The past two years have been scary and unpredictable. If you are looking for a job during Covid, Recruitment 24/7 are here to help you share their expert tips and get you back in the workforce.
Stay motivated
Losing your job during a pandemic can feel overwhelming. Many of our candidates feel like they are in an endless cycle of looking for jobs, sending cover letters, scouring job sites, and checking in with contacts. While you may feel like you are not making progress, our biggest tip is to stay motivated. Keep sending those resumes and cover letters and be kind to yourself. Job hunting during a pandemic isn’t easy, but your persistence will eventually pay off; it might just take a little longer to get there.
Be patient
In a perfect world, it would be wonderful to think that everything should fall into our laps when and how we want them to, but that’s unrealistic during a pandemic. Try to stay positive because you never know if your job offer is just around the corner. If you put time and energy into looking for a new job, you will eventually reap the rewards.
Use your time wisely
If you have time on your hands, use it wisely. As tempting as it is to embark on a Netflix binge, consider setting aside time each day to research companies you are applying for and finding out as much as you can about them. Knowledge is power and can help you stand out from the competition in your resume, cover letter and during the interview process.
Remote interviews are the new reality
Online job interviews are here for the foreseeable future. That means you need to ensure that you look professional on video. It’s difficult to make a connection remotely and some people are uncomfortable with that. Using your hands can help establish a connection. Make sure you get the details right – like how to position the camera and how to talk to the camera. For example, position the laptop on a box to put it at eye level. Adjust the lighting so that it illuminates both sides of your face evenly. Watch for details like reflections on your eyeglasses.
Other tips include:
- Look directly into the camera to make eye contact
- Dress professionally from head to toe – in case you need to stand up
- Pick a clean, uncluttered background
- Nod and smile at appropriate times. It shows you are listening and engaged
If you do have to attend an interview in person:
- Dress ready for the role you have applied for
- Make eye contact and acknowledge your interviewer when they are talking to you
- PREPARE: Know what and with who you are interviewing for and be ready… have your tickets/certs/licences with you.
Polish your resume
If your resume hasn’t been updated in a while, we’ve got news for you. Some recruiters use Artificial Intelligence-powered applicant tracking systems to shortlist potential candidates. Understanding how these systems work is just as important as understanding what employers are looking for. Machines that ‘read’ resumes are targeting keywords that are relevant to the job to be filled. Our tip is to use wording from the job description in your resume – without making it a carbon copy of the job requirements.
Other tips include:
- Customise your resume for each job you apply for
- Check & Double check your contact details are current
- Focus on the last 10 years of your career and the relevant experience to the role you are applying for
- Clearly list your certificates, licences and skills at the start of the resume
Job seeker assistance
If you are currently receiving government financial assistance, be mindful of changes. At the time of writing, recipients were generally required to undertake up to 20 job searches per month.
Wherever you are in your job search, remember you are not alone. Many people are in the same boat and professional advice is never far away.
Recruitment 24/7 is committed to providing specialised and high-quality recruitment agency services. Give Recruitment 24/7 a call on (07) 3281 2489 or submit your resume here. Check out our available positions here.
Reference
How to get a job during COVID-19: 9 smart tips | The Enterprisers ProjectCoronavirus (COVID-19) information for job seekers – Department of Education, Skills and Employment, Australian Government (dese.gov.au)