Searching for a new job amidst current global pandemic is a situation that is tricky to navigate no matter how you look at it. From finding a position that doesn’t put you at risk, to shaping the optimal frame of mind to allow yourself to shine despite prevalent workplace challenges, COVID-19 has added countless factors to the job search. To make things even more challenging, there are more people looking for work than ever. Over 40-million U.S. citizens have filed for unemployment, and if recent statistics are right, this number is growing still.
Learn From Your Co-Workers
One doesn’t want to find themselves in the predicament of Malcolm Sanchez. Two jobs came to a sudden close when the COVID-19 pandemic hit his State. After all, the restaurant industry has suffered hard under current conditions with casual dining chains like his local diner being devastated. With no demand for a restaurant manager in sight, he turned his managerial experience towards other industries and with it accepted a future encompassing a massive pay cut. While a few Zoom interviews seemed to go well, none fruited results. Interviewing in person at a prospect where no one seemed interested in wearing masks, or proper social distancing instilled a sense of fear from that point onward. Finding work certainly wasn’t easy.
Determination Pays Off
It may have taken seven weeks of determination and drive, a few dodgy interviews, and a few quick turnarounds in lure of personal safety along the way, but Malcolm finally found himself a new job. He had no choice but to jump right in and push from the very start. If he hadn’t, funds would be running low, and we needn’t even start to discuss his morale and zeal for the job search. The longer you wait, the harder it gets, butif there is one thing we can learn from this journey, it’s that you need to stay on your toes and ahead of the game.
Practical Personal Accountability
Personal accountability needs to take prominence in every way. It’s about putting yourself out there in ways that no one else has, nor can. Applications need to capture the full essence of you as an asset in both business and social situations. Your business background and practical skill set are far more valuable to your than any job title, and its accompanying description ever were. Applying yourself will create a foundation for success that you can rely on. You need to keep pushing, keep changing the way that you search and work while staying forever vigilant of personal health and safety.
Capitalize On Your Practical Value As An Employee
Look for jobs that match your practical value rather than limiting your search to the industries that you’re experienced in. This is a time of compromise and adaptation, and we all know this. Businesses are as much forced to shift the way that they work and hire as the average avid job seeker. Certain sectors have seen a massive increase in demand while the majority of global industry is instead laying off the workforce. This means that those who want to survive and hopefully soon thrive will need to change the areas that they’re looking for work in. According to metrics from LinkedIn Learning, the U.S. has 1.5 million entry-level positions needing to be filled. That’s a lot of people doing work that they’re simply not used to. With different work, comes different work circumstances and risks.
Weigh All The Risks
Unfortunately, in today’s pressing situation, you can’t just look at the payment package that comes with the scary idea of taking on an all-new role and responsibility. As if that was not enough, many jobs come with exponentially higher risks that the positions people had been working in. For example, if a recently-sacked worker decides to find a job like a grocery store attendant that’s in rising demand, they’ve got to contend with the COVID-19 risk on a day to day basis. Switching out an office once used for admin, marketing or telesales for a floor-sales position is an entirely different ballgame. Staff have to not only weigh up whether taking on a new job at diminished pay is worth the detour from their current career path, but whether the health risk is one they’re willing to suffer as well.
Brand New Opportunities
Those wishing to embark on an entirely new career can do so with confidence, for even amid the chaos, certain industries, jobs and skills have risen in demand other than non-skilled labor. U.S. markets alone reported over two and a half million new jobs opening in the month of May 2020. Bartenders and back-of-house staff like kitchen workers, cooks and cleaners have risen in exponential demand. Doctors, dentists, construction contractors, mobile marketers, and online shopping is booming. Yet, this change in trajectory needs to be carefully contemplated with the future carefully contemplated and placed into perspective. After all,changing career trajectory is not something to take lightly. This may be a hard time, but there is hope, and there are opportunities.
Let Opportunity Power Your Search
Whether you’re looking to connect with other professionals in search of insight that’ll help you decide on a potential career shift or are a job seeker looking for the best search and matching platform to connect you with recruiters and hiring managers, Opportunity has you covered. Let our AI-powered business networking intelligence platform supply you with the connections that you need to succeed in whatever challenges you may be facing during this pressing time. With over 5,000,0000 networking opportunities made available to you from around the world, you’re assured the best exposure, contacts and matchmaking out there.
