Beyond salary expectations, you will need to define for yourself what you’re looking for to be able to articulate your expectations and career goals to prospective employers and other people in your network. Rather than cast a wide net into the sea, you should be certain about the type of employer that you want to work for and the job that you want to do.
Focusing on developing personal clarity around what you are searching for is not the same as being fussy. Rather, it allows you to narrow your job search on areas where you are most likely to succeed.
2. consider short-term or freelance work
Depending on your personal financial situation, you may want to consider short-term or freelance roles to keep yourself financially stable while you wait for the right career opportunity. Although you may not have anticipated taking on short-term contract roles, the additional income can help tide you over during this period of uncertainty and buy you more time in your job search as you continue your pursuit for the perfect job.
Aside from the financial gain, opening yourself up to freelancing opportunities or participating in the gig economy allows you to expand your professional network. This will add relevant experience to your CV that will give you a much-needed competitive edge in the future. It shows prospective employers your ability to adapt to these challenging times by actively taking charge of your career and skills development. It is crucial that you work on short-term contract roles that can help you acquire transferable skills that you could apply in other jobs, such as conflict resolution, problem-solving and communication skills.
3. prepare for remote interviews and network online
In this age of digitalisation and remote working, it is vital that you get comfortable with online networking events and video interviews as it would drastically improve your chances of getting hired.
Familiarise yourself with the functions in popular video tools, such as FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom, Skype and Google Hangouts so that you don’t fumble when you need to toggle them on during the interview itself. Even though it might be a little awkward, it is still recommended to practice mock video interviews with your friends or family as they may uncover quirks that are not present during face-to-face interviews. Learn from these challenges and find solutions for a better video interview experience. For example, learning how social cues differ between offline and video conversations, such as knowing when to speak without interrupting, body language and choosing the best background for the interview.
Just because large conferences and physical seminars are not happening doesn’t mean that you should stop networking either. LinkedIn is a great social media platform to connect and interact with other professionals within your industry. You should ensure that you have a powerful online brand. Take the time to build your online presence and update your profile with relevant keywords so that you are more searchable on these platforms, making it easier for employers who are looking to hire to reach out to you.
4. prepare for slower hiring and onboarding processes
As employers adjust their hiring requirements, it is important that you temper your hiring expectations as well. With the surplus of candidates in the market, many employers are taking a longer time to find the perfect talent with the most well-rounded skill set as well as job, boss and culture fit. But the truth is, these unicorn candidates rarely exist.