By Vikas Agrawal, co-founder at Infobrandz, an elite team of visual communication experts taking content marketing to the next level.
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It’s no longer news: The pandemic has changed the world as we used to know it. For some industries, some conventional job application wisdom is irrelevant because newer tech makes them obsolete.
However, technological advancements have only emphasized how important the human factor is in running businesses. As the saying goes, “The more things change, the more they remain the same.” Despite advances in tech, this remains true for job seekers.
Here are some tips on how the human element can help you ace your job search.
Good Behavior
My family and I often talk about viral cases of human kindness or goodness. After watching hundreds of such clips online, I found a common denominator with these stories — people reward kind acts.
Some job seekers may not know this, but recruiters, like most humans, love and sometimes reward good behavior. No, this doesn’t mean doing something dramatic like buying your recruiter roses. Everyday genuine acts of courtesy and kindness can warm their hearts.
For example, a 2021 survey by Lensa reveals that 62% of recruiters disqualify candidates based on their treatment of the receptionist or other support staff, and 48% of recruiters disqualify candidates because they’re constantly checking their phones.
None of these sound like over-the-top discourteous behavior. Regardless, they’re turnoffs for some recruiters and could prolong your job search by some months. Imagine sending in all those applications and not getting any offers because you’re on your phone during interviews.
Additionally, poor online etiquette can cost you a job offer. Today, an increasing focus on diversity and inclusion in the workplace means that hateful posts or comments can impede your job search efforts.
Better Skills And Qualifications
Before the pandemic, some recruiters I know complained about the number of applications they received from unqualified candidates. The numbers support this. One study found that 54% of candidates applied for jobs even though they felt unqualified.
With many people currently unemployed due to the pandemic, competition for available jobs is stiff. Only the best candidates reach the next stage after applying. For many job seekers, upskilling is necessary if they’re to compete in today’s job market.
For example, companies are not only looking for good writers. They’re looking for writers who:
• Have SEO knowledge and can use SEO tools to create better content
• Are proficient with some marketing automation tools
• Can edit their articles so that their work is always publication-ready
• Have a large following, or are content-promotion pros
Granted, some marketers or recruiters may frown at this, especially considering the pay such positions may offer. The truth is that some companies still have limited budgets for hiring because of the pandemic, so they will readily hire one person who can fit into multiple roles.
Job seekers must analyze their current situation and current vacancies to ascertain the skills necessary to boost their chances of landing a job. Plus, today, apart from the skills your job role requires, virtual interviewing skills are a necessity in some industries.
Persistence
Pre-pandemic job seekers applied for several openings before getting hired. That hasn’t changed.
The average job search in the U.S. lasted five months before the pandemic. But now, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 4 million people have been without a job for more than 27 weeks (more than six months and three weeks).
Think about it. In the past, if you were sending about 20 applications before landing interviews, that number may not be enough anymore. In some cases, only doubling or tripling that number of applications will get you your dream job. And in other cases, it may take even more applications.
Persistence is the constant. So send more applications. Tailor your résumé to fit the job descriptions. Write personalized cover letters. Now is one of those times you must believe that persistence pays.
