A job seeker’s guide to the galaxy: the Covid-19 pandemic rendition
As many recent graduates and/or job seekers know by now, looking for a job during a global pandemic, to tread lightly, is not easy. Some of us have tried many things: the incessant job search, going to great lengths to tailor each application, utilising and amplifying our professional network, feelings of frustration whilst in an effort to keep our spirits up; yet the ultimate goal of getting a job offer is unfulfilled.
Nevertheless, while this job hunt process is challenging, it is not entirely impossible.
With this article, we hope to support job seekers navigate through this time of uncertainty and stress by summarizing helpful tips and recommendations. We are aware that despite our effort to be thorough, there are a lot of resources available that weren’t covered in this article. Hence, we encourage you to use this as a starting guide in your journey to get hired.
1. Where and how to look?
There are certainly many companies that are still hiring full-time workers for permanent roles and new employment opportunities in many industries (e.g., E-commerce, software, video game, etc.). BBC provided some great insights into sectors that are hiring and tips to make yourself stand out from other applicants. A LinkedIn article also shares a list of companies that are hiring in the UK.
More importantly, job seekers are urged to be more strategic with the job search. Instead
of applying to every online job opening, we encourage you to adopt a new method: create a list of approx. 20 companies at a time you are interested in and connect with their employees via your professional network.
This is highly beneficial to not only help you come out of unemployment, but also grow your connections quickly. Sites like 10times and Eventbrite are great places to look for online networking events and job fairs to develop your network.
If you are searching for a job in Data Science, Analytics, and Technology, get in touch with us to hear from a DATAHEAD specialist consultant! We are always happy to find and connect you with other like-minded hiring managers and companies, or to just give you some career advice.
2. Alternative options to supplement your income
While searching for a permanent role, it is a good idea to find part-time or freelance work that
can provide a temporary source of income and other benefits. Indeed, there are a few options for this type of work that are currently in-demand due to the impact of Covid-19, including part-time positions for essential jobs (e.g., good stores, delivery offered by local stores, food chains, or Amazon).
Some other ideas is to become a full-service shopper (Instacart) or online academic tutor (Varsity Tutors or The Princeton Review).
3. Stay busy and utilize your time
After 2020, professional development is becoming a responsibility of the professionals
and less of the employer. Such that, many young professionals are taking ownership of the situation and adopting a more active approach to make themselves more competitive, such as by taking online courses and certifications, or starting their website or side hustle.
This is also a great time to focus on developing skills and get certificates that are highly sought-after. Indeed, there are certain soft skills that you might have already developed during lockdown, such as effective remote communication, adaptability, flexibility, patience, etc.
By utilising your time wisely to be productive, you are also prepared to answer questions at job interviews about your time during unemployment and impress the recruiter with your initiatives.
4. Coming back strong in 2021!
It certainly doesn’t hurt the job search by knowing some workplace related trends that
will continue to 2021, such as the continuance of video interviewing and online networking. Forbes also published a list of 2021 career predictions, some of which are relevant to job seekers.
Layoffs will continue (in retail, small businesses, restaurants, etc.) whilst hard-hit sectors (e.g., hotel, aviation, entertainment) might not recover until 2025. We can also expect a longer job hunt, especially for 2021 grads, a much slower and longer hiring process, and more career changes in the upcoming year.
5. Take care of your mental and physical health
While keeping busy and finessing our skillset, it is utterly important that we look after
our mental and physical health: neglecting your own well-being during this challenging time will only make the job hunt (and everything else) much worse.
We encourage all job seekers to adopt and practice these self-care tips, such as keeping a routine, exercising acceptance, or remembering the basics (e.g., drink enough water, move around, yoga, or journal), to stay healthy, strong, and at your best during this process.
6. Last but not least, do not hesitate to seek help.
At DATAHEAD, our goal is simply to help you land your dream job – with our expertise and knowledge of the market and impressive partnership with many clients in Data Analytics & Technology, we will help you achieve your career and job search goals!
Overall, every job seeker’s journey out of unemployment is different. We hope that with the above guide, you can formulate a plan and feel motivated to become a better professional and stronger candidate in your job hunt.
Pam, Market Research Associate at DATAHEAD