How to Land Your Perfect Job In Uncertain Times

Searching for a new job can be an intimidating process for many. Now, with a global health crisis fueling economic disruptions, it can feel even more overwhelming to prepare for a potential job interview. So how should you stay ready during this challenging time? Our recruiters at Cox have some helpful tips on how to stand out and land your perfect job.

Dust off Your Resume

Take time to reflect on your career experience and make a realistic assessment of the skills that employers are looking for that match your experience.

“Oftentimes, we wait until we find the right job to make updates to your resume, but it is a good habit to continually stay on top of your resume so that no projects or accomplishments fall through the cracks,” shared Erin Kinback, Technical Recruiter at Cox. “Also, make sure your previous roles are written in the past tense, while your current role is in the present tense,” she said.

“You also want to proofread for accuracy and grammatical errors,” Senior Recruiter Matt Mosher said. “If you are working with a recruiter, make sure the recruiter has the most updated version of your resume,” Matt added.

Stop Ignoring Your LinkedIn Profile

Since the majority of America is spending more time at home, now is the perfect time to make an effort to update your LinkedIn profile.

“When a recruiter, hiring manager, or a co-worker visits your profile, you want to make a great [virtual] impression,” said Briana Daugherty, Employment Branding Strategist. “Beef up your profile by updating those key sections that tout your ‘personal brand’: Start by uploading a headshot photo, add a captivating headline, and update your “About Me” section and career experiences. Those 4 updates should give you the boost you need to confidently network across LinkedIn for job opportunities.”

Publicize Your Experience on Niche Sites

If you’re in technology, sites like GitHub offer accounts and profile pages for job seekers to tell the story of the work or the contributions they have made.

“It is good to show off that you have been working on some side projects or personal development initiatives if you’ve been recently laid off or furloughed,” added Erin. “Our hiring leaders for Software Engineers oftentimes check out a candidate’s GitHub profile to get a better feel for what projects they are interested in as well as a greater understanding of how they code.”

Practice Interview Questions

A job interview today will likely take place over Zoom or another video-conferencing software. Senior IT Recruiter Sherica Sampson thinks the best way to prepare for the interview is to practice.

“Practice mock interviews! It’s a great way to get rid of nervousness, and you can run through your responses to previous experiences at other companies,” she said. “You should also prepare at least 3-5 questions to ask during your interview. You are interviewing the company just as much as they are interviewing you, so to make sure the match would be a good fit, you should always prepare to ask questions.”

“I agree, try pairing up with a buddy and do as many mock video interviews as you need to until you feel comfortable,” said Matt. “Be prepared to explain any movements during your career and be able to provide examples of times you have overcome obstacles and contributions that you may have made to your organization. Be able to convince the interviewer that you have researched the role and that you want to work for their company/team specifically.”

Do Your Research

“Research the companies before your interview,” Sherica adds. “This is a great way to show how interested you are in a company by doing your homework ahead of time. Be knowledgeable and enthused by what that company offers.”

“If there are a few companies you have been eyeing but have not yet pursued, be ready for that potential phone screen. Look into what the company has been working on and get a good feel for the overall objective of the business,” Erin added. “Showing recruiters that you have done your research and that you know a bit about the company you are interested in can go a long way.”

Despite the uncertainty in the job market, there are open positions, and landing your next job is all about making yourself stand out from the pack. As with all things, the toughest part is starting – and now is the best time to get ready.

We are committed to our employees and job seekers and encourage you to stay safe during this difficult time. For general questions on our hiring process, please visit our FAQ page.  Check out our career site to see what openings are currently available at Cox.