Even if commencement exercises were cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s not reason enough for you to sulk, feel angry, or forgo your celebrations at home. You’ve earned that diploma, and this milestone is something that merits a celebration! So go ahead and celebrate in your own way, graduate!
And even if everyone is staying home to help flatten the curve, you can still get hired for your dream position at your dream company.
You can send your job applications online, and all interviews and assessments will be done virtually.
In short, this is the most convenient time for fresh graduates like you to hunt for your first job.
How are employers reaching out to candidates these days?
Because of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, job fairs and recruitment caravans slated for this summer have all been cancelled.
Now, employers are utilizing their online presence more than ever to reach out to applicants. Check out their official website, Facebook, and LinkedIn pages for updates and the latest job vacancies.
Some companies are also liaising with the career centers of the colleges and universities in the Philippines.
Where can you find job openings?
Companies usually post vacancies on their official websites’ career pages. Register for an account and submit your resume in their resume bank. There’s a dedicated recruiter who will receive your application through there.
If you’re a member of a specific industry-related Facebook group, you can also find job postings there from different companies looking to hire people with a specific skill set. Companies share updates and promote their companies on these platforms as well.
They also use job search engines like Jobstreet, Kalibrr, Bestjobs.ph, Indeed, or Glassdoor, just to name a few.
How are job interviews being conducted during Enhanced Community Quarantine?
Most companies only have a skeletal workforce in their offices, so job interviews are now being conducted via phone or video calls.
For initial interviews, some recruiters use platforms such as VideoAsk and Indeed. This saves them time in setting up interviews and checking on the candidate’s availability.
All the candidate needs to do is visit the recorded interview link when they’re ready and complete the interview.
For written tests, recruiters make use of Google Forms, making it easier for them to collate candidates’ answers as they will be automatically collated in Google Sheets.
If you pass the preliminary assessments, you will be endorsed for a final interview, and recruiters often utilize Zoom or Google Hangouts for this.
And if you’re lucky enough to land the job, submission of requirements will be done via Google Drive, Google Docs, HelloSign, or Docusign, just to name a few.
What are some things to expect after the initial interviews and tests?
The community quarantines have affected the regular hiring process tremendously.
Background checks on candidates can now take as long as 90 days, depending on the company and how thorough they conduct their background checks.
The same can be said for the entire onboarding process. It will depend on the candidate’s availability and is now done online as well.
Want to get hired ASAP? Here are some things you can do right now
Craft an impressive resume
Customize your resume for every employer. Put relevant keywords from the Job Description, Qualifications, or Requirements section of the job post.
For example, if you’re applying for a job in customer service, make sure to add in relevant words like customer satisfaction, coordination, communication, complaint resolutions, and the like.
Also, place the most important things that you want employers to see at the top of your resume. Keep it short, simple, and easy to read.
If you don’t have any job experience, highlight school achievements or volunteer work. Make sure they are to the point and include the most important information about you and the role you played. This will make it easier for recruiters to see if you will be the right person for the role.
Lastly, use a clean, simple, but professional-looking font (Arial or Times New Roman in 10 to 12 points should be okay).
Be mindful of the white space as well. Too much or too little is what you need to avoid.
Do a social media cleanup
Set up a LinkedIn account and make sure that your profile is 100% complete. Choose a professional-looking profile picture and check for grammatical errors. Make a profile that will make you proud and stand out from the crowd.
Remember to separate your personal and professional online profiles. If you must clean up your Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook of unflattering posts, do it ASAP.
But this does not mean that you should fabricate accomplishments that will make you more likeable or competent to recruiters.
Make use of social media to sell yourself and show what you can contribute to an organization. Use it to make a good first impression to potential employers.
Register for different job recruitment sites
This is one of the best options to apply for jobs while staying at home during the community quarantine period.
You can send your resumes to lots of companies in the comfort of your own home.
Have a good cover letter that you can attach to your online application as well.
Be patient as you fill out all these online applications. Just remember that the more applications you send, the higher your chances of getting a call from a recruiter!
Apply only to jobs that you really want
Don’t fall into the trap of sending out a hundred resumes, even for jobs that you think you will not enjoy doing.
The last thing you want to do is have a recruiter set up a call with hiring managers, only for you to back out or withdraw your application at the last minute.
Know what kind of company you want to join, as well as the company culture you think you’ll be happy in. More importantly, consider job location and compensation.
No one expects you to stay with your first company until you retire. But if you find an employer that will make you want to stay for decades, then consider yourself truly lucky!
While waiting, make use of your time well
It’s okay to binge watch the latest K drama or upload cute, funny TikTok videos. But do you really feel confident to give this as an answer when a recruiter asks what’s keeping you busy these days?
Take this opportunity to volunteer in Covid-19 relief efforts if you can.
Start networking online, or work on building your portfolio.
Take small, part-time freelance gigs, and then put away the money you will earn in your savings account.
Start a blog and write about your thoughts and feelings, especially during these challenging times.
Last but not the least, take care of your physical and mental self so that you’ll give it your 100% in your interviews, and eventually, your future job!
Final Thoughts
Undoubtedly, these are scary, challenging, and unprecedented times. But life goes on and we need to live with the new normal. Start by thinking about your career and taking the next steps into landing a job that may turn out to be your dream job.