Although the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the unemployment rate hitting 3.9% in December 2021, the lowest it has been since January 2001, the COVID-19 pandemic is surging with the advent of the new omicron variant, and many Americans remain jobless.A good number of those are by choice, with 4.2 million people quitting their jobs in October 2021 alone.
The pandemic has caused people to reevaluate their work choices, and they are picky right now, as employers are experiencing labor shortages, giving workers the upper hand in job negotiations.As of Nov.30, 2021, 10.6 million job openings were available, with particular opportunity in the fields of accommodation and food services, nondurable goods manufacturing, and educational services.
The good news is that employers want to fill those jobs, and they are optimistic about eventually doing so.An October 2021 survey of 1,100 U.S.employers of all sizes by job site Indeed revealed that “94% of enterprises and 93% of small to midsized businesses (SMBs) say their companies will grow and have even more job opportunities” in 2022.
The key to landing gainful employment in the middle of a pandemic, though, is making some major adjustments to your approach.
The fact is that today’s candidates have fewer opportunities to make the in-person connections that were once so key to getting in the door.And when they do land an interview, they may face the difficult task of selling themselves over a Zoom session.
Investopedia connected with several employers and employment experts about what today’s job candidates should be doing to improve their odds.
Key Takeaways
– Though some industries have floundered during the pandemic, others are prospering.
Expanding your search to fields where you may not have previous experience can sometimes help you land your next job.
– Many candidates have gaps in their résumés thanks to the pandemic.Experts say being candid about those gaps and successfully articulating why you’re a good fit for the open position can help you win over employers.
– With more interviews taking place virtually, candidates have to control the image they project onscreen in terms of both physical appearance and messaging.
Rethink Your Search Parameters
“2021 was a year of transformation for the U.S.labor market,” says
Andrew Hunter, co-founder of the job search engine Adzuna.“In January 2021, employers cautiously navigated hiring needs, but by November, employers had turned the taps on and were looking to take on a flood of new staff.” Salaries are also rising, with 24 out of the 30 jobs with the biggest hiring increases offering higher pay in November 2021 than they did in January 2021.Of course, all this was right before the arrival of the omicron variant, which could temporarily put a brake on the proceedings as 2022 starts up, at least until the arrival of a tailored vaccine booster shot.
According to Hunter, the two professions seeing the biggest hiring booms in 2021 were the logistics and warehousing industry and the IT industry.Other jobs with noticeable upticks included warehouse workers, delivery drivers, data scientists, developers, and hospitality and catering staff, with the last having thousands of openings for restaurant managers and cooks.One notable side effect of this employment surge was a
large increase in the hiring of headhunters.“With more people moving jobs than ever before, more recruitment specialists are needed to help fill urgent roles,” says Hunter.
“After reevaluating their work-life goals, many Americans are switching jobs in the
Great Resignation,” says Hunter.
“Job seekers looking to change company, role, or career have a wide array of options.” Still, some industries are going to bounce back stronger than others, so adaptability is a useful attribute when considering a career change.“Job seekers should adapt to this reshuffle by focusing on growth areas and avoiding pigeonholing themselves to one career path,” advises Hunter.
Finally, because COVID-19 has weakened the link between white-collar workers and the physical office, Hunter says candidates may want to widen their search outside of their hometown.“An increasing number of roles are now fully ‘work from home,’ effectively opening up the entire U.S.labor market for savvy job seekers,” he says.
“Geography is no longer the barrier it once was.”
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Google.“
Statistics: Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S.Department of Labor.”
U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary.”
Indeed.“
2021 Hiring Trends Report.”
The Manifest.“
5 Personal Branding Tips for Your Job Search.”.
