Without any argumentation, the general consensus of people would agree that finding a job during COVID-19 has been very difficult. With the landscape of entire industries changing over the matter of a year, even keeping previous positions is tough with the current pandemic. The downturn has somewhat favored employers more so than employees, but everyone is really in shills right now. In the United States, more than 100,000 small businesses shut their doors. The UAE has projected that it will take several years to recover from hits to it’s own local industries. Hospitality, hotels, restaurants and travel have all taken formidable turns in the wrong direction.

 

As a fresh graduate, or someone looking to transition into a new role, the scene may seem dim. However, the current climate does open up a lot of industries for job seekers. While the market is rife with competition, alternative hiring practices have opened up jobs for many seekers across the world. You can be in Barcelona working in Algiers, or Medellin working from a company in Berlin. Now is the time to capitalize on these opportunities and find the best possible position for yourself. While you can’t affect the market, you can always maneuver to make sure you get what you want out of it!

 

First, understanding the timeline of corporate recruitment is key to knowing when to apply for positions. Companies usually dedicate the first quarter of operations towards business planning, development and other internal processes. During the next few months, hiring begins to open up more as the strategy put into place is moved into action. This really gives leeway to more hiring in the later months, mainly through September to November. Now that you know what your up against (and when to go up against it) here are 4 tips on what to do to find a job as soon as possible:

              Improve your brand on LinkedIn

Now is the time to shift your time and effort from Instagram, Facebook & Twitter towards the best platform from business networking. Going through it with a fine-tooth comb to present the best possible image of yourself is key. This includes a balance of adding and removing. Add updated photos of yourself (even relevant photos of you working are valid.) Make sure that all your previous experience is updated. LinkedIn also allows a feature to link in certifications that you have, this is a quick way for potential employers to know what skills you potentially bring to the table.

         Highlight transferable skills to your resume

Transferable skills are those that have practical application to the position you are applying to. These are categorized as system oriented skills, personal skills and people skills. System oriented are those based upon knowledge that allow you to conduct your job as effectively as possible. Personal skills are those that are innate within yourself (like punctuality and time management.) People skills are those that allow you to lead and organize teams. All skills that revolve around these are considered people based skills.

Reach out to potential co-workers

Taking the time to reach out to people within the company you want to work for is a great strategy to build connections. As long as you make sure that the reach-out is both direct and authentic, you will typically get the response wanted. Take the time to ask about potential hirings, work culture etc. Most people are generally open about their job environment, as long as it doesn’t put their position at jeopardy.

                     Prepare for your virtual interview

Prior to your interview, make sure to do as much research as possible on the industry, it’s workings and the environment at large. You can use a variety of different sources to find information (now would be a handy time to go back to social media. You can use the Twitter Hashtag function to search for the company and industry.)