To be on the job market or in career transition is not easy. Many uncertainties, full of questions, a lot of expectations (often unfulfilled) and only few feedbacks that do not match your investment.
Since the containment measures due to Covid-19’s propagation, the situation has become even more complex for job seekers. Companies are struggling with cash flow, some decisions have been postponed, recruitment frozen, employees working from home; nobody could have expected that business would suddenly be brought to a halt … Here is why it is important to stay active on the job market, plus some concrete actions to take immediately!
If there is one thing we know is that this situation will last several weeks and the “during and after” phases will be difficult. Furthermore, nobody knows the exact end date and the damaging consequences on the economy and on the job market.
The economy will have to recover, some companies will have a tough time, critical decisions will have to be taken and some companies will unfortunately not survive the crisis. But this doesn’t mean that we have to give up ! Companies will need competencies and energy to start again.
We have learned from the past economical crisis that the ones who are more creative and agile are in better position than the others.
As stated by Darwin more than 200 years ago, « It is not the strongest of species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”
Therefore, action needs to be taken, one needs to adapt and show agility in order to quickly find a job once this crisis is behind us.
What if COVID-19 was an opportunity ?
In Chinese, ironically, the word « crisis » refers in Chinese to both dangers and opportunities that a potentially negative situation can represent.
Each crisis teaches us a lot about ourselves and on our way of facing events that we cannot control. Change, stress, concerns, losing control, are all factors that push each of us into a corner and we react, not always in the right way.
When faced with such a difficult situation, some people may retreat into their shell, give up, panick while others may waste their time blaming the world.
On the other side, some people would tap into their resources and creativity to find new opportunities. Because they know they can’t change the situation but only the way they react to it.
« If you can’t change your fate, change your attitude. » Amy Tan
If you are the ones who want to manage change instead of enduring it, here are a few advise you can start following as of today.
- Continue and (re)organise your activities on the job market
Of course, there has been less new job posts and some recruitment processes have been frozen. And the market is uncertain.
But let’s not forget that a recruitment process (at least the few first interviews) can be, thanks to new technologies, piloted remotely. Some sectors still need competencies and will not interrupt all their on-going recruitments. And as for the frozen jobs, they will one day be reactivated. It is all about being ready when this day comes.
So, continue to follow all job posts on different channels (recruitment platforms, search engines, companies websites, recruitment consultants, Linkedin), as before, and even better than before.
Make use of the time you have to « professionalize » your search ; target, register job alerts, register your profile, update your CV and your Linkedin profile.
- Be ready for a potential e-interview
If you have on-going applications, be ready for a phone or video conference interview (zoom or skype) and make sure everything is ready on your side (connexion, video, sound). Test the system and check yourself in front of the camera (light, gestures, background).
Refine your curriculum presentation, repeat the key areas of your CV you want to highlight, answer some questions in front of a mirror, practice a 3 minutes pitch.
- Look up for information on target companies
List companies to follow, take some time to read their website on a regular basis, google them to find interesting articles, interviews, publications. Look up for information on their products, sector and have an idea of their future developments.This accumulated knowledge will be yours and there is a good chance it will prove useful in the future. - Network, network, network
Under normal conditions, I recommend to my clients not to hide behind a computer to network and to prefer face-to-face conversations. But today, the situation is very different as e-interactions have (temporarily) become a standard.A lot of people are now working remotely since the beginning of the containment measures. In lots of companies, calendars have been skimmed, as well as travels and meetings postponed or cancelled, trainings cancelled and contacts limited… Many people are able to concentrate on the business essentials and (maybe) have stopped running from one meeting to another. Their days are much different than before and they may have some flexibility. Also possibly a need to exchange with the outside world, to reconnect with people.So enjoy! You have everything at hand : Linkedin, What’s App, Telephone, Skype, Zoom. Reconnect with former colleagues, check in, exchange knowledge, gather information that will be useful for the after-Coronavirus.
It is also a good opportunity, tactfully, to keep contact with recruiters and open positions. Send them a personalized message, showing you are well aware of the current situation and confirm your interest.
Follow-up with people you have met in past networking events. And again, use all technologies at hand to have a personal exchange.
- Develop your skills
Since all social interactions, conferences, activities or outings are currently close to nonexistant, you have – maybe – (provided your kids in « school at home » do not require constant attention) some free time.
Have you always struggled in French? You do not understand a word of German however useful in Switzerland? You keep typing with 2 fingers on your keyboard? You struggle building an excel spreadsheet ?
Your presentation skills could be improved ?
Think of a competence that would be useful, either for your next job and/or for your professional life. If you just google what you want to learn, you will find tons of articles, videos, on-line courses, resources, sometimes even for free.
You may also want to take this opportunity to treat yourself and learn a skill you have always kept on the side as something you would do « when I will have time”. For example, art history, calligraphy or permaculture.
Learning a new skill will not only benefit your future career, but also help you decrease your stress level (see www.hbr.org/try learning something new.)
On the other hand, don’t forget that you may have a competence that could be useful for someone around you. You know how to create an on-line platform, you speak Spanish or you are an expert in database. If you have some availability, you could think of sharing your knowledge it with someone. That would help improve your self-confidence and gain one more experience.
And what about you ?
- How does this virus impact your career search or job transition ?
- What have you put in place already ?
- What actions have you taken to develop your network?
- Which competence are you going to develop?
I wish you lots of resources and opportunities for the coming weeks. I would be happy if you want to share your experiences at anne-laure@leadingenius.ch.
In the meantime, take care and good luck!
