1. First, if you’re looking for a job right now, what you’re doing is hard and you deserve credit.
Let’s start with something you probably know but is worth repeating: Finding a new job was a hard thing to do before 2020, but now? COVID-19 and all the economic turmoil it's caused mean that the job-hunting game is now 100% on hard mode. So whether you’re just out of college, you’ve been laid off, or you're just looking for your next challenge, you deserve credit for doing a very hard thing. Go easy on yourself. You're doing great. We believe in you!
2. It pays to be flexible.
COVID-19 has thrown the whole world for a loop, and a lot of things have been forced to change in a short period of time. Just as nations, governments, and industries have had to adapt, so must those of us looking for our next gig. The more flexible you can be with what your next job looks like, the better off you’ll be. The change in your next gig might be as simple as working from home rather than going to an office, but it might also be as big as transitioning to an entirely new role or industry.
3. Don’t be afraid to think short-term.
A lot of your work life is focused on building skills that are useful in the long term. It’s still good to have those skills, but right now, your needs might be a bit more immediate. Furthermore, what the workplace looks like is changing quickly as well. Think about what’s most beneficial for you in the next one to three months. The job that can help you build a cash safety net may look different than the job wherein you’re trying to fulfill professional aspirations.
4. Focus on companies that are making money right now.
Some companies have been hit harder by the pandemic than others, so it makes sense to narrow your focus to companies that are doing well enough right now that they're hiring more employees. Which companies are those? The Los Angeles Times notes that “tech companies helping large businesses pivot to working remotely, retail management, delivery work, and home healthcare are hiring more than other industries.” But those probably aren’t the only places to look. A little bit of research can make your job hunt way more productive.
5. Look especially hard at companies that are actively advertising open positions.
In this particular moment, TopResume career expert Amanda Augustine suggests that “you’ll need to be strategic and focus on those organizations that are actively advertising new job listings.” It may seem a bit obvious, but you can know for sure that these companies need help right now.
6. Networking is just as important today as it was before…
While you should certainly prioritize jobs that are advertising open positions, you'll still need to keep up your networking skills to find the roughly 70% of jobs that might not be listed. Keep in touch with the people in your network, and make new contacts whenever possible..