Job search during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The world is a scary place right now. And the reality is that it is not the virus who is the scary beast anymore. What is really scaring people now, is the realisation that the economic impact of governments’ lockdown is possibly going to be much worse then what the virus could have ever caused. And regardless of whether or not you agree with their approach, the end result is not subjective. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions,  jobs will be lost.

I imagine that this is not news to you. Conversations like this are taking place daily over social media and in households around the country. And although these conversations are important for our emotional well being. Because we realise that we are not alone. Realistically they are not very productive. So, if you have lost your job due to the governments’ lockdown regulations, or you were looking for a new job before this all unfolded it is time to get focused and find something new.

Job search during the COVID-19 Pandemic lockdown

I know that you are feeling overwhelmed at the moment, you are not alone! In this article, we are going to discuss a few tips for a job search during the COVID-19 pandemic. The idea of this article is to help you focus and get ahead of the current situation. As impossible as that sounds right now, believe me, it is not.

I also recommend that you check out these 23 job search quotes to help you remain positive and motivated during this difficult time.

Job search tips for Lockdown

1) Stay informed.

In order for you to find a new job, you need to know what is out there. This means firstly staying connected. Make sure that you have paid your phone and internet bills. Without internet access, it is going to be almost impossible to find the best jobs on a daily basis.

Secondly, you are going to need to set aside an hour or two every single day to check jobs online. I suggest that you make use of these top job search websites in South Africa, however, you might have your own favorite. That is fine, just make sure you check these sites every single day. If you find nothing it does not matter, tomorrow might be the day.

2) Know what you are looking for.

You need to realise that there are going to a lot more people searching for jobs in the coming months. This means more competition for you as a job seeker.

Realistically you might need to consider looking for lower-paying jobs. This does not mean you should eliminate the higher-paying jobs, it just means you might need to expand your search to include jobs that pay less then you were previously earning.

You need to identify exactly what the minimum is that you will accept. By addressing this issue and defining your lower boundaries you will find more job opportunities opening up.

3) Find meaning in your job search

It has been proven that when people pursue something meaningful they become almost unstoppable. If you can give your job search meaning I can guarantee you that you will increase your chances of success.

How do you find meaning in your job search? Start by identifying a goal bigger than yourself. This could be something like, building a better life for your family, sending your children to a better school, or being able to afford a few luxuries in life.

My guess is you can probably name a few off the top of your head right now, but I want you to write them down! You never need to show them to anyone, but make sure you read them from time to time. Having well-defined goals, and a purpose to achieve these goals will put you miles ahead of the competition as the market fills with job seekers in the coming months.

4) Accept that a job search during the COVID-19 pandemic will be tough.

You need to come to terms with the fact that a job search during the COVID-19 Pandemic is not going to be a normal job search. There are going to be more candidates and fewer companies hiring. Most companies are going to be focused on simply staying afloat so expanding their staff compliment will not be on the cards.

It is going to be easy to become demotivated and lose confidence. You may even start to ask yourself questions like “What am I doing wrong?” and “Why is this happening to me?” Try to remember that it is not just you, we are all going through this together.

If you accept that it will be a difficult journey you can emotionally prepare yourself for things to come.

5) Get started and make progress every single day.

When a task is overwhelming it is easy to put it off day after day. Sometimes we even convince ourselves that we are making progress, but the reality is we have done nothing.

One of the most important tips I can give you is “GET STARTED!” It does not matter where you start or how you start, just start. And once you have started, try to make some progress every single day. Even if there is nothing new posted on the job boards you can redesign your CV, update your LinkedIn profile, or familiarise yourself with Zoom.

Conclusion

I realise that the tips above might seem simplistic, but in times like this, we need to get back to the basics and focus our attention on the correct areas. So, if you are able to emotionally prepare yourself for the job search during the COVID-19 pandemic and then actually get started, you will be just fine!

The sad truth is that our new reality is not going to change any time soon. We all need to adjust to the new world we find ourselves occupying, and learn how to make the most out of what we have. I wish you the best of luck and all the success in the world.