Talking about a job search right now may seem beyond the pale. How can anyone do a job search with the economy essentially in a deep freeze and a staggering number of people out of work?

It certainly is a difficult situation, and doing a job search now will be like walking into a stiff wind. It will be slow going, with many twists and turns. But, believe it or not, there are jobs out there. Some sectors of the economy, such as the travel and hospitality industries, have been hit exceptionally hard by the pandemic. But others that supply essential goods and services, such as Amazon, Walmart, supermarkets, and healthcare companies, are actually thriving in this climate. And then there are many companies in between.

These companies are still functioning, but are taking a wait-and-see attitude about hiring and other business initiatives. They are waiting to see if they should do some hiring now to try and get a jump on the competition when business picks up, or whether they should postpone any new hiring to prepare for a longer economic downturn.

This certainly won’t be like any job search you have done before. The job market is never this chaotic or fluid. Just how many jobs are actually out there now is anyone’s guess, as the situation changes day by day, and hiring managers continually reevaluate their needs and market conditions.

1. Networking is crucial

One thing has not changed, however, and that is the importance of networking. In this environment, it is even more essential.
You need to set up calls with as wide a network of personal and professional contacts as you can. This will help you to find openings that actually exist and companies who are hiring right now. It will also get your name in front of hiring managers who may not be hiring now, but who will be looking for people when the economy begins to revive.

2. This time is different

It’s going to feel a bit strange doing a job search now. There will be no face-to-face interviews. They will all be over the phone or by video. The whole process, from start to finish, will be conducted online. It will take some getting used to. The kind of rapport that you try to establish with a hiring manager in a face-to-face encounter will be hard to achieve.

There are techniques to help you adapt to phone and video interviews and plenty of articles online to help you learn about them. Our blog also has articles on how to do these types of interviews.

And, after all that, you may still have to wait for an in-person meeting before getting an actual job offer, which certainly won’t happen in April.

In this new environment, you will need to be flexible, temper your expectations and adapt. There will be a lot more uncertainty. If you focus on the right industries, there are jobs out there.

Staffing Agencies

Another way to look for employment in this volatile job market is by using a staffing agency like Winston Resources. We can help you navigate this new online hiring environment and plug you in to our network of employers. Give us a call today.