There’s been a great deal of change in a few short weeks. What will not change is our unwavering commitment to you as you prepare yourself for a new approach to job-hunting. 

As we walk this journey together, here are 6 key points to bear in mind as you look for work during this time.

Build and Grow your Network
This ongoing activity is the lifeblood of your career. As you reach out to people, keep the following tips in mind:

• Be genuine. Authenticity and honesty will always be your most powerful allies. Refrain from exaggeration.
• Think about the other person. Lead with what you can do for them before asking for their assistance.
• Refrain from “out-of-the-blue” contacts. If someone in your personal or online network is barely memorable, chances are that person will not feel valued or motivated to help you.

Explore Useful Resources
Indeed’s HiringLab provides valuable insights into employment metrics, both by geography and by company. Look for lists of employers that are urgently hiring right now. LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter and Monster all offer current nationwide listings of companies that are hiring immediately. 

Recruiters are your allies! Our list of jobs changes regularly. We welcome you to visit often and keep in touch.

Target Online Job Postings
Zero in on what will work for your particular situation. What’s your salary range? Do you need full-time work or will part-time serve you just as well? When you look at job postings, pay attention to how the role is described. Is it fully remote or temporarily remote? Is it a contract position that ends after a certain date? Are there benefits?

Become Remote Work Savvy
Working remotely will become an integral part of the future of employment. Making yourself visible at work will be a key factor in your ongoing success. Be prepared to articulate how you stay efficient in an online interview. This includes:

Preparation:

• familiarize yourself with remote interviewing technology
• maintain a professional presence
• time your responses and questions to anticipate connection irregularities

At work, how do you:

• prioritize documentation / projects
• connect with your teammates
• communicate clearly
• practice good meeting manners
• maintain productivity

If you’re a manager new to working remotely, some great tips can be found here.

Know Your Transferable Skills
Consider that you may be accepting a position outside of your comfort zone. This means that knowing your top transferable skills becomes crucial. Make a list of them and keep it handy. Have examples ready for how those skills can be beneficial to your next employer. Most college and university career centers offer transferable skills templates and online training videos to help you hone in on these skills.

Get Creative
How can you leverage your skills virtually? Do you have a hobby or talent that you can turn into a short-term business such as individual online lessons or an online course? Ask your friends and colleagues what they think you would be good at. What they say may surprise you and shed light on an income-generating idea!

Ultimately, you, your cover letter and your resume should clearly convey how you made things better for the companies you worked for. 

• The Artizen Staffing team
  
  written by Catrina Walker

We welcome your feedback on this unprecedented journey and look forward to hearing what works for you, your friends, and your family! 

Click here for the latest updates on COVID-19