All over the GTA people have been faced with unemployment, layoffs, and business shut downs due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown. Now that we’re starting to emerge from our safe and sterilized spaces, here are some tips to tackle the GTA job market!
Fill in the Gaps
Many people will have gaps on their resume in 2020, and employers will likely be very understanding of this. Instead of focusing on the reasons you may have been let go, think about adding any useful skills you may have learned in the last 7 months to your resume. An “Interests & Hobbies” section is a great way for employers to learn more about you, so if you learned how to bake the perfect banana bread or got back into creative writing during isolation, let them know! Just stay away from special skills like “binged Tiger King in 1 day”.
Get Comfortable with Virtual Interviews
Virtual interviews are weird. I know it, you know it, and they know it. Keep in mind that they’re not looking for the best Wifi connection or laptop cameras, but they are paying attention to how you deal with new and challenging situations. Maintain a positive attitude, and don’t be afraid to make light of the awkward situation. This is a great way to break the ice and get more comfortable with the interviewer. It is much harder to create a connection on a video call, so try to be extra present and engaging. Some good tips to create a better connection online is to smile more than you think you need to, and use your hands!
The biggest tip is to ALWAYS dress professionally from head to toe. Although you may be tempted to wear your best dress shirt but ditch the pants, don’t! If for some reason you need to retrieve something from off camera, you want to make sure your interviewer doesn’t see your undies.
Consider Roles For the Future
Now that we’ve entered an even more digital age, there will be more online / virtual office jobs available. Consider jobs in some of the fields below:
- Cyber Security
- Analytics
- Social Media / Content Planning
- Video Hosting
- Virtual Event Planning
- At Home Call Centre
- At Home Customer Service
How are you finding the job search? What types of jobs are you looking for in 2020? Let us know in the comments.
