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Tips for Job Searching During a Pandemic

Tips for Job Searching During a Pandemic 1 e1648659976233

If you’re job searching during a pandemic, things may be a little different than job searching during normal times. For example, more interviews may be completed remotely via video conference, and recruiters may be more likely to look at your online presence if they cannot meet you in person.

Even with these changes to the job search process, there are things you can do to set yourself up for success when looking for your next position. Read on as we share our top tips for job searching during a pandemic with you!

Create Career Goals

The first step to effective job searching is to create your career goals. To do this, you will need to answer some questions about yourself and what you want for your future. Here are some of the questions you should ask: What are my interests and strengths? What type of company do I want to work for? Do I want to work with people or with technology? What do I want my life to be like in five years?

The answers to these questions will help guide you to the career that will be the best fit for you. For example, if you want to work with people at a company that gives you the opportunity to help others and you are interested in healthcare, a career in practical nursing could be a great choice for you.

Start Job Searching

Once you’ve created your career goals and finished the required training, such as our Practical Nursing program that can be completed in just 12 months, you’re ready to start job searching. First, update your resume and LinkedIn profile with all relevant experience, education, certifications, and skills. These are the first things hiring managers will look at when you’re being considered for a job.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to review your other social media profiles to ensure there is no content that could disqualify you from a job. Since more of the hiring process is being done virtually due to the pandemic, recruiters are more likely to look to add a candidate’s social media pages.

Dedicate time specifically to searching for jobs, as this will help you stay on track. Research companies you would like to work for and look at their websites and job sites to see if they have any open positions. There are various job sites you can use to search for openings, including Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Monster, Simply Hired, CareerBuilder, Jooble, and even directly on Google. You can set up alerts to be sure you see new jobs first.

Another great way to find out about job openings is to utilize your professional network. Let others in your network know that you are job searching and the type of position you are looking for, so they can keep you in mind for any job openings.

Prepare for Interviews

Preparing for interviews may be slightly different during a pandemic, as many interviews are now done virtually via phone or video conference. Even though the interview may be different from a traditional face-to-face interview, you still need to prepare beforehand.

Practice your phone, video, and face-to-face interview skills with a friend. This will help you be more comfortable and confident when you are in an actual interview. As you practice your video conference interview skills, be mindful of other things that a hiring manager could potentially see on your camera, such as items in the background of your video.

Think of questions ahead of time that you want to ask during your interviews. While the hiring manager is interviewing you for the position, you are also interviewing the company to be sure that’s where you want to work. Ask questions specific to the job you’re applying for and ask questions about the company culture and what it’s like to work there.

Even if your interview is a video conference, you should still dress for success as if it were a face-to-face interview. The recruiter will most likely be able to see the top half of your body, so dressing professionally will help you make a good impression.

Train With United

Before you can start job searching, it’s essential to get the training and education you need for your new career. Many jobs, especially healthcare, require candidates to have specific certifications and hands-on skills.

At United Career Institute, we empower students to succeed in their careers with education, training, real-life practice, and certification preparation*. We are dedicated to supporting our students through their educational journey.

Explore our healthcare training programs in Practical Nursing, Medical Assisting, and Medical Billing/Administration. Request information now to start your path to an exciting new career in healthcare!

 

*Certification is contingent on passing the corresponding certification exam.