Finding a New Job during COVID-19
When I first moved to Nashville, I came wide eyed and bushy tailed. Before my move I had leads for a new job lined up and was so excited to jump right into the work force. Then we moved, a tornado ripped across the city and COVID-19 hit. That overly positive attitude came and went with waves of potential opportunity followed by disappointment, unanswered applications, and internal debates on if I should settle for less than what I wanted.
After a long dry spell, things started to pick up. I went through some phases of looking harder one week compared to the next, but I tried to keep my search as consistent as possible. I ended up changing the way I applied to jobs and became more picky. I decided to take a step back and reevaluate my approach and what I wanted.
Doing this made the job search more personal and a bit easier. This post will go over some of the proactive strategies I used to fin a new job that fit my goals and tips for actually landing that position.
Positive Attitude - Okay, I literally saw you just roll your eyes, but hear me out. Having a positive outlook is extremely important not only for you to know your self worth, but also because employers can sense desperation. Companies want to hire people who they feel have a passion for their business, not just someone who is desperate for any job to pay their bills. Obvi, we all want a paycheck, but pride in your work is important. It also helps your mental stamina with a job hunt. Especially during pandemic times, job hunting can be hard and take longer than you think. Beating yourself up is just going to manifest a longer limbo period.
Know what you want. What motivates you? Make a list of what you want and don’t want in a company/position. Keep your motivation in the back of your mind, so you can have a firmer grasp on what you want out of your next job. I am not just talking about the type of position, but the type of culture and growth the company can offer. For example, I knew I wanted a position that was creative and hands on. I had worked in larger companies before and in sales positions, which led to monetary success, but I was looking for something to challenge a different skillset. I wanted to feel apart of growing a company and bringing ideas to fruition. I also knew that I wanted a company that was flexible on me being able to work remote when needed. I work hard and get my shit done, but also wanted a company that understands work life balance. I love being in the office when I can, but also with my family and friends being in California I wanted to ensure I could travel and work other places without worrying about having to save every minute of PTO. With Covid more remote possibilities are available, but be sure to ask about the work flow when they are not in a pandemic haha.
Research - Don’t be afraid to reach out directly to a company you love if you don’t see any online listings for positions. I have gotten multiple internships and jobs from doing that in the past! Follow them on all their business social channels. Read reviews so you can have more in depth questions. If they do have a job listing, Treat the responsibilities as a checklist for what you want. This way you know what you are getting in to. Also, make sure that the main requirements line up with what you have but also don’t worry if its not 100%. It’s worth a shot to apply. Confidence and eagerness to learn can go a long way.
CUSTOMIZE EVERYTHING - I created a general outline for my resume on Canva. Canva is an amazing platform that has templates you can go off of to create a unique and professional looking resume. We also use it internally for S&T and all our graphic design needs. Each time I would submit the application I would go through their list of qualities + experience they were looking for and adjust it to that. Emphasizing the things they were looking for, putting that experience or skillset more towards the top. Same goes for a cover letter. It should coordinate with the job skills and requirements fluidly, so immediately they see why you would be a good fit.
Set daily job hunt goals - It takes a lot of dedicated time and effort to find a new job. It can become draining or discouraging if you are going non stop with no results. Setting daily goals of working on an application for an hour or reaching out to 1 new companies a day can give you attainable goals that give you a sense of accomplishment. You can set yourself on the right track without burning yourself out. And if you do get burnt out - you are allowed to give yourself a break. I was getting so frustrated that it was really impacting my mood, so I decided to take a week off and reset my mindset. I focused on my extra curricular activities and our S&T business. Not constantly living in the ‘when will i get a good job’ bubble was a nice reset and i came back feeling more motivated to start again. That’s when I ended up finding the position I am in now :) I used Linkedin, Indeed, and glassdoor as my main job hunting platforms.
Interview Prep
Have some good stories to showcase your skills. Having a few ready to go will take out a lot of the anxiety before an interview. If they are broad enough you can kind of pitch them to answer different style questions.
LOOK PUT TOGETHER. This sounds so simple, but seriously put a little extra thought into it. Think about a birthday party or event you are excited about. You care about it, so you try and look your best. Therefore your mindset is already attentive. Dress up even if its over the phone. You will represent yourself in a positive manner and have a clearer headspace to nail the interview.
Have questions prepared + do you research on the company!! Read reviews so you can have more in depth questions. Ask the hard questions and don’t back down: how they handled Covid, personal growth, PTO, pay, diversity. Research the company before interview so that you can explain it to them. It’s very common for a company to ask you to explain their company to them. A little prep can really help you nail this and impress them right away. It is also a great way to figure out if you are passionate about their mission.
Use their names throughout the interview to make it seem very personal and that you have attention to detail.
Follow them on all their business social channels. You can even reference recent posts or milestones they have shared. This once again shows your passion for their business and a good example of being thorough.
Be honest and transparent - you’d rather not get a job that’s not the right fit then have to fake it or change the expectations when you get there. Be you.
Follow up - If you have submitted an application and haven’t heard back, follow up again via email or find hiring manager on Linkedin and send them a message. After any contact be sure to verbally say thank you and follow up with a thank you email or note. Always always always thank them for their time. It goes a long way to show you are professional and genuinely care about getting the position.
Be nice to yourself and don’t forget that you are AMAZING!!! Know your worth and commit to it. Once you get a new job, (which you will!!!) be sure to carry that energy into the office and start strong. You got this!
