As a result of the COVID-19 lockdown, unemployment is on the up and competition for jobs is getting tougher. While it’s an opportunity to work on your CV and re-evaluate career options, the added worry of finding alternative employment and making use of every waking second may hinder your success. Recruitment expert, Michelle Gjersoe, discusses 5 ways to increase your employability without any unnecessary stress.
Whether you were recently laid off due to the COVID-19 global crisis, are fortunate enough to be on the Coronavirus Retention Scheme, or simply wish to do a little job hunting on the side, now is not a bad time to start planning for the future. In 6 to 12 months from now, potential employers could end up asking you: what you did with your time? Did you volunteer? Did you train for something? Did you learn a new language? Did you support a start-up? Did you look after your children? Did you take care of relatives?
The job market is rapidly changing and will continue to do so as long as this lockdown is in place. With the recent surge in unemployment, we’ve been inundated with applications from highly qualified candidates. This suggests that by the time things return to normality, or something similar, there will be a lot more talented people out of work, resulting in less opportunities to stand out. Arguably, employment levels will begin to rise as businesses (those that haven’t gone bust) get back on track, but competition will have grown dramatically. On the flip side, if you are keen to embark on a new career, you could use this time to switch lanes or move up in your occupation.
Of course, with so much online pressure to make the most of any free time you might have, it’s important not to get distracted by other people’s accomplishments and instead focus on personal goals. An hour a day of learning another language might seem feasible to some but incredible daunting to others. Basing your goals around high expectations will only raise stress levels and burn you out – be realistic and go easy on yourself – self-care, mental health and rest are also great things to work on, so go at a suitable pace.
So, if you’d like to get noticed by potential employers without the added pressure (because let’s face it, there’s enough of that as it is), here are 5 relatively simple
ways to gain employability during the COVID-19 lockdown…
5. Work on your personal brand
Does your photo need updating? Do you need to refine your personal summary or add to previous experience? If you know the position you want and the type of business you wish to work for, then think about how you can reflect that in your profile. Remember to highlight experience that is relevant, i.e. if you like the idea of working in a start-up, then there’s room to talk about your love for creative problem solving and other topics related to start-up cultures and innovation hubs.
It’s easy to write up technical skills so why not work on your soft skills? Often, it’s the soft skills that will set you apart. For example, if you’ve recently started leading strategy or investor meetings or have been helping manage offshore teams, then it’s these types of things that are definitely worth highlighting. This brings me to my next point.
4. Fill in the blanks
I’ve spoken to candidates who have worked for some amazing companies but their LinkedIn profiles only displayed their job titles. Needless to say, this makes it difficult for employers to grasp the impact your role had on the organisation. C-suite and director level roles mean different things to different companies, so make it easy for people to see what you’re good at and more importantly, what you’re capable of.
3. Learn something new
If you are lacking skills for a specific position and/or promotion, there are tons of businesses and universities offering free online courses.
Having teamed up with leading universities and top organisations, Future Learn and EDX are online course learning platforms that give enrolees access to a range of lectures and skill development programs, from cloud computing to environmental studies. Just be sure to check the course start date beforehand. If nothing else, it will give you something to talk about and maybe even broaden your horizons. Many of them only require 2 to 3 hours per week so you’ll have plenty of time to focus on other stuff.
2. Volunteer
Understandably, volunteering simply might not be an option for you right now and that’s OK.
However, if you think you have something to offer a vulnerable business (the result of a struggling economy in recent months), then now’s the moment to do it. Rather than thinking of a whole host of skills to support a business in different areas, think about the one thing you are really, really, good at. If you look through your inbox, what’s the question you get asked time and time again? If you were to write a blog post, what would it be about? Take that skill and offer it for a specific task.
Remember, businesses are going to have a lot on their plate right now, so sending your CV, a cover letter and a long list of your expertise might be a bit much. Instead, make it easy for the recruiter to decipher what it is that you could help with. For example, you could check their website or social media channels to see where the company is failing and if that is something you could help with. Yes, you might consider social media as beneath your skill set but anything you can do to help matters and there’s always room for learning. This could also be a meaningful experience to bring up at an interview.
1. Share your knowledge with others
Going back to the thing you’re really, really, good at. How can you share that experience and knowledge with others? What advice can you offer the people in your community? Start writing it all up and even if it’s not something you’ll ever want to publish, this assignment will help you narrow down your aspirations to the things you truly enjoy doing, or more precisely, the things that get you up in the morning. While this could lead to a blog, a vlog or a public social media account, this shouldn’t be your initial aim. The aim of this is to find direction when exploring new career avenues.
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