We are living in unprecedented times. Today, there are nearly 12.6M people unemployed across the United States. Various industries, like hospitality and entertainment, have been crushed over the past few months and, as a subsequent result, rent is becoming harder for people to keep up with, utility payments are a growing source of anxiety, and there doesn’t seem to be a clear end in sight to the madness that is swelling.
But is it all fire and brimstone? Where are the jobs? Who is hiring right now, and how can you better position yourself to get back in the game?
These are some of the questions that I hear from my network daily, and over the next few minutes, we are going to do our best to answer them together.
Who’s Hiring Right Now?
My friends at LinkedIn have done a wonderful job keeping tabs on who’s hiring during the pandemic. Companies like Instacart, Amazon and CVS have thousands of jobs available, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. To view the full, interactive list of more than 500,000 open positions being tracked by LinkedIn during COVID-19, check out this link.
Look Locally & Apply Direct
While LinkedIn’s “master list” is a great digital resource, you need to step out of your comfort zone and get tactical in your approach.
After spending a little time with LinkedIn’s list, I recommend that you start looking locally. Research companies in your area that might be a good fit, and then go to a company’s website and its LinkedIn page(s) to view open positions and apply online directly.
This is a great tactic. Most people will do nothing more than browse industry-leading jobs boards like Monster, Indeed and ZipRecruiter in search of their next gig. And while those websites are not terrible resources, looking locally and applying directly will exponentially increase your chances of landing a new position.
Don’t End Up in Boolean
When you apply to a position advertised on a third-party jobs board, your resume will most likely (not always) be entered into a database for Recruiters to then access via a Boolean Search. And if your resume does not contain the keywords a Recruiter enters into their search, guess what? No one will see your resume, and you will not get the job.
When looking for work, start things off by bypassing third-party websites (hit them later if you have to) and submit your application directly to the source. In doing so you are far less likely to land inside of a database and far more likely to have your resume viewed by an actual Hiring Manager.
Your LinkedIn Profile Needs Love
There is no denying it. Hiring Managers will action your LinkedIn profile if they like what they see on paper. Fail to offer a comprehensive look at who you are both professionally and personally and you will likely be passed over for someone who has. Why is this true?
One of the first things every good Hiring Manager will do after they’ve been intrigued by a resume is go online to learn more about a candidate. Where do they go? LinkedIn is the place they all start. After that, they will check out Facebook, Instagram, etc., and the reason why this happens is simple.
On paper, you appear to be a good fit, but what about culturally? Will you fit in with the way the company does things, and will you get along with your new colleagues? Unless your resume goes out of its way to answer those questions, and it likely does not, your LinkedIn profile is the perfect place to showcase who you are.
Back in 2015, in an article titled Top Five Tips to Help You Land the Job of Your Dreams, I wrote:
“A successful LinkedIn profile will not only highlight your professional experience, it will also give employers a glimpse into who you are as a person. No one wants to hire a face – unless you’re a model – and that means that you need to inject some personality into your profile. There’s nothing wrong with letting an employer know that you’re an avid sports fan who loves to play golf and fish on weekends. At the end of the day, Hiring Managers want to hire people they can relate to not robots who clock in, clock out, collect their checks and go home.”
This is still true today. Companies that are hiring during these uncertain times are laser focused on hiring the right person. As a job seeker, you can use this focus to your advantage by taking two critical steps. First, create an awesome resume that highlights your professional accomplishments. Second, create a LinkedIn profile that expands upon your accomplishments and offers a glimpse into who you are both inside and outside of the office.
Get Back in the Game
Landing a new job is not that hard. It really isn’t. This is true even as COVID-19 rages all around us. You might have to swallow your pride by taking a position you need rather than a position you want, but anyone who is able to work can find work if they are willing to work hard enough to find it.
There are jobs out there, and there are tested strategies that you can use to land one of those jobs, but you must be proactive and open to change.
You cannot simply apply to a handful of positions online and wait for a Hiring Manager to start blowing up your inbox. You need to refine your resume, start doing some research and start getting creative so you can get yourself noticed.
Some say that finding a job is a job in itself, and I agree. If you are unemployed right now and looking to get back in the game, wake up every morning and attack the day. In fact, when you grab your first cup of coffee, I want you to sit down at your computer and tell yourself, “Today is the day I turn it all around.” Because today is the day. You can do it. I believe in you. You just need to study up, show up and believe in yourself, too.
Good luck in your job search, and feel free to reach to our team if we can help.
