6 Ways to Prepare for the Post COVID-19 Job Market

• Author: Jeffrey Simmons
• Posted: 2024-01-29

The news about the two successful vaccines has given people the sense that the COVID-19 pandemic has an end date. Many are starting to think about their professional careers after the pandemic, especially as hiring increases throughout the economy. The post-COVID job market will be different from before, and applicants will need to learn to navigate a changed environment. Here are six tips for people who want to learn how to navigate the post-pandemic job market.

Learn More Technology Skills

COVID-19 has taught us that those who are technologically proficient will rise to the top. While we may not remain fully remote, more functions are going to be dispersed. This will favor those who know how to handle the increasing complexity of technology and can navigate its importance in the workplace. During the remaining months of the pandemic, try to accumulate certifications and additional technological skills. This includes proficiency in social media as well as database skills. You never know which particular skills will set you apart from the competition and make the difference for your candidacy.

Do More Training Now

Think of the extra time that you have sitting at home due to COVID-19 as an opportunity to expand your skillset. There are numerous certifications and professional training courses that you can take that would look great on your resume. Many of these trainings would not even cost you much money. Moreover, your employer could even offer training of their own that would be helpful. This training could include classes on leadership or marketing or anything else that could make you more valuable to an employer. Ideally, you want to have a skills section on your resume that is as full as possible.

Become More Mobile

The employment landscape is about to change in ways that we could have never anticipated. Employers are moving jobs around the country in a bid to cut future costs. Some jobs are even being moved to an all-remote posture. In order to become as marketable as possible after COVID-19, you need to be ready to move if necessary for the right job. While mobility may not be a hard and fast requirement, it will open up more possibilities for you. The actual office may not matter as much in the future, but employers will still expect physical presence now and then.

Network

This is the thing that every expert will tell you every time that you are looking for a new job. This is the time-tested way for putting yourself in a good position professionally. It goes without saying that knowing somebody will open up more doors for you. Not only that, but networking will also give you a heads up when a company will soon be posting about a job because people on the inside often know before it is posted. Networking will give you more information about the landscape and tips from people who are in the know. It goes without saying that the more people whom you know and talk to, the better informed you are. Moreover, there are people who are willing to go to bat for you.

Focus on Your Marketing

Every successful job candidate will need to figure out a way to differentiate themselves from the competition. The way to convey the advantages of hiring you to other people is through your marketing strategy. This starts with your brief "elevator message" and continues through to your interview answers. Take the time to think hard about what you can offer employers and distill it into a very simple message. When hiring happens after the pandemic, it may be very quick, so you need to be prepared to hit the ground running. Know how you will sell yourself, and your approach could be different based on the employer and the particular job. Many employers will be looking for a very specific skillset and will have very specific roles in mind for employees when they hire them.

Learn How to Compete

The amount of professional expertise that is on the market right now is staggering. There are many qualified people looking for work who have very impressive resumes. You will need to be competitive with some people who may be even more experienced than you. Job applicants will need to ensure that they are as competitive as possible to surpass someone who may have even better credentials than them.