Finding A Job In Today's Tough Economy
“So, what will the world look like when the crisis ends? Much different than before, I expect. Months of sheltering in place will fundamentally change our lifestyles and will continue to influence the way we live and do business, long after the coronavirus is history. Finding a job will look much different. Here are some of the changes I expect.” (Zoomer)
More work from home
“In the space of a few weeks, we’ve discovered that jobs no one thought could be done remotely can be handled very effectively with a laptop computer and video conferencing. I spoke the other day with a senior executive in the insurance industry who told me his entire office is now working from home and that, so far, it is proving to be effective.
There are many reasons why this trend might continue post-crisis.
It would reduce costs for cash-strapped businesses through the reduction or elimination of office space and its attendant costs. Teleconferencing will reduce the need for business travel, another cost saver. Commuting costs would be cut – a walk to the home office beats hours in a car or on public transit. (Zoomer)
Of course, not everyone can work from home.
Construction workers will still be needed on job sites. Staff will be required in grocery stores and pharmacies. Delivery service drivers have become essential to our new lifestyle. We’ll still need police firemen, pilots, and others to report to work. But many white-collar jobs that are now being done from home will remain there when the crisis passes.” https://www.everythingzoomer.com/money/2020/04/20/what-will-life-and-business-look-like-after-the-covid-19-crisis/
What the average workplace will look like in a post-COVID-19 world
As provinces roll out their plans for reopening businesses, companies are already considering how best to operate while taking into account the dangers posed by the novel coronavirus and the importance of keeping workers safe.
For companies with thousands of employees occupying open-concept office spaces, this means rethinking current work landscapes, productivity models, employee schedules and even how to use the elevator. ” https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/what-a-post-covid-19-workplace-could-look-like-1.4928118
The pandemic has forced the adoption of new ways of working. Organizations must reimagine their work and the role of offices in creating safe, productive, and enjoyable jobs and lives for employees. It's no secret that the job market is tough right now. Long-standing jobs are being eliminated, and once rock-solid companies are losing business and even going out of business! The situation is not optimal, to say the least. Men and women everywhere are wondering how to find a job – even people who still have a job are considering their options, just in case the worst happens.
Create a job hunting strategy that will prove effective.
Put the following tips into play when you're developing your job hunting plan. And remember that in a situation like this, you have to pull out all of the stops – now is not the time to be shy.
Call everyone you know and let them know that you're on a job search. You should call former employers, assuming you left them on good terms, friends, family members, people you know from clubs and organizations – even your neighbors. Ask them if they know of openings, and if they would be willing to share your name and resume with people they know who are searching for great employees like you.
- Use social networking to help you find a job. When it comes to the question of how to find a job, social networking is often one of the best answers. Reach out to people you know on Linked-In. Check out where your old classmates are working. See who you know at the company you would like to work for. The number of websites that are available for making friends, sharing information, and finding out about job opportunities is huge. Take advantage of this new technology!
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Finding a job is a new beginning - Make job hunting your full time job. It's easy to get into the groove of getting out of bed a little later and spending more time relaxing when you're unemployed. But if you want a job, you need to put a good amount of time and energy into finding one. You can use the time to brush up on your skills or take a course as the skills that will be needed post-COVID may be a little different.
- Make use of the newspaper employment section and Internet employment sites as well. The newspaper will give you a listing of what is available. Internet employment sites will give you listings and also allow you to post your own resume for potential employers to see. Look at the ads carefully to see exactly what the employers are looking for and compare their needs with your skills. If you see some gaps, this is where you can look at filling in those gaps while you are not working.
- If you attended college, contact your alumni association or the career counseling department of your alma mater. They often have access to job search resources that alumni can use. Your local community college or university may offer similar services to the general public.
- When able, go to job fairs, trade shows and seminars that are related to your field. You can make important contacts with potential employers this way.
- Update your resume and make sure that it has all the necessary information, is formatted attractively and that the spelling and grammar is perfect. Ensure that you are highlighting the skills match between your skills and their needs.
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Finding A Job Takes effort - Think outside the box. Are the skills you have translatable to another type of work? Would a bit of extra training give you a leg up in the job market? Are you ready for a new career (meaning that maybe it's time to get some more education and make a major change)? Is it time to talk with a career counsellor to determine if now is the time for you to make a change?
New Ways Of Doing Things
“During the pandemic, many people have been surprised by how quickly and effectively technologies for videoconferencing and other forms of digital collaboration were adopted. For many, the results have been better than imagined.
According to McKinsey research, 80 percent of people questioned report that they enjoy working from home. Forty-one percent say that they are more productive than they had been before and 28 percent that they are as productive. Many employees liberated from long commutes and travel have found more productive ways to spend that time. They have enjoyed greater flexibility in balancing their personal and professional lives, and decided that they prefer to work from home rather than the office. Many organizations think they can access new pools of talent with fewer locational constraints, and adopt innovative processes to boost productivity. Thus they can create an even stronger culture, and significantly reduce real-estate costs. These same organizations are looking ahead to the reopening and its challenges.” https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/reimagining-the-office-and-work-life-after-covid-19#
If you're working on solving the problem of how to find a job, remember that there are still jobs available – just not as many as you'd like. Don't be discouraged. Just keep in mind that finding a job in today's economy requires you to really put forth a strong and concerted effort. You're going to have to make finding a job your present job!
“Leading organizations will boldly question long-held assumptions about how work should be done and the role of the office. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The answer, different for every organization, will be based on what talent is needed, which roles are most important, how much collaboration is necessary for excellence, and where offices are located today, among other factors. Even within an organization, the answer could look different across geographies, businesses, and functions. The exercise of determining what will be needed in the future must be a team sport across real estate, human resources, technology, and the business. Tough choices will come up and a leader must be empowered to drive the effort across individual functions and businesses. ” https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/reimagining-the-office-and-work-life-after-covid-19#
COVID-19 has challenged business leaders to do three things at once: stage the return to work, understand and leverage the advancements they enacted during the crisis, and chart a new path forward.
New possibilities arising from the COVID-19 crisis …
To your job search success
Fran Watson