Finding a job can be hard. Finding one during a pandemic can be even harder.
From hiring freezes to layoffs, the pandemic has thrown a wrench into the recruiting process, delaying when companies typically hire new employees. In Philadelphia, where nearly 70% of all jobs are in industries that were impacted by the pandemic, this led to the city having one of the highest unemployment rates in the country last year.
But as pandemic restrictions begin to ease and the country returns back to normal, Rita Friedman, aka The Philly Career Coach, tells News Break that many companies are now eager to hire. And despite how challenging this job market has been, she believes it’s possible for you to get a job right now. Here is what you should expect while searching and applying for your next gig:
Expect industries hard hit by the pandemic to begin hiring again - but remain patient.
Philadelphia is known for its universities and history. The two draw many jobs to the region, including in education, research, technology, and tourism. When the pandemic first hit, many of these institutions had to either reduce their operations or close entirely, leading to job and budget cuts. That’s starting to change.
“As we start to come out of the pandemic, I think there are a lot of companies that need to hire, they know they need to hire, and they have the money to do it,” says Friedman. “But [because of the pandemic] everybody has just been so unable to make long term plans for such a long time - I think there’s still some hesitancy built into it.”
Friedman also explains that, like some other large cities, Philadelphia’s job market usually stalls in the summer. So while many industries should start posting more jobs again soon, there may be a “summer slump” where the hiring process is slower than usual.
Be prepared for either a virtual or in-person interview.
The interview process is “all over the place” on whether applicants should expect a virtual or in-person interview, claims Friedman. Over the past few months, Friedman says she’s seen more and more companies hold in-person interviews; however, many companies are going to continue their virtual recruitment practices, whether it’s through phone, video, or pre-recorded interviews.
As a general rule of thumb, you should expect jobs that require an employee to be in-person to have at least a portion of the recruiting and interview process at the company’s office. Jobs that are more flexible or entirely remote are more likely to schedule virtual interviews.
Think about the skills you have and the type of job you want.
Whether you were laid off or are looking to enter the job market for the first time, job seekers should think about what they’re good at doing and what they enjoy doing - not just what they’ll be doing in a specific role. “Then, you use that to shape what it is you're looking for, and also how you're packaging up your background and your skill set in an application,” says Friedman.
First-time job hunters should be creative and resourceful.
Entering the workforce is always hard - and in times like these with so much instability, recent graduates should be realistic on how long it will take them to enter the workforce, especially when they're competing with people who have more experience than them. According to Friedman, job sites like Philadelphia Works are useful for recent graduates both looking for jobs and searching for how they can translate their degrees into a career.
Regardless if you’re still looking for your first job or if you landed one that you’re not the most excited about, Friedman recommends recent graduates check in with themselves once every six months or so to see how they’re feeling about their career and whether what they're doing reflects their current values and aspirations.
“Hang in there,” she likes to tell recent graduates. “It’s really tough to look for a job right now [...] but for the first time in a while, I’ve been kind of hopeful.”