yea, you heard it 3%. That's the one of many approach ... Now is the time to differentiate yourself from ALL the other job seekers. Companies are now thinking, "Great, with so many unemployed, we can get the best of the best" ... so the key is, you must prove to them that you are the best solution to their needs. That's the candidate who gets more interviews and more offers.
3. Polish your sword. Don't sit at home watching reruns of Netflix and sit it out. Establish a schedule. Stick to it and start learning new skills sets. Start looking at job descriptions and see what employers are seeking, then learn those skills. Think of yourself as a business and you need to build up your inventory of services to offer to potential customers. This is the perfect time to do this, don't waste it. Furthermore, learning new skills will prevent you from getting bogged down in the crises we are all facing, and give you light at the end of this currently, quite dark tunnel.

Stay safe, don't stop searching, differentiate yourself, and get that sword polished for battle.