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[#WorkTrends] How to Plan a Successful Job Search During the Pandemic

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Planning and executing a successful job search has never been easy. Add the impact of the pandemic, and the degree of difficulty increases exponentially.

Last week alone, more than 1 million Americans filed for unemployment. In total, nearly 20 million people in the US are looking for work. With all this competition, how will your online presence and personal branding help you stand out? How do you prepare for a job search that is going to be almost 100 percent virtual? And how do you find the companies that are hiring?

In other words: How do you set yourself up for a successful job search in the middle of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis?

Our Guest: Robin Ryan, Career Counselor and Author

Robin Ryan, one of the most sought-after career experts in the country, joined us on this episode of #WorkTrends. The Los Angeles Times calls Robin America’s Top Career Expert. She has appeared on over 2,000 TV & radio shows, including Oprah and Dr. Phil. And she is the best-selling author of eight books, including the acclaimed 60 Seconds & You’re Hired. 

To start our conversation, I asked Robin about the first step job seekers should take as they launch a  successful job search. Not surprising to me, her answer was “networking.” Robin added, “It’s always been networking!” 

Robin said that too many job seekers still think all they have to do is go online, click and apply. She then emphasized the importance of making connections: “We know for a fact that networking and referrals is what’s really working. When a referral — somebody you know that knows your work — passes your resume along, you have a 50% chance of getting an interview. And you have a microscopic chance without that referral.”

“So that’s the first thing. Since 70% of all jobs are not advertised, we want people to use their connections… go to LinkedIn — and network.”

Planning a Successful Job Search During the Pandemic

As our conversation continued, I asked Robin how much the job search has changed since the pandemic began. “It is harder, not only for the job seeker… it became extremely difficult for the employer. Employers dislike that they can’t meet you in person. Employers are taking so much longer to make up their minds. It’s not uncommon for people to have to go to six to eight interviews before the company decides.” With all that in mind, I added that the best thing a job seeker can do is make the recruiter’s job easier by making it clear they are the best possible candidate. Robin agrees, and believes this why today’s job seekers must be ready with a “60-second sell.”

“Take your five top selling points, and link them together. In two or three sentences, you provide the answers to the ‘Tell me about yourself’ and ‘Why should I hire you?’ questions.”

Robin and I talked about much more during our conversation, including best practices for resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, and the importance of compelling social media profiles. Be sure to listen to the entire interview — and then put Robin’s good advice to work!

 

Find Robin on LinkedIn and learn more about her work at RobinRyan.com.

 

Editor’s note: We’ve updated our FAQ page and #WorkTrends Podcast pages. Take a look!

 

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[#WorkTrends] Launching a Dream Career Amid Pandemic Unemployment

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The pandemic has caused widespread unemployment. And yet, today, many people are launching their dream career, right now. Let’s talk about how you can make that happen!

No doubt, this seems like a tough time to start a job search. But it is more than possible — even during what many see as a nightmare scenario — to find your dream job. Of course, some of the old school methods we used to rely on to find work are now outdated. And, yes, we must now anticipate a job search that is nearly 100 percent virtual. 

But there are many companies making job offers — and you can find meaningful work with a great company right now. All you need is the right approach.

Our Guest: Tracy Timm from The Nth Degree Career Academy

I couldn’t be happier to welcome Tracy Timm to this episode of #WorkTrends. Tracy is the founder of The Nth Degree Career Academy, a proven career clarity system that helps high-potential professionals discover, define, and drive careers they love. With a degree in behavioral psychology from Yale University, Tracy is a sought-after career clarity expert, organizational advisor, speaker, and author. Tracy’s passion for her work and expertise helps clients go from stuck in their job to unstoppable in their careers and lives. 

And that is where we started our discussion. I asked Tracy, “What’s the most important thing a person can do during this pandemic to bounce back better, both in life and in career?” With her answer, Tracy made it clear she knows how to navigate the current job search environment:

“This super disruptive time is a great reminder that life is going to throw us curve balls. Challenging circumstances beyond your control are going to surface. And the only thing that you can control is your level of clarity at any given time. So our office as a mantra is, ‘When there’s a lot more noise, when there’s higher unemployment, and when more people are applying for the same jobs — the person with the most clarity is going to win.’ Because only clarity allows you to rise above that noise, speak with more confidence, and pursue your next step with more certainty.”

Tracy added, “We must show up differently than most people are showing up — which is in panic and reaction mode.”

Launching Your Dream Career Now

Feeling her energy, I pressed Tracy on precisely what a job seeker must do to launch a successful job search, even while the pandemic rages on. Tammy shared some powerful insight:

“The number one thing you can do right now is to take a step back and get super, hyper, laser-focused on you. Your unique value. Your professional genius zone. And then to pursue your dream career with absolute clarity, confidence, and certainty.” Tracy went on to say that clarity is so powerful: “Just to know something with certainty, and to not question it. To not be ‘all in’ is the root cause of most issues when it comes to making decisions or choices in our life.”

“Too many of us don’t fully commit to our choice. We question it, even though we’ve already chosen it.”

As our 30-minute conversation continued, it became clear Tracy was dispensing a lifetime of sage advice perfectly suited to today’s job seekers. If you’re in the middle of a job search, you must listen in. If you know someone currently looking for work, share this conversation with them. Because this episode of #WorkTrends provides must-have insight into how people can launch their dream careers, even during a global pandemic.

 

Learn more about Tracy’s work on LinkedIn.

 

Editor’s note: We’ve updated our FAQ page and #WorkTrends Podcast pages. Take a look!