Expert Advice on Career Development During the Pandemic

“Apart from the usual questions which will be asked, prepare for questions regarding how you will be able to balance your time given that you will be working from home. There’s always a question on how you can assure productivity despite not being monitored. It’s your efficiency and adaptability that will be questioned now that we are in a pandemic.”

“Make sure all of your tech stuff is working properly — such as your webcam, headset and Internet connection — and log in to the website beforehand and do a trial run. Don’t fret about employment gaps in your work history if related to COVID — employers will understand. Just give a brief explanation. Make sure you’re on time, dressed professionally and have a prepared list of questions to ask the interviewer at the end — just as you would for a traditional interview.”

“Just because you are not going anywhere for an interview, it doesn’t mean you don’t need to be professional. Set up your computer somewhere with a professional-looking background and good lighting, make sure you look presentable and, if possible, use a headset so that the interviewer can hear you properly.”

“Online interviews should be just as professional as in-person interviews. We tend to ask more questions in an online interview to understand how well a person might fit in our company. As it is more difficult to read body language via Zoom, the additional questions help us to learn more about the person’s personality traits before making a final decision.”

“My main tip is to not take online interviews for granted. Make sure you’re in a tidy room that is quiet, dress up smartly just as you would for a face-to-face interview, and keep some notes next to you out of shot. They can be helpful to keep you on track.”

“Nothing beats a perfect preparation — especially in an online interview. First things first, you need to be ready with your tech. Based on my experience as an interviewer, not properly working techs, such as internet connection, is a fatal flaw of not hiring the applicant. A day or two before the interview, check and test everything — from your internet connection to audio and video quality to the background scene. It should perfectly work and can be used to communicate effectively. Familiarize yourself with the videoconferencing tools you’ll be using.

Test your internet connection 10 minutes before the interview. Check if your headphones are working and, if possible, use a noise-cancelling one to eliminate background noise. Set your camera at the perfect angle. Lastly, make sure that the scene is free from clutter.

Above all other personal preparations, never show up late. As much as possible, be the first to be online before the interviewer. Dress appropriately. Rehearse everything from top to bottom. And, always remember to think that it’s just the same as the usual face-to-face interview — nothing more, nothing less. Smile, relax and show the best you can be.
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“Look at YouTube for tips put out by the employer’s branding team to see what else you can work on in terms of their brand and understanding how the culture may be ahead of time. Do some research on the industry and their place, respectively, as well as the company in a basic (and most recent) Google News article. Most candidates do not explain enough or get deep enough into what they specifically did for that specific project or achievement. Make sure those experiences you shared during the interview should be on your résumé already so managers can identify that parallel.

Don’t come across as desperate or arrogant. Take inventory of where your skills align with that role and focus on those as your answers to reconfirm your skills with the hiring managers. What will separate you from candidates is to explain what you’ve been doing to better yourself and career while out of work, especially during COVID. Behavioral-based questions are preferred and they’re trying to identify what type of character you possess and the soft skills you bring (and they use LinkedIn and your résumé to identify both your hard and soft skills). They want to see your succession, how long you’ve been in your roles, and how you articulate your skills and accomplishments throughout your tenure. Make sure you meet the minimum requirements.

Practice interviewing with a friend or in the mirror by yourself, as well as technically simulating a Zoom call (or whichever; find out ahead of time from the recruiter!) to ensure you don’t mess up. And, utilize the STAR interview format for each answer. Also, act like you’re there in person — except try to make sure you’re looking into the camera’s eye as much as you can, if not the entire time, which is preferred. You can even put a printed photo of someone (or yourself, whatever) near the camera — keep it small and tape it so it doesn’t move — to stare at.”

“Prepare like you would for any other interview, PLUS create a space at home for interviews — no backlighting, avoid windows, lighting should be centered in front of you. Practice with different arrangements until you find the best for you.”

“The same way you would for a real interview. Now, instead of figuring out how to drive to the interview, you’re figuring out the best backdrop. We were all hiring online before COVID, so you should be just as comfortable online.”

“Take advantage of opportunity to volunteer, such as Taproot, Election Polls, Civic Formation. Leap into an entrepreneurial endeavor. Use your written and spoken words to tell a story in online platforms that can create change, lend to a cause, make a difference.”

“If you don’t have a full-time job yet, my suggestion is to try to pick up some freelance projects while you’re waiting to land a full-time job. Freelance projects will help you practice and hone your skills and even give you an opportunity to learn new ones.”

“Take online courses, which can be an addition to your résumé. You can also work out the details you put in that curriculum vitae and make versions that will tailor every job opening you find. You can’t have the same résumé for different types of jobs because it won’t always work out. Now that you are spared free time, it’s best to improve that paper, which is every company’s first requirement and basis of impression”

“Professionals should invest in their career development by enrolling in online courses to learn new skills or improve existing skill sets. The pandemic gives people enough time to focus on themselves. With mandatory quarantines and lockdowns, people stay inside their homes most of the time. With a lot of free time, professionals can use this opportunity to better their competence by enrolling in online courses. Since training sessions are online, professionals are in a safe environment away from the public. In this set-up, they can’t acquire the virus since they don’t interact with anyone physically”

“Make sure it is 100% up-to-date as far as work history, even if there’s a gap or you’re currently unemployed. The company will be able to find this information anyway, so don’t hide it. And, depending upon the position you’re applying for, tweak your talents and skills as best you can so they fit the job description. You might want to switch over to a functional résumé format, which focuses more on skills and experience than work history, especially if you have a gap. But, by all means, do not shy away from the gap — this is just a way to make your résumé more presentable and relevant.”

“Graduates often struggle to find work, but the issue isn’t always them, but their résumés. You can easily boost your résumé with experiences you already have and you do this by wording them properly. With the right words, you can make almost anything sound like an achievement.”

“Depending on what you want to do, there is plenty of training. There are also many entry-level remote positions opening up that were once filled in-office.”

“While meeting face-to-face becomes more restrictive, there are still no restrictions on phone calling people. Why not call some of your colleagues or previous colleagues and reaffirm with them some of the key responsibilities and achievements in your current and previous jobs. You’d be surprised at some of the aspects of your jobs that you may have forgotten. You can then note these down on your new, updated résumé.”

“Your résumé should sell success. An endless litany of duties and responsibilities doesn’t help you. Identify successes and get them onto your résumé — increased revenue, reduced cost, increased efficiency, etc.”

“The same way you would pre-COVID. Find stretch projects you can do at school or with your current employer. Get a certification. Complete a training program online. Find a mentor and share your résumé with them.”

“LinkedIn provides a unique environment to offer connectivity to those closest to us by organization or profession, as well as organizations like: We Are Next; The One Club; New York Women in Communication, Inc.; [and] Women’s Business Enterprise Network Council … all offering engaging events [and] activities in virtual space.”

“Networking is a big risk, and not everyone becomes successful with it. Before diving into this, prepare yourself and know all the things you have to learn about networking so that you won’t get shocked the moment you finally get into it. Approaching employers will always be tricky because they vary in approachability and what works for one might not work well for everyone. The thing is you have to observe properly and study every character’s diverse and general trait and know the best way to handle such. Put yourself into their character and ask yourself how you would want to be approached.”

“Networking is always a good idea, even during a pandemic. Get more involved with LinkedIn and try to find relevant professionals to connect with. Starting a blog or website can be a good, as well, where you can showcase your experience and attract relevant professionals. There are also probably a plethora of online networking events you can attend. Just do a generic internet search for your industry.”

“Linkedin is a great place to network. We have found some of our best employees on Linkedin. We have also found that most people are willing to share their knowledge on the platform and even sometimes refer people in their contacts for jobs.”

“Using LinkedIn is still a great way to connect with potential employers. Before cold contacting them, consider liking and commenting on one of their social media posts to build up that warm connection. If you do this, they are more likely to be receptive and recognize you when you mail them.”

“Make your LinkedIn robust enough so they can identify you as a viable candidate (meaning, fill it out entirely). Post twice on LinkedIn everyday and interact with two already current individuals in your network and two new individuals. Offer value. Comment on four posts a day to interact. Build genuine relationships. Put time into your communication cadence if you’re networking on LinkedIn with a recruiter or hiring manager or like-minded or similar industry professionals. Join job search groups.”

“Networking is ESSENTIAL at the moment. The internet deals with only about one-third of the opportunities out there. The other two-thirds will come through networking. But, networking is NOT asking other people to find you a job!”

“Not to promote a product, but you have to be on LinkedIn. You have to have a full profile with a headshot and real content. Think of LinkedIn as a free portfolio site. Once you establish your presence, follow as many folks as you know in the real world and then start following the organizations and the employees with whom you share a connection of interest. Some will say yes, some will say no, but none of them will help you if you don’t ask.”

“The shift to video collection of candidate information was already in motion prior to the pandemic. It has amplified in its use [and] typically comes in two forms: employer sends questions asking the candidate to record answers and submit; [and] third party contracted by the employer to solicit and collect with an online platform. Again, [it] goes back to greater preparation in self-advocacy around personal branding, values, interests [and] abilities.”

“The key to differentiating yourself from other job applicants and making yourself irresistible to a prospective employer is to have a clear-cut interview strategy — whether it’s during or post-pandemic. While this may seem like an obvious plan, it isn’t to the majority of job-seekers, who instead focus on job interview tactics rather than having an overarching roadmap to follow.

Tactics such as how to sit, how to fold your hands, what kind of lighting to use in your video interview, what to wear and how to answer certain questions — even if executed flawlessly — will not be effective in giving you an edge over other applicants.

What will position you as the best person to hire will be if you explain how you would be able to make the company money, save the company money and/or improve the company’s image in the marketplace. (You’ll know what you should focus on by doing extensive research on what the company needs and is focused upon in its business endeavors). These three classic, sales-based ‘closing triggers’ are exactly [what] organizations are seeking in a new hire.

If by using data, facts and engaging before/after anecdotes, you can prove that you have the experience to deliver these crucial benefits, you’ll be able to position yourself as a valuable solution for the hiring company. This methodology will not only help you to ace the interview, [but] you’ll also get the job.”

“This pandemic assured one thing. Change is inevitable and we have to get used to it or else we will be left behind and will fail to get along with the pace. We should prepare for employers asking how we’ll be able to adapt should another unforeseen event happen. Employers are more likely to ask about our productivity and efficiency to work in a changing environment, and these are the questions that we should prepare for should we choose to attend interviews after this pandemic.”

“Yes, things have already changed. People and, by extension, their businesses are adaptable. Online, remote work will continue among many businesses that have already worked it into their operational process, and it will continue to grow. There is no going back.”

“No one knows how things will change. It’s probably safe to say there will be more online interviews, but that’s about it. Research the company, ask yourself the questions they could ask you and have answers ready. Understand that you are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you, so ask the questions that will get you the information you need to know if the job is a fit, and whether or not you want it”

“You should understand that this is equally stressful for everyone — including your interviewers. Acknowledge the weirdness with some initial banter and rapport building, but then get down to business — this is still an interview. Will things change? No. Never. Things always remain the same. But, seriously, things will change and we want to hire people who are flexible, adaptable, and can do it all with a smile”

“If one can design, develop, deliver, implement and evaluate/analyze content online, the market is extremely hospitable. This includes strategy in designing communication, content development (written and spoken words), video/photo production and editing, delivery systems/media channel selection, media planning, data science/analytics, customer engagement, sales.

I am under the impression, by the volume of these opportunities, that the upside to the pandemic is that a great many professional offerings have amplified beyond traditional patterns this time of year — perhaps going so far as to say that the pandemic created many more opportunities in the four career pillars cited earlier than had the pandemic not occurred.”

“Sometimes, postings will be open even if they filled the seat so they can collect résumés for their pipeline. Draw your line in the sand if the recruiter ghosts you. Do you really want to work with that type of company that doesn’t provide a solid candidate experience? Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) differ for all companies with different rules [for] each, so there’s no one way to “beat” the ATS. Cover letters still matter (list three reasons why you’re a fit for the role, as well as the best value you offer to the organization and how you can help impact change). Infographic résumés do not work.”

“There is no way this is a fun time to look for a job. That said, if you’re unemployed, it’s the only time you have, so persevere. The truth is you aren’t looking for a job, you’re looking for a person with a problem! It’s unlikely that you’ll find that person online, so most of your time should be spent networking.”