5 Tips To Boost Your Job Search During COVID-19

Throughout COVID-19, I have seen many of my friends and peers affected professionally or forced to make a pivot in their career. Whether you’ve been forced to start your job search due to furloughs or layoffs or are just looking for your next challenge, the job hunt is intimidating. No matter where you are in your journey, there are several steps that you can take to truly set you apart and be confident in yourself as you apply to your dream job! 

Here are my top 5 tips to boost your job search: 

1. Ask yourself the question, “What are my Top 3 Priorities in my next opportunity?” If you and I have connected in the past, you know that this is one my favorite questions. This question is an introspective activity to find out what really matters to you in your next step. Whether it be something intangible such as the camaraderie of a team, an innovative culture, or something quantitative such as location or compensation, these aspects are parts of a job that are not always in the requirements or qualifications of a description. Think about yours right now, and jot them down on a piece of paper. I encourage you to keep these in mind with every job that you apply for.

2. Update your resume. This might sound like common knowledge, but it is smart to always have an updated resume on hand. Make sure that everything on your resume is up to date with your most recent position, newest tech skills, etc. Have a short summary or objective at the top under your name that accurately portrays what positions you are looking for. List your relevant experiences and specific insights or projects you can share from your successes. You don’t need to put everything, but make sure to tailor your resume to the specific job for best marketability. Your Creatives On Call Recruiter is happy to help review your resume!

3. Collect a diverse portfolio of past work. You don’t need a fancy website to share your work—and if you do have one, kudos! Behance  is an excellent free tool for Visual Artists such as Graphic Designers, Photographers and Illustrators. Clippings is a similar platform but for writers. If you have other projects that don’t fall into those categories, use a Google Drive folder. It is crucial to showcase your projects and have an easy link to share with potential clients. Make sure you show a diverse array of what you can do such as print versus digital design or social media copy versus long form articles. Clients like to know how you think and what you can do so show off your talent!

4. Practice interviewing! Job interviews are intimidating no matter how seasoned you are, and it can be good for your nerves to practice beforehand. Google common interview questions for a head start and set up in front of a mirror and ask yourself or have a friend interview you. With many interviews being held via Zoom or Google Hangouts, make sure you still look professional! Wear a professional top and have a blank wall or simple background behind you. Your Creatives On Call Recruiter is also a great resource for mock interviews. Before any interview through Creatives On Call, you will receive a full interview prep kit and pep talk.

5. Create an action plan. Searching for jobs is a full-time job on its own. From preparing for applications to attending several rounds of interviews and post-interview followup, it can be time consuming. Save yourself a headache by making a list of action items that you want to accomplish before you deep dive into a job search and assign deadlines to each item. For example, do you need to update your resume? Give yourself a due date. Do you want to brush up on Salesforce Marketing Cloud? Take a few online tutorials by X date. Organization and time management are key in your job search. Plus, social distancing is the perfect time to spend your extra time at home brushing up on skills or certifications! 

Interested in some resources? Learn a little bit more about your social media presence, and learn a little bit more on how to navigate the unknown when you take a career tour. 

Now that you have an extra step ahead and are prepared, what will you do today to boost your search? Questions? We'd love to help, reach out to your Creatives On Call recruiter, and we'd be glad to chat!