While the current job market is down and many employees are facing layoffs and salary cuts, it becomes a big question for many job seekers that how to get a new job?
Although the hiring activity has slowed down in the past few months, the good news is that still some companies are hiring for different domains, project-based roles, and other contractual jobs.
During the tough job market, the supply of jobs is lesser than the demand.
Undoubtedly, this situation creates stiff competition for job applicants to stand out and score a job.
Shed off all your uncertainties and anxieties on how to stand out in a tough and competitive job market during the COVID crisis.
Here are some useful job search tips.
Have a focused job search strategy
You should focus on applying to the jobs that are relevant for your experience and role.
Applying to more jobs without checking the relevance will take up more of your time and give fewer results.
Applying everywhere without relevance to your profile is one common mistake committed by most of the job seekers.
Narrow down your search to specific companies actively hiring now.
This will help you to focus on things that will help you get better results.
Revamp your resume
Use this time to revamp your resume with a fresh approach where the focus should be more on highlighting your skills and accomplishments.
What will make you stand out in the crowd is how you highlight your growth as a learner and a performer.
Talk about your short-term achievements related to projects done in previous organizations.
You can also highlight transferable skills much needed in any employee during these times.
Show how you can be an asset to the company and are flexible to adapt to different work requirements.
Always remember to customize your resume for each job application.
Go through the job description carefully and understand what a hiring manager is looking out for in a candidate.
Also Read: What not to include in your resume when searching for a job during the uncertain times.
Take online courses
Expand your knowledge by taking trending online courses to make yourself relevant for employers during these times.
Learning new skills adds value to your CV and apply to new roles.
Employers always prefer job seekers who are keen to learn new things and fit to different job roles.
If you find it difficult to decide which course you should go for, there is a simple way to do so.
Go through the job descriptions by your preferred companies and see what skills and qualities they are looking out for in their candidates for a specific role.
This will give you a clear idea about what skills are in-demand and choose the course accordingly.
Also Read: Top skills recruiters will demand in 2020.
Prepare for virtual interviews
Amidst the COVID crisis, companies are conducting virtual interviews to hire candidates.
Not everyone is comfortable with online interviews and therefore, this is the time that you should understand how to ace your virtual interview.
Dressing appropriately is still important like you do for a face-to-face interview.
Keep your background clutter-free and check the internet connectivity to avoid any issues.
While no one can confirm when the job market will be back in its shape and how many new job opportunities will arise in the coming months, it is important to keep your job search on and in the right direction.
Keep checking the companies and industries hiring now.
All the best!