During these testing and unprecedented times, you may be forced into looking elsewhere for employment, whether it be due to unexpected redundancy, a long period of furlough or perhaps you were already looking for a new career when Covid-19 came into view and you are now struggling to find that new career path due to the lack of companies hiring. There are things you can do to bounce back from this situation and prepare yourself for that perfect job just around the corner and we are going to help you be ready when that day comes!
C.V.’S
Having all this spare time at the moment is the perfect opportunity to go through your c.v. and make sure it is looking its best. Firstly, make sure that your most current experience is always at the top and highlight the most relevant skills that relate to the type of vacancy you are looking for. If you are looking to change your career path, then highlight your most valuable transferable skills. It is always important to write a strong selling paragraph at the top of your C.V. It should be informative with your academic strengths and your personal attributes that will set you above of the other candidates but not too long that the employer is falling asleep by the end of reading it. Although I for one would love to hear about your hobbies and what breed of dog you have, unfortunately future employees don’t need to know about these things on your c.v. so keep it professional and to the point, easy to read and bullet-pointed to show your best assets to make the employer want to meet you where you can go into more detail. Give them enough information to get them interested but always leave them wanting more!
INTERVIEW PREP
Interviews can be a touchy subject for some, in my experience, some people can come across completely differently in interview than in day to day work life purely from being nervous and over thinking the situation, so the most important this to do is to chill! Much easier said than done I know. The best way to keep the nerves at bay is to be overly prepared for the interview and feel like you are ready for whatever questions get thrown at you. Research into the company you are interviewing for as that is a question that will certainly come up to test your commitment to the company and how much you actually know about them. Premeditate some questions that may be asked, these can be found either on google or if you are with a recruitment company like ourselves then we will provide you with some thorough interview coaching to make sure you are completely mentally and physically prepared. Bring some examples of work you have done that relates to the vacancy you are hoping to fill so that the employer can see proof that you know exactly what you’re doing. If you are going into something completely new, then bring examples of transferable skills used in previous work. Something to keep in your mind if you are feeling particularly nervous is that not only are they interviewing you but you are also interviewing them to a certain extent, you are deciding if these people are going to be good colleagues/superiors of yours, if the environment is a happy and comfortable one for you and if the job still sounds appealing to you now that you have heard it in more detail. They want you just as much as you want them because that is why you have been asked for an interview, keep your head up high and show them exactly how fantastic you are!
PHONE & VIDEO SAVVY
For some people speaking on the phone in a professional manner can be a bit daunting and in the current situation, it is vital that you are able to hold a strong, confident phone call or video chat with a potential employer due to remote interviewing that is having to replace face to face interviews at the moment. If you are a little nervous on the phone then enlist some of your friends to help practice on the phone in a role-play interview scenario, not only will it be helpful but it will also definitely end in some laughs! Once you feel you have exhausted all of your friends, perhaps call up a takeaway and try to speak as professionally as possible when ordering your Saturday night dinner to practise talking to someone who you are less comfortable with and don’t know as well, before you know it talking professionally will be second nature. Video calls are also becoming more and more popular so make sure you have a suitable backdrop set up for those all-important video interviews, not everyone has a home study but just a plain wall is fine, maybe take down those baby bath photos or the blown-up canvas from the trip to Ibiza. It is also always worth putting on a suit or smart office wear when doing a video call with a potential employer, just because you are not there in person does not mean it shouldn’t be treated just like a face to face interview, I understand how hard it’s going to be to get out of those comfy joggers or dressing gown but trust me it will make you feel so much better and give you the confidence you need to wow your future employer.
THE EMOTIONAL ASPECTS OF THE JOB SEARCH
Searching for a new job can be very stressful in the best of times, let alone searching for a new role whilst in lockdown. Though the general societal state of worry is extremely heightened at the moment, there are still ways of remaining calm and positive whilst looking for a new role. Despite what you may think, it is very normal for feelings of anxiety and self-doubt to creep up on you whilst you are in this process. Here are some very common emotional factors of looking for a job and how to find solutions to these issues.
PRESSURE, UNCERTAINTY AND PATIENCE
When searching for a job, many people feel an awful amount of pressure to find a suitable role in very little time. You must stay calm and realise that putting pressure on yourself will only leave you stressed and frustrated, perhaps hindering your ability to be productive in your search. Due to the current situation, patience is now more important than ever, as many companies will be being cautious and taking their time with onboarding new staff during these uncertain times. The process may take longer than usual, however, many businesses are still actively recruiting and interviewing candidates over the phone or through video call. Though it may be a difficult period to be searching for work in, if you are patient and try your best to weather the storm, you could find a great new role in time. The key message here, is do not panic!
CONFIDENCE AND SELF-BELIEF
One thing that many people struggle with, is harnessing the confidence to put themselves out there and highlight their abilities to an employer, especially in our current situation, where we are lacking that chance to have basic social contact. A lack of confidence can be triggered by many things, for example, having a bad experience with a previous employer or even having little to no work experience. Many people find themselves in this situation, in which they find it extremely intimidating to contact potential employers and this fear causes them to lose their pro-activity altogether. Though one may feel apprehensive about this process, be assured that is a lot less terrifying than you think, once you make that initial contact and start to network. Once you have done this, the chances are that you will start to feel more empowered and confident in your ability to converse with others and will have improved at underlining your relevant experience and skills to an employer. So how about if your networking efforts are successful in getting you an interview, but you feel nervous and are thinking of all the ways it could go wrong? Why not try to hold a practice interview with a family member or friend and set out an outline of some answers you may give to general questions. This way, you will start to embed these answers into your mind, making you feel more able to answer questions with ease.
DEALING WITH THE HIGHS AND LOWS
One of the most difficult aspects of the job search is riding out the highs and lows. You’ve been pro-active by getting yourself an interview and have aced the interview, but now get the news that unfortunately, you did not get the job. This outcome can leave you feeling completely defeated, making you question your professional capabilities and even your personal character. Though it can be really challenging to avoid feelings of disappointment, you must remember to keep on going and try to take it on the chin. Though it can be easy to take it personally, being unsuccessful in a job application can come down to the smallest thing, for example, someone may have a tiny bit more experience than you. Look at it with this perspective; this just means that it wasn’t meant to be and there is something else out there on the horizon waiting for me that’s even better!
POSITIVITY AND ACTION
Bearing all of this is mind, you must make sure that you take some time when you can to give yourself a mental break; go out into the fresh air and walk, do some gardening, or simply sit down and let yourself reflect. This down-time can be really helpful in decreasing your stress levels and giving yourself some much needed time to unwind and refresh. It is also always beneficial to talk through your worries with a loved one or friend, as verbalising your fears and discussing them with another person can help you to think more logically, gaining another perspective. Aside from talking to loved ones about work issues, make sure to talk about all the positive things still going on in your life and ask them about their lives. This can help to just give your mind a break from all the job searching thoughts swirling around in your mind. Keeping positive is paramount to ensuring that you stay motivated in your job search and that you do not feel defeated if things don’t always pan out as you had hoped. So, keep on going, push through the self-doubt, panic and stress and you’ll find something in no time!
If you would like to take some of the stress out of your job search, why not register today and let us do the tough work for you.
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