Okay, so Coronavirus has thrown more than a few spanners in the works. In fact, it's kind of disrupted life in an unprecedented way. No one knows exactly how the world is going to come out of this.
Whilst I cannot offer you any sense of security, cannot confidently tell you that things will be okay, I want to make a small contribution to your reading that may provide a small sense of normality in this strange time.
If you're an undergrad, this has probably massively changed your plans. For one, many of you will have moved home months before you thought you'd have to, saying goodbye to university in a rush. I'm not going to lie, that sucks. I'm sorry that you don't get to experience your final term in the way you thought you would. But you can't let this stop you. You've worked so hard to get to this point, and although studying at home may be disruptive, I know you can do this.
For the graduates who have been trying to find their place in the world...admittedly, that place is a lot harder to find when you can't venture outside the four walls of your home. But there is still so much opportunity for you. It's going to look different from what you thought it would 12, 6, even 2 months ago. But it's there.
So, in the spirit of sharing positivity and opportunity to both graduates and undergrads alike, here are some tips on how to job hunt during t̶h̶e̶ ̶a̶p̶o̶c̶a̶l̶y̶p̶s̶e̶ coronavirus.
1. Use social media
That's probably not the first thing you were expecting to hear on a list of ways to get a job.
That's fair. There's more to it than simply scrolling through your twitter feed and occasionally smirking at the coronavirus memes that have been popping up all over the place.
We're talking about utilising your social media in the same way your favourite brands do: market yourself. Create an incredible LinkedIn profile, tailored toward the industries you're interested in, and ensure your social media feeds only show the best of who you are (yes, companies do check your social media feeds).
If you want to go further, build a blog or website where you can showcase what you're all about and why a company should hire you. You could even add an online portfolio of the work you've been doing through university!
2. Learn something new
It's fair to say you probably have a lot of spare time on your hands right now, so why not use to develop your skills?
There are thousands of online learning facilities which you could use to find courses that interest you. From Udemy, to PathMatch, to Google SkillShop. It all depends on what you want to do as to where would be the best source, but if you're stuck for where to start, it never hurts to have a look at job descriptions and work backwards. Find a job you're interested in and look at what skills they want from you, then find an online course that can give you a basic understanding in that subject.
This can help you pass some time at home, teach you something new, and give you an edge on the competition when it comes time to apply!
3. Network with your connections
This is a great opportunity to get chatting to people in your field of interest! LinkedIn was made for connecting with professionals, so don't feel shy about reaching out to them.
My advice is that when you connect with them, write a personalised message - don't go with the generic one LinkedIn provides. Explain simply that your a (soon-to-be) graduate that wants to build their connections in the industry. Some people won't bother responding, but in most cases the people you reach out to are going to be grateful you thought they were worth the time and accept you. In some cases, I've even had people provide me with amazing advice about getting started in the industry.
When the whole world is reminding you to stay connected to your friends and family, why not forge some new connections?
4. Apply!! (or get ready to)
Just because we're on lockdown, it doesn't mean companies will stop employing people completely. Things may be tougher and more competitive for a while, but don't let it stop you applying for what you can. There are still opportunities available to you. In fact, when this is all over, a lot of industries will be looking to employ, and fast.
Take some time over your applications. Improve your CV and cover letter so that when this is over, you're totally ready to jump in headfirst.
5. Remember, video and phone interviews are still interviews
Whether you already had an interview lined up and the format has been changed, or you've bagged yourself an interview during the pandemic, there are a couple of important things to remember as you prepare for the interview.
The main one is simple: this is an interview.
I know, hard concept to grasp. But it's important to remember that just because you're not sat in an office with someone doesn't mean they aren't assessing you in the same, professional way they otherwise would. You might be used to chatting to people on the phone in a very casual way, or not worrying about the set up of your camera when you're video calling your friends.
Keep a professional tone at all times, and when it comes to video calls, make sure you're in a setting that will help you remain professional, and your interview recognise you put in effort. Dress smartly, put your camera source somewhere stable, and even if you're doing the call on your laptop, have a pen and paper next to you - it's harder to get distracted when you're writing the traditional way!
Oh, and good luck!
6. Take care of yourself
This one is super important: just because you can't find a job, don't know what to do at this time, or don't even have the motivation to look for anything, that doesn't mean you're failing.
This is such a difficult time, for everyone. It's okay to not feel up to much at the moment. Job hunting is a stressful and, at times, depressing process. Add a pandemic and lockdown on top of that and you're not exactly looking at sunshine and lollipops.
You're mental health always comes first, so don't feel bad for not doing these things. What's more important is that you stay happy and healthy.
There's no telling how the current pandemic is going to affect the job market, or how graduates specifically will fare when we come out of this. Nevertheless, it's important to stay positive. Keep working away - at your uni work, a new skill, or your job applications. Things are going to be okay.
Stay safe, and good luck x