Covid-19 Job Search Strategy

As you know, there have been significant changes to the labour market as a result of Covid including rising unemployment rates. With a glut of talent on the market, job seekers have been wondering how to land a fulfilling job in a pandemic.

You may have also come to realize that the future of work is here but it is also constantly evolving. Furthermore, with the many Covid-19 restrictions, remote working is now the ‘new normal’. 

The first step in a successful job search especially during this pandemic period is a structured job search strategy.

Many jobseekers make the mistake of not investing the time upfront to create a job search strategy. There is also a lack of awareness that they waste more time applying in a vacuum without a structured approach. During this pandemic, I’ve had the opportunity to meet more than 50 LinkedIn connections for virtual coffee chats as well as other jobseekers within my network. I’ve host webinars with professionals and university students, speak at virtual events and participate in panel discussions and the most apparent thing was the absence of a clear vision of how to approach the job search process. 

Many jobseekers waste valuable time applying to a myriad of jobs online which yields a low conversion rate (applications that lead to an interview-job). Sometimes this is an act of desperation due to personal circumstances or done to validate that they are putting in the work but more often than not, this is a result of a job search strategy deficiency.

Here’s what most jobseekers do:

1. Apply
2. Hope
3. Pray
4. Wait

While I’ll be the first to expound on the importance of faith, I will also be quick to tell you that faith without works is not an effective strategy in a job search. Consider that for every job posting to which you apply online (LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster, Glassdoor, CaribbeanJobs, company website etc.), there are also literally hundreds of other suitably qualified applicants. Your resume could get lost in a resume black hole if it is not optimized for an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) - (most of the fancy resume templates you like, are not!!!!).

When creating a job search strategy, consider the following:

• What do you want to do (duties, job titles etc)?
• What value do you bring (strengths, qualifications, skills, knowledge, experience)?
• What are your salary expectations (commensurate with skills, qualifications, market)?
• What are your non-negotiable - the things that matter (flexibility, financial rewards, accommodation, benefits)?
• Is remote work an option?
• Where do you want to work (sector, industry, company, location)?
• Who are your target employers (ideal workplace)?
• How are you engaging with decision-makers (visibility, engagement online)?
• Who do you know that work at your target workplaces (friends, family, schoolmates, extended network)
• How will you measure progress in your job search (# of informational interviews, referrals, formal, interviews, offers)?
• How will you evaluate your strategy?

If you need support with creating an effective strategy to accelerate your job search, let's connect!