How the Coronavirus Will Affect Your Job Search

How the Coronavirus Will Affect Your Job Search

As COVID-19 hit, it felt like businesses split into two parts; some went into survival mode, while others were able to thrive.

The impact on the economy, job market, individual employees and job seekers is (and will continue to be) one that is challenging, and ever changing.

While it will always be easy to find the data that works against you, today’s blog is going to focus on the positives; the things you can do to control your job search during this time.

Over the past 3 months, Career Contacts has watched clients change their recruitment strategies, adjust their remote work practices and policies, and adjust to a landscape of the future of work that has changed forever.

Below are three areas of your job search that can work to your advantage right now.


1. Remote Work

Never before has remote work been so glamorized. Organizations that were doing it before the pandemic are ahead of the curve, boasting their ability to source, screen, select and onboard new employees effectively.

Organizations that are embracing remote work are also putting a lot of time into ensuring that their systems are in place to incorporate the new normal.

At Career Contacts, in the last 3 months, our most in-demand HR client needs have been in:

  • Engaging a remote workforce;
  • Mental and physical health and safety; and
  • Remote onboarding and development

This means that organizations are preparing to have their people work offsite for the foreseeable future and will likely keep a lot of this remote opportunity going well beyond this current climate.

What does this mean for you?

When applying for roles, expand your geographical reach. You no longer have to be within commuting distance for many of the open roles.

If a role does not specify that it is remote, but you are confident that you can do it remotely, offer up the opportunity for them to meet you, and provide them with a deal they cannot refuse.

Pro tip: If you aren’t commuting, are making up your own hours and able to do the role more efficiently at home, maybe your salary expectations are less than what they budgeted for and now, they not only get a great candidate, but a great deal too!


2. Flexible Workers

While Career Contacts has seen a significant dip in the hiring of full-time employees, our temporary staffing division is booming.

Companies are not sure what the future of work looks like and therefore, are more inclined to hire contract or temporary employees to provide them which predictable, and flexible budgeting.

What does this mean for you?

When applying for roles, be open to shorter term contracts to allow organizations to see your value. This also enables you to expand your network, close the “off work” gap in your resume and start to work much faster than if you were working in a permanent role.

On average, we have our temps begin working within 48-72 hours of their interview, versus permanent roles which can take several weeks to secure.

At Career Contacts, many of our clients also have their temporary staff on our payroll, which means that you are in our network and have access to all our open opportunities, should a position not end up going permanent or getting extended.

Pro Tip:  When networking with companies, offer them a temporary, budget friendly solution to their problem, without the pressure of having to hire a full-time employee. Being solution based in your job search process will increase your chances of adding value and getting noticed immediately.


3. Resume Builder

Over the last 3 months Career Contacts has been offering free resume feedback to job seekers as a way to give back. During this time, we have supported over 150 job seekers with their resumes.

The most common questions we have been asked are:

Should I put on my resume that I have been laid off?

The short answer is yes!

The longer answer is that it is always best to be honest and transparent through every stage of the recruitment process and the resume is the place to start. If you are going to look for a silver lining in being a job seeker right now, know that, “being laid off due to COVID-19,” might be the most acceptable reason to have right now.

Pro Tip: Be ready to discuss whether you would return to your last company, if asked back.

Should I still look for work during a temporary lay off?   

Absolutely. Temporary layoffs have already been extended from 13 weeks to 16 weeks to allow employers more flexibility and to keep employees more connected to their employer. That being said, there are no guarantees that you are going to be called back and therefore, it is important for you to continue the job search process.

Pro Tip: Do this by updating your resume, securing your references, upgrading any skills, and beginning to network within the industries that you want to work within.

Do you have specific recruitment or HR needs as an organization, or specific job search questions as a job seeker? The team at Career Contacts is ready to assist! Feel free to email us at hiring@careercontacts.ca or give us a call at 604-606-1831.

We have also created a full COVID-19 resource center that can be found at www.careercontacts.ca

Well before COVID-19 hit, our firm’s values were based on collaboration over competition, and our commitment is to continue in this vain to back up our words that we are truly “all in this together”.


Author Bio

Natasha Jeshani, BA’05, is one of the Owners of Career Contacts, an Human Resources and Recruitment Firm that supports all of British Columbia.

She is also the author of “The HR Insider, how to land your dream job, and keep it”.

As a Global HR and Recruitment Consultant, Natasha holds a degree from UBC and an HR Management Certificate, with distinction, from BCIT. Her extensive academic, as well as hands-on experience in various areas of people management, has provided lasting legacies in HR protocols and policies.

To connect with Natasha, please feel free to reach out on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/natashajeshani

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