Job searching is difficult even when there isn’t a pandemic. With COVID-19 keeping many of us at home and businesses struggling to stay afloat without furloughing their employees, it can feel downright impossible.
To help you on your job hunt, here are a few tips you can use to make your search a little bit easier.
Connect with people
Networking is an integral part of job searching both in and out of quarantine. In fact, it’s estimated that there will be over 6,200 coworking spaces in the U.S. by 2022. With so many of us in isolation in an effort to flatten the curve (and keep it flat), many people are doing their best to stay connected to others. Now the best time to connect with people in your network.
Reach out to friends, old professors, college alumni, and more and ask them to keep you updated on information or job openings in their circle. Use LinkedIn to follow local companies and to stay up to date on news and job offers.
Don’t make assumptions
Many people choose not to apply for certain jobs or positions because they assume they won’t be hired for that job based on certain factors. For instance, about 76% of survey respondents feel their tattoos or piercings could hurt their chances of being hired during a job interview. However, when you make these assumptions about a job before you even have the chance to schedule an interview, you could end up talking yourself out of a job you’re perfectly qualified for.
Make sure your Zoom background is professional
About 58% of homeowners say they plan to improve their homes this year, but the pandemic may have thrown you for a loop before you could upgrade your home office. Fortunately, you don’t need to have a fancy set-up to make a good impression during a video interview. You just need to make sure you have a professional background, preferably with nothing behind you that could distract your interviewer.
Be wary of cattle calls
Companies have the ability to announce when they have an open slot for a freelancing position on their social media pages. However, it’s a good idea to consider these opportunities carefully. The job might sound appealing at first glance, but you probably won’t get the job if you’re one of 100 people to apply.
To save yourself some time filling out an application, check to see how long it’s been since the job post was made. Cattle calls are typically made when a company needs a fast turnaround on a project and they’ll make their hiring decision within an hour of posting their job opportunity.
It can be tricky to find a job ay any time, but especially right now. By following the tips above, you can feel a little more confident navigating the COVID-19 job market.
Dual Income, No Kids launched in the spring of 2006 and is now part of District Media, LLC. With over 10 million visitors and syndication on Google News, District Media delivers high-quality personal finance news and advice. Our 58 blogs inform, empower, educate and entertain the public -- free of charge, with all operating expenses financed by advertising. 
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