No one could have predicted the impacts of our current reality on the employment sector. As we face unprecedented times without clear pictures on the timelines for the future it is best to focus on solutions that will get you through this challenging time. If you are facing a furlough, job loss, or other employment change, there are still options and strategies to grasp opportunities.
Adopting some key mindset tenants can help you search for work during a pandemic.
Focus on your current needs
Think about work you can do for the short term while this time is tumultuous. It will be acceptable to take a role outside of your recent career path for a while, it may even increase your marketability for the future. Be willing to get help from staffing agencies who have connections with the companies that are hiring and can help you find work when you need it; which is now.
Find the organizations that ARE booming when your traditional job may be on a freeze.
Essential industries and logistics companies are searching for talent, and if this sector is outside of your background, your skills can still contribute during their influx of workload. Using a professional recruiter to market your resume can push you forward when you apply to roles outside of your previous work experience.
Relationships must be cherished
Now more than ever is the opportunity to be there for your most cherished clients and customers. As we weather a storm together, being a reassuring source of consistency and support for those in your professional and personal will bring fulfillment long beyond this present time.
Work with passion
Do what you can to keep your fire within for the work you do. Think about your work’s purpose daily and use your passion to drive your efforts even in new, uncharted territories.
Enhance your resume
A polished and professional resume is as important for a temporary role as it is for a long term career. Review your resume and update it with skills and experiences that will support organizations through this time. Experiences in problem solving, working through change, and a willingness to flex up with workload are all going to resonate with organizations that are hiring right now.
Prepare to interview virtually.
Read our previous blog post here which outlines the steps to thrive in this interviewing platform.
Stay focused on what you can control.
When we are surrounded by disequilibrium and a high degree of unknown, worry and anxiety has the ability to increase its influence on our choices. Stay focused on what you can control right now. Pursue opportunities that suit your financial and working needs for this time.
Job searching can engulf you for hours, siphoning your energy and leaving you little to show for what you have done all day. Block out your job searching time in a schedule and be subjective about which opportunities you pursue. Does this job application serve my current needs? Is this opportunity likely to support me in this current time? These questions will root your work in a way that focuses your efforts on the here and now.
In job searches, you are not alone.
Partner with a trusted mentor and reach out to those who have helped you develop as a professional. Uniting with a professional staffing agency can help you extrapolate your efforts exponentially and provides you with a partner in navigating these job searching tides.