While the pandemic has created a host of new challenges for job seekers, there are also certain shifts the pandemic has instigated as it relates to job search that can work to your advantage. Here are a few.
- Few hiring managers will question why you are in transition this year or next. One of the most common questions recruiters ask candidates is, “Why are you currently in a job search?” Whether you are in search because you are no longer in a role or because you are looking for something new, all hiring managers will understand the impact of Covid-19 on your search and are unlikely to probe deeper, even if there are compounding factors related to your transition.
- Hiring managers will be willing to make a hiring decision without meeting you in person.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I noticed that many hiring managers put searches on hold or eliminated some candidates from consideration when they couldn’t meet them in person. But as the months have dragged on, hiring managers have abandoned that practice in favor of getting critical positions filled. New employees are going through their onboarding process entirely virtually, and many have yet to meet their bosses after months on the new job.
- Where you live will have less relevance to where the job is based. The pandemic has forced companies to think differently about how they work and where they recruit talent. Facebook is starting to aggressively recruit remote employees, particularly for senior-level roles. Dropbox is giving up its office space in favor of meeting space to be used on an as-needed basis. And companies such as Twitter, Slack, Box, and Shopify are letting employees work from home indefinitely. Even if a company hasn’t formally announced they will allow employees to work at home, many are more open to considering remote candidates than in previous years.
- The traditional slow-down in job offers often seen in November and December might not happen this year. In years past, job search activity has slowed for many as the winter holidays approach. But many of the factors contributing to this slowdown don’t apply this year. People aren’t traveling as much and may not be taking as much time off from work. This might mean that an interview process in progress will move forward faster than in past years.
In these unprecedented times, it’s critical to keep your search active. While many businesses are contracting, others are thriving, and people are still landing jobs. Now is not the time to drop out of the game. While your search may be challenging, you may also find flexibility on the employer’s part that didn’t exist in years past.