COVID-19 or CoronaVirus has completely changed how we live as humans on this planet.
With the spread of the pandemic, the world has come to a halt and we’ve been forced to stay at home.
Most companies have maintained business continuity with work from home procedures.
But the million bucks question is… for how long?
Study shows that remote work has increased by an astounding 91% in the last 10 years. And this is for the U.S. only.
The remote job market has been on tremendous rise since 2005 itself.
The internet and cloud technology has made it possible for companies to look in this direction.
Now, as this paranoiac state of the world becomes our reality, remote work has been emerging as the savior of our jobs, businesses and economy.
Michael Osterholm, an American Epidemiologist, on a podcast with Joe Rogan said that the first six months to a year might just be the beginning of a new world.
So, if the lives we are living at the moment becomes our reality for a longer period than expected then how should we embrace this change?
How do we find our “normal” in this anomalous situation?
Let’s discuss how your professional life might shape out in the coming year and what you should do, especially if you’re a job seeker, or looking for a job and so on.
1. Online presence is everything
Face to face interviews are pretty much out of the window given the current state of the world.
So, whatever you present online will be crucial for your interview process.
Also, the more information you have online about you the better will be your credibility.
Make sure that all your professional profiles on the internet are up to date.
Add all the relevant information on these platforms for the ease of your potential employers.
Apart from keeping your resumes updated, write a cover letter and make a portfolio if possible.
Even though portfolios are relevant for designers and people who are in such professions, these will be great for showcasing your skills.
For instance, if you are in IT as a developer, make sure you make a detailed log of the projects you worked on and about your role within the organization.
Do it, so potential employers can understand your profile better as they won’t be able to see you in person.
2. Salary negotiations will be hard
COVID-19 has shaken the economy.
Some companies are doing a better job in managing this situation than others. And so, you may find companies that are not offering great hikes and packages.
And nobody knows when the pandemic will be over or when will the economy be better.
It will get worse the longer this pandemic stays, that’s for certain.
So, jobseekers will need to accept the fact that salary negotiations will be hard.
In such a situation, you should understand but not compromise.
Meaning, don’t ask for unnecessary hikes in such situations but also don’t settle for unfair salaries too.
Find the balance.
3. Communication is more important than ever
With the given situation… It goes without saying how significant communication is at this moment.
Whether you’re finding a job or working from home, communication is key in running the operations smoothly.
As a jobseeker, you should make sure that you’re following up with your interviewers daily.
Stay connected and make sure there are no misinterpretations at any ends.
A lot of times text messages can be misinterpreted, so try to keep communications verbal.
Joining a new company at a time like this then you cannot meet may raise companies’ with unnecessary but justified suspicions.
So make sure you stay connected and do your part in making this process smoother.
4. Company reviews are sole decision makers
As you won’t be able to visit offices physically during a social distancing era, it will be a challenge to decide which organization you would want to join.
In times like these we are proud that you can rely on AmbitionBox to find about any company’s review shared by their own employees.
Online reviews posted on AmbitionBox can be a crucial tool to help you make a decision.
Find out all about a company such as salaries, culture, work-life balance and more. Evaluate different companies and then make the decision.
5. Job security is not the same
Another change which is probably the most difficult to cope up is job security.
With a shaken economy in a pandemic, it’s really hard to be sure if any company won’t lay off or cut salaries.
As of now, some small to medium sized companies are facing such trouble but if the situation is to get worse in the coming months, then any company may lay off or cut salaries in the future.
So, for a better job security make sure you research well before joining a company.
You can always see Job Security ratings on AmbitionBox to make a decision.
Even though the current situation is uncertain, a company with a good job security rating is more likely to provide better security during a pandemic than a one with less rating.
Concluding, the future seems uncertain but we still have found ways to keep going. In this time, as a jobseeker, you need to make careful decisions.
Make sure you include the tips mentioned in this post into your decision making before stepping into the new world.
Stay safe. Stay home.
