You see headlines on the news and social media about the Coronavirus all day long. People are talking about how it’s affecting travel, school, annual events, sports, and many other things in our daily lives. But will this virus jeopardize your job search? Some people are worried that it will negatively impact hiring or even stall it. However, I am here to put your minds at ease. Yes, COVID-19 might change how companies hire over the next few months, but it’s not going to halt altogether. Here are a few ways the Coronavirus may affect your job search.
COVID-19 didn’t tank February’s Job Report
According to the February Jobs Report that was released last week, the U.S. economy added a mind-blowing 273,000 jobs! As a result of the push in hiring over the last couple of months, the unemployment rate also dipped back down to 3.5% (that’s a 50-year low!). So, as of now, the Coronavirus has yet to significantly impact hiring in the first quarter of 2020.
Others will keep looking for a job
Don’t let this virus discourage you from your job search. Yes, the virus can be scary, but your life and everything else around you are still proceeding as usual. If you let COVID-19 stop your job search, you’ll probably miss out on a fantastic job opportunity. According to Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., the President and CEO of SHRM, “There will be an end to this. If you take yourself out of the process, someone else may take that job you would get.”
Taylor also stressed the importance of not pulling your candidacy from the interviewing process. Unless you’re sick or don’t feel well, pulling out just because you are fearful of the virus will likely send the wrong message to recruiters or hiring managers. In other words, carry your job search on as normal.
The Coronavirus will increase video interviews
As a precaution, many employers are canceling in-person interviews in favor of video interviews. This shouldn’t alarm or frighten anyone. In fact, in many situations, this is probably easier for both hiring managers and candidates. Instead of having to take time off work and kill half of a day for an in-person interview, you now have the chance to have the same conversation over video. So, instead of burning through some sick time to attend a formal interview, you can now potentially schedule an hour-long video interview outside of your working day. It’s a win-win situation.
But if you need to brush up on your video interview skills, here are a few of our favorite tips to nail your virtual job interview.
The best thing you can do is keep calm
Sure, the Coronavirus is a scary situation with a lot of uncertainties. But as of now, uncertainties should not be enough to affect your job search. Yes, there are some reports about the virus hurting hiring for several employers, such as airline companies; however, the overall impact of the Coronavirus is still unknown. The best thing you can do is keep calm and proceed as normal. As of now, the hiring market is strong, and there are millions of job opportunities out there! If you’re now convinced that COVID-19 won’t halt your job search, take a look at our job board! We have great job openings across North America! Oh, and don’t forget to wash your hands!
