01 Sep Job Hunting Amid COVID (OC Register featured article)

I was proud to speak to a reporter of the Orange County Register and San Gabriel Valley Tribune about how to effectively job hunt in the time of coronavirus. I am happy to share part of the article and my advice with you. 

Job hunting … in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Opportunities are out there, but you need to target industries that are hiring. And you’d better make sure you come across well in the virtual world because many initial interviews are now being conducted via Zoom.

That’s the advice of Los Angeles marketing executive Christy Noel author of the new book, “Your Career Survival Guide: How to Get and Keep a Job in Times of Crisis.”

Above all, job seekers should be proactive, Noel said.

“You should apply even if the company hasn’t posted openings,” she said. “They could be in the middle of making some changes or getting ready to hire, and suddenly a resume lands on their desk. That can up your odds of getting looked at.”

In some cases, a resume can yield unexpected results for both the job seeker and business.

“Sometimes businesses create positions they didn’t even have because you have the background they need,” Noel said.

In regard to virtual interviews, Noel offers this advice:

“Make sure you are polished,” she said. “Eye contact is important. You should be looking at the lens of the camera and not the screen. You want the webcam placed higher so you’re looking up and not down. And you want the lighting in front of you so you’re not in shadows.”

Noel said networking is still one of the best ways of finding a job, even during the COVID-19 health crisis.

“It’s asking your friends and your family,” she said. “It’s talking to people while you’re waiting in line to get in the grocery store or at check out — six feet and socially distanced apart, of course. Most of the time you’re going to find a job through a referral. It’s that old adage: It’s who you know.”

Noel said applicants should customize their cover letter and resume for every position they are applying for, along with keywords that are aligned with each specific job.

“You should focus on results — not just the job description,” she said. “If you’ve increased sales productivity, quantify that. It also helps to have a connection with someone who can submit your resume and application on your behalf. That increases your chances of being noticed.”

This post is redacted from an article originally published in the OC Register. Please read Job hunting amid COVID-19: Be Zoom savvy for virtual interviews to review the article in its entirety.