Job Searching During the COVID-19 Pandemic
If you have lost your job due to COVID-19, or were already in the middle of a search, here are some tips that may help:
Self-care is a priority. If you are experiencing anxiety or concerns, reach out to Access Line for 24/7 confidential support: 1.866.550.5205
Assess your employment goals. What type of work are you looking for? The EHC Job Board continues to regularly post available positions for companies in Niagara West and the surrounding areas. Use popular job searching sites like Indeed to search a large range of jobs and get an idea of the current labour market and which industries are actively hiring. If you are looking to rapidly replace income, search “Urgently Hiring”.
Work on your marketing material. Do you need to start a resume from scratch or to review one already prepared? Make sure you have digital access to your resume so that you can easily upload or email. This is also a great time to work on a LinkedIn profile and the LinkedIn Blog is full of tips and information for your profile and how to use the site. Your EHC Employment Advisor can help you with all of this and has access to lots of resources they can send you.
Add to your resume. Get certified for free in: WHMIS, Health & Safety and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Each of these courses take about 20 minutes to complete and provide a certificate at the end. Or attend a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) – a free, online course that anyone can take. Start here or here to find courses you may be interested in. Also, ask your EHC Employment Advisor about online training in Microsoft Office Suite through the District School Board of Niagara or about Contact North and getting set up with access to thousands of free online training and professional development courses.
Go virtual. Sign up and familiarize yourself with free online platforms used for virtual meetings such as Zoom or Skype. Not only can you use these tools to connect with friends and family while we socially distance, employers are using them to interview and hire candidates. Now would also be a good time to prepare for a potential video interview:
- Ensure your camera, speakers and microphone work
- Plan a space in your home that has good lighting and minimal visual distractions in the background
- Eye contact is important in an interview so practice speaking to the camera, and not to the screen, so that the viewer can see you properly
Have patience. This is a challenging and unprecedented time. Be kind to yourself and take breaks from the process as needed. Stay organized by keeping track of when you applied to jobs and save copies of the postings. Stay inspired and aware through TED Talks or connecting with your network. Reach out to your EHC Employment Advisor for assistance…we are here to help!
