This period of time is challenging and unpredictable. As a job seeker, searching for your next role can seem daunting right now, whether you’re a recent college grad looking to jump start your career or finding yourself transitioning from a recent change in your work situation. No matter what, we’re all in this together. At Another Source, we review hundreds of resumes per week, speak to hiring managers daily, ranging in industries from large non-profits to billion-dollar corporations, and interview candidates for jobs focused in accounting, engineering, sales and much more! The Another Source team has over 25 years of experience engaging top talent, and we understand that during this period of time, you may be looking to maximize the best strategies possible for your job search. With that in mind, our team has put together some advice, tips, tricks and helpful information that we feel, from a recruiter’s perspective, will help guide you as a current job seeker.
Mindset:
Be positive. You’re probably thinking this is the last piece of advice you’d like to read during this challenging and unpredictable time, but hear us out. David Hough, one our Talent Strategists, says “stripping away your ego and making yourself open to all possibilities can change your overall mental well-being and help shape your career in ways that you may never had imagined. Shut yourself off from the noise about who isn’t hiring and focus your energy on identifying industries and organizations that are hiring.” COVID-19, the job market and the current state of our economy are all external factors that we can’t control. Therefore, staying positive and focusing your energy on what you CAN control is essential, especially when you’re searching for a new job.
Although it helps to be more positive, it’s also important to be realistic in your job search. “Now is the time to reflect on everything you’ve accomplished and communicate it in a way that is quantifiable and shows results,” explains our Talent Operations Manager, Jake Hartz. Use your experience, strengths and skillset to your advantage. It’s all about how you market yourself with a resume, LinkedIn profile, interview preparation and responses to questions on an application, for example. While it may seem tempting to apply for every job for which you qualify, take a step back and apply for roles that fit your expertise or interests. “Stay true to your motivators. Remember to continue to search for a career that brings you joy and motivation, even during times of the unknown,” from our Director of Business Development, Taylor Rieckens.
Be patient. While this advice might seem a bit counter-intuitive with so much uncertainty, it is important to remember that the rest of the world is also still trying to figure out this situation. As our CEO, Marcie Glenn, mentioned, “we’re all in this together and we all want to help, sometimes we’re busy finding a right way to do that.” With that, comes the need to adapt, to be flexible, and to exercise patience in order to determine the right path to take. Remember that companies and recruiting firms are also shifting priorities in order to best serve their employees and candidates. So be sure to give yourself some grace and at the same time, remember to take the time to focus on what is best for you. Stephanie Jensen, our Senior Talent Strategist, reminds us that even though right now is an unsettling time “things will settle, but that doesn’t mean you have to.” Take a step back. Take a moment to evaluate what it is you want to do. Develop a plan, and be patient.
And finally, be yourself! You may not be qualified for every job, but don’t let that discourage you from applying for roles that seem interesting or align with your career path. Take some action by checking out what jobs are available in your area, and start applying! “You have value to add to an organization and some team out there is going to be lucky to have you on their side, don’t sell yourself short” explains Marcie Glenn, CEO of Another Source. Being yourself is also about being honest with yourself, and others, on what you may need to improve. If you don’t have a certain skillset or qualification that a company is looking for, use this time to update your tool box. Jake Hartz says, “while things are slow, take a moment to finally learn the missing excel formula you’ve never been able to crack or learn a brand-new software that might help you land your next dream job.” Use this time to improve yourself personally and professionally on all levels, it’s now or never!
Hands On:
While getting yourself in the right headspace to be successful in your job search is a big part of the challenge, it is also important to think tactfully about interviews, your network, and resume. Our partners in human resources are moving forward with conducting video interviews for the foreseeable future and now is a good time to look at your interview space, test your technology, and rehearse your answers in front of a computer screen. Treat video interviews the same as an in-person interview, dress for success, test your equipment early, and remember, the interview is as much about the company as it is about you. Pay attention to how the organization shows up to the video interview as well – what does their setup and approach say about them as an organization?
We cannot stress this enough – lean on your network. Be intentional about connecting with people and learning from others. People want to help during this time, and now is a good time to catch up with people from your network. Take the time to learn about other career paths, the ins and out from people who have done it before, and be real with what you are looking for in your search.
Brush up on your resume! Reflect back on all you have accomplished and think about how to best convey your successes. Be short and concise and focus on what you’ve accomplished instead of what you have done – recruiters and hiring managers want to clearly see the impact your achievements had in your previous positions. Lastly, make sure your resume is structured in a clean, easy to digest format. You want to ensure the folks who are reviewing your resume can quickly and easily pull the important information that will help you land your next role.
We don’t need to remind you that these times are unprecedented and the road ahead might seem challenging. It will be crucial to take a step back and focus mentally on paving the right path for yourself. Remember to think positively, to be yourself, to be honest with where you are, and to be patient with the process. Carve out a little extra time to hone in on your video interviewing skills and space, to reconnect with your network, and fine-tune your application materials. We will all get through this. The new normal might look a bit different than we are used to, but by controlling the things you can, you will be in a better position to adapt and overcome the challenges ahead. You can do it!