2020 was one unprecedented year that left most of us gasping in its wake. Life as we knew it changed permanently. While most of us wish that we can “go back to normal”, deep down we know that we can never go back to the pre-Covid era completely.
Still, as we are nearing the completion of the first quarter of 2021, most of us have slowly and cautiously begun looking forward to the future. One of the brighter spots to look ahead is people getting their jobs back. More people are getting vaccinated as we speak, inching us ever so close to the new “normal”. There is a spike in job vacancies around the world and companies look to rehire the positions they laid off last year due to the economic downturn.
Yes, you can get your job back in 2021 – you just need to know how to do it! Here are some tried and tested job-hunting tips for 2021:
Become Tech-Friendly
If the past year proved anything, it is that technology is the way forward. It’s not like we didn’t know that before, but it’s clearer now than ever before. Technology can really be your friend if you know how to treat it right.
No matter what field of work you are in, increasing your knowledge of technology (especially related to your work) can give you a leg up over your competitors. It could be the thing that gets you hired over another potential interviewee!
Improve Your Skills
If you had lost your job over the past year, chances are that you’ve had a bit of time on your hand. Do anything and everything possible to increase your skills to pad your resume. Take online courses, work freelance jobs, or even teach online classes so that you can show your potential employer that you have been using this “time off”, so to speak, productively.
Practice Online Interviews
Even prior to the pandemic, most potential employers and employees took to the internet for their job-hunting needs, but the number of employers posting job requirements online has been scaled up immensely in 2021.
This is actually one of the only perks of job hunting during the pandemic. Since you can look for jobs from the comfort of your own home and even attend interviews without wasting time commuting to different locations, you are able to benefit from a wider pool of opportunities.
Needless to say, you should make sure your internet is top-notch and glitch-free. Make sure you have the right hardware for seamless video conferencing and a clean and quiet space where you can do your work.
Become Proficient in Remote Working
Although most people who were forced to work at home due to the pandemic found it cumbersome at first, they have reported having gotten used to, and even preferring it over the last year. And that’s a good thing, too, because remote working is going to be way more popular in the future.
Even when people return to physical offices, employers will look for recruits who are able to work remotely if needed and also be flexible in their timings. So, now’s the type to brush up on your remote working skills! Get familiar with applications like Zoom, Skype, etc.
Personalized Resume
This is a solid piece of advice for job-hunting, regardless of whether it is at the tail end of a pandemic or not. It is easier to make a standard resume that you send out to several potential employers, but it makes a bigger impact when a candidate personalizes it to make it specific to the company and position that they are applying to. This conveys your interest and commitment to the job. Recruiters see hundreds of resumes every day, and anything that can help you stand out from the pack is a win for you.
Network
If you haven’t opened up your LinkedIn profile in some time, it’s now or never! Dust off your social media profiles and reconnect with old colleagues and friends. You never know from where you might get your next job opportunity! Networking is a major aspect of job hunting because knowing people in high places helps!
