The Coronavirus has had a significant impact on businesses and subsequently recruitment processes.
In this post, we will outline how the COVID-19 outbreak will affect your job search. We will also explain what you can do to navigate your job search successfully during these unprecedented times.
1. You MUST be prepared to nail video interviews
To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, we have been advised to practise social distancing and avoid public gatherings. As a result, most in-person interviews have been cancelled. As an alternative, companies have been remote video interviews.
Some of the graduates that we are coaching have reported that they have been asked to conduct:
- Live interviews, using platforms such as Skype and Google Hangouts
- Recorded interviews. Employers may be keen for candidates to complete recorded interviews so that they can easily share the interview with key decision-makers.
Therefore, you must expect, and adequately prepare for both types of video interviews in advance.
Resources
- We have put together a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to prepare for a video interview.
- We also have an online course called ‘Nail that Interview’. The course has 9 modules and eight downloadable guides. One of the modules is dedicated to learning how to perform highly in a video interview setting.
Candidates enrolled in this course also get the opportunity to practise answering and recording a video interview and getting feedback from our head graduate coach until you have improved your interview technique.
2. Expect delays but remain proactive
Over the coming weeks, expect delays in the hiring process as people adjust to uncertainty and major changes to the way that business is conducted.
Some companies have decided to temporarily suspend their hiring processes until further notice.
Two of the graduates that we are currently coaching have been put on hold after being told that they would be receiving a formal offer letter.
However, it is vital that you remain proactive during this time:
- Express empathy and politely follow up for updates on your job applications
- Keep an eye out on companies who are hiring
- Be active on social media platforms such as LinkedIn
3. Build your professional network
During this time of uncertainty, building a strong network of contacts has never been more important.
If you are currently searching for a job:
- Ensure that your LinkedIn profile is optimised so that recruiters can easily discover your profile.
- Ask your contacts if they are hiring.
- If you get rejected after an interview, ask the interviewer for feedback and ask them if they know anyone who is currently hiring.
One of the graduates that we coached did this and landed a good graduate job during the Coronavirus outbreak.
4. If you get a job offer – take it
We always tell the graduates that we coach that their first job doesn’t need to be their ideal career choice.
What is important, is that graduates get real-life work experience under their belts, as soon as possible after graduation.
One of the major changes in graduate employment is that nowadays companies and recruiters no longer expect their graduates to have worked for two years in their first job.
So long as the graduate has at least six months of work experience companies will look favourably upon them.
So our advice always is: get working, get earning, get learning!
Furthermore, your second graduate job is always ten times easier to get than your first.
In summary, if you are a recent graduate in the early stages of your career and you have been offered a job during the coronavirus pandemic, strongly consider taking the offer.
5. Look out for remote opportunities
As a result of the pandemic, many companies have switched to remote working as we have been advised to stay at home.
With the technology and software that we have access to, it has become a lot easier for employees to work from home.
Many countries around the world have gone into lockdown. This has resulted in more companies creating opportunities for remote workers. You may be able to find remote opportunities on platforms such as LinkedIn and Upwork.
6. Be prepared to work from home
If your job interviews go well and you land a job during the pandemic, be prepared to be onboarded remotely and to work from home initially.
It is a good idea to spend some time getting yourself familiar with the various platforms that businesses use to facilitate remote working.
Doing this will ensure that you are able to start work and effectively work from home if you are offered a job during the Coronavirus outbreak.
7. Upskill
Use this time to upskill and develop your employability skills.
We offer digital internships as part of our one-to-one coaching programme, which enables grads to gain Google certifications and to get hands-on experience in SEO (search engine optimisation), PPC (pay-per-click) and digital analytics. Having this digital internship on your CV is making our grads highly employable.
We strongly advise anyone who is looking for a job during this time to take the time to really gain a deep understanding of the field they are hoping to work in.
- Take free online courses
- Read blogs and watch videos related to your desired industry
Also, spend time improving your CV, practising for your graduate job interviews and sending out high-quality job applications.
Summary
If you are looking for a new job during the Coronavirus pandemic, do not hesitate to contact us for some career coaching or graduate interview training. We will be delivering all of our coaching sessions online via Skype.
Remember, this too will pass! Use this time to develop your skills, practice answering interview questions, keep sending out applications and keep in contact with the graduate recruiters in your network.
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