1-Be Open. This may not apply to everyone, but there are people that only apply to companies that they have heard of before or that they have a preconceived notion about.  There is nothing wrong with this per se, but in times as tumultuous as these, it can be worth it to explore hidden gems of companies that you’ve never heard of before but can seem like a wonderful fit. You may surprise yourself and find your dream job where you least expect it. 

 

2- The ends justify the means.  When I was laid off and had a tough time finding my next career role, I found myself broke and needing to do something.  I lucked out by having a friend that owned a taco truck and was able to work there for a few months which ultimately led me to my first sales engineering job (we ran a catering event to a software company and one thing led to another).  Working in the truck was hard.  It was hot, fast-paced, busy, and anything but glamorous.  But all the while, I always knew my worth and knew that I was building towards something better, even if I didn’t know exactly what that looked like.  Believe in yourself and know that wherever you are now, it does not have to define you’ll end up. 

 

3- It’s okay to take breaks.  The job search is hard and tiring in the best of times.  Throw in a global pandemic in the mix and you’ve got a good recipe for a very exhausting, potentially depressing experience that can seem hopeless.  Don’t get down on yourself if you’re not having much luck, and don’t deprive yourself of the things that bring you pleasure just because you’re out of work.  Balance the job search with things that you enjoy so that you can energize yourself to be the best applicant you can be. 

 

4- Leverage your network.  You’ve likely heard of the term: “it’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know.”  Admittedly, it’s kind of true.  What you know is obviously important, but it can be that a lot of people know what you know.  Who you know is more unique, and it could be that someone that you know (or someone they know) is specifically looking to fill a role that you’d be a great fit for.  There’s a reason why they say to not burn your bridges; in times like these, leverage the bridges you’ve built! 

 

 

 

Glassdoor is a really cool site that gives you an insight into what it’s like to work at a company without ever having to have worked there yourself.  There are biases that exist on this site too, but there is value in numbers, and you can get a general sense of the culture and feel of a company by reviewing both the positive and negative reviews of current and ex-employees. It can even recommend jobs to you based upon your preferences which can open your eyes to opportunities and companies that were not even on your radar.