Job searching during the coronavirus pandemic can be tricky to say the least. There is no denying that the pandemic has had a devastating effect on economies across the globe and you only have to glance at the news to see companies laying off their employees, with others desperately struggling to stay in business.

That said, this is not the case for everyone and there are some organisations who are flourishing right now, and are actively hiring and posting new job positions.

Some are doing this daily. If you’ve been made redundant, had your hours cut to unsustainable levels, or just want to be proactive in these uncertain times, here are some tips on how to find work despite the coronavirus crisis.

Engage Your Network

Networking is a vital part of the recruiting process and this is the time to let your networks know you are searching for work. Reach out to like-minded professionals online and ask about virtual events.

Be part of any conversation, post and comment, make yourself visible online. Prepare to ace an online interview by practicing and invite professional contacts you have to meet for a virtual coffee.

Focus On Industries That Are Hiring

Yes, some industries have been hit hard by the pandemic, but others are growing fast. Fields like customer service and warehouse workers, package handlers, accountants and health care-workers, are just some of the examples of industries where work is still in high demand.

Get creative and start looking at different industries where your expertise and experience are needed.

Enhance Your CV

A professional-looking, polished, and well written CV goes a long way. Keep the hiring team in mind, read the job description well and include the relevant information.

The most successful CVs are those which achieve three critical goals: present a compelling career narrative, create visual balance, and illustrate a candidate’s value. Take the extra time you have on your hands during the pandemic to create your perfect CV and to update your profile on job-focused social networks like myGwork and LinkedIn.

Gather Information

Gather as much information on companies as possible and take advantage of the lockdown to take a glimpse into the company culture. How are companies dealing with the crisis? Are they allowing employees to work from home? Did they lay off staff? Follow prospective companies on social media and watch out for any media coverage to gather useful background information.

Boost Your Skills

This is the perfect time to reflect and ask yourselves what are your “weak points”? By pinpointing them you can then start to work on them, making yourself a better candidate. Analyse job descriptions you find online and list each required skill and experience.

If you have that skill but you haven’t practiced it in years or if you are missing the specific skill entirely, this is the perfect time to work on it.

Keep In Regular Contact With Your Recruiters

Although face-to-face contact may not be possible at the moment, that does not mean you cannot be in contact with your recruiters. Whether you are looking for a permanent job or a temporary one, get in touch using video or voice calls and let your recruiters know what you are looking for.

Be clear about your availability, whether you are able to do video interviews, whether working from home is an option for you and provide feedback after every interaction so they can be further of help.

Apply To As Many Positions As Possible

Your job search should continue as usual, if not more. Keep sending your applications even if organisations need to freeze their recruitment process for a while: chances are that once things get back to normal they will still need to fill those positions.

Be Ready For Changes

This new reality has changed the way organisations work, and the future is still very unclear. Organisations are not functioning as they used to in pre-corona times and that means that important changes are already occurring.

Being ready for changes will help you have more options. It might be possible that you experience a salary cut and you might need to prepare yourself to move abroad to join an organisation. Embrace these changes and put in your extra effort in these unprecedented times, as they could uncover golden opportunities that you never thought possible before.

Do Some Pro-Bono Work At an Organisation That Interests You

Although many internships and work placement opportunities have been postponed, gaining experience as a volunteer in an organisation that interests you can prove to be very beneficial for your career.

Aside from the fact that volunteering looks great on any CV, you will be gaining experience which you will be able to use later in your professional career. You’ll also be able to wow the organisations you volunteer for which could lead to a permanent job offer when they realise how valuable you are to their team!

Adrien Gaubert is the co-founder of MyGwork and has particular expertise in the area of LGBT recruitment.