Who’s hiring during the pandemic and how to seize the opportunities

Since the pandemic started, many people have said the uncertainty of not knowing if they were going to lose their job has increased their anxiety, and their mindset has switched from positive to negative on a regular basis.

It’s no wonder. Being laid off can be devastating. Your finances and self-esteem can all be hit hard, and this can have an immediate impact on your security and well-being, as well as your family.

Although the global pandemic took away more than a million jobs according to the International Labour Organisation, there are sectors that have resisted the whipping of the pandemic and some sectors have come out even stronger.

Whilst many companies have frozen their recruitment and selection processes, there are several sectors that have continued hiring, and some that have even seen their staffing increase as a result of the global crisis. According to the Spanish Statistical Office (INE), the industries that have generated the most jobs in recent months are software and information technology services (cybersecurity, data analysis), corporate services, manufacturing, healthcare and finance.

Between the 12th March 2020 and 31st August 2020, activities related to health and social care (doctors, nurses and assistants) increased the number of employees by 3.92%, a percentage. As well as technological, commercial and technical customer service positions.

What are employers looking for?

Companies are looking for professionals with skills in business administration, problem resolution, data science, data storage technologies, technical support, leadership, project management, digital literacy and employee learning and development.

As the job market changes constantly, your skillset will need to adapt to these changes.

The first thing job seekers must bear in mind is that the search for a job from home does not close the doors to finding work. It is a new opportunity, so it is essential to work on your digital image and learn to take advantage of the digital tools that we have at our disposal.

Researching and identifying what companies are looking for is the first thing you should do.

Then understand how your profile can fit in the different sectors that are currently looking for candidates.

If you find an offer that interests you, it is also important to think about adapting your CV for the position for which you are applying for.

Handling job loss & rejection

A friend of mine who lives in London lost her job during the pandemic. She said, she was not surprised when she was told that she would be laid off because the hospitality and tourism sectors have been hit hard, so she was kind of expecting it. Nevertheless, the reality of being unemployed was overwhelming.

After a few months of job hunting she decided to take a step back.

Rather than applying for the same type of role, she started thinking seriously about what she really wants to do and put her energy into. She knew that during this time the job market would be tough but believed she would find something regardless. 

After yet another rejection email, she decided to take coaching sessions with me to help her figure out what was going on, and which direction to go in. 

During the sessions, it was obvious that she was underselling herself and had lost her confidence. So to help her rebuild it, I asked her to list five things she was good at and talk about why she was good at them. Sometimes all you need is someone to jog your memory!

We reviewed her current CV, wrote down her achievements to date, looked at her core skills and created an online profile attractive to recruiters and potential employers (making it easy for them to approach her).

She also started having conversations with people who work in companies she is interested in, not necessarily applying but following people and reaching out. 

We also worked on how to succeed at virtual job interviews.

She also started attending virtual networking events and job fairs.

With thousands of people looking for jobs, making connections within her personal network was a key ingredient in her search. Friends, family and acquaintances might know people who are looking for people with her skills.

Seeing light at the end of the tunnel

She is now having interviews within the healthcare sector, which is what she studied and where her passion has always been.

The advice I would give to anyone who is looking for a job right now is to:

• Look at sectors experiencing job shortages as well as those sectors that are growing like I mentioned above.
• To review the way in which you are looking for work and try to improve your profile to better suit the needs of companies.

The situation is not easy, but it is important to keep faith and be willing to adapt.

If you need support with your job search, I’m offering a free 30 minute career coaching session. Book yourself straight into my diary, here.