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Lots of people are out of work and these are scary times. There are also opportunities for new work experiences, maybe in a completely different field from the one you were in. It’s ok to be looking for a job to tide you over until there are once again opportunities in your regular or hoped-for career.
Industries that are considered essential are hiring and we need you, even if it’s just temporary. If you are looking for a job during the pandemic, be sure to pay attention to these seven guidelines:
1. Decide if you actually want to work during the pandemic
Remember that many of the jobs available during this time cannot be done from the safety of your home. Most are going to bring you into direct contact with other people:
- Residential programs
- Nursing homes
- Warehouse work
- Grocery stores
- Deliveries
Some will require that you wear PPE (personal protective equipment) all day. At the very least, you will need to wear a mask.
As the director of several residential programs, I was unable to keep a particular new staff member working. She would call every day saying she wasn’t sure she was safe. While she had everything she needed, and all the rest of us were working in the same situation, she kept going back and forth as to whether she wanted to work.
Please make this decision before you apply for jobs that will require you to have contact with others.
2. Do not wait until the last minute to figure out Zoom and Microsoft Teams
Interviews have changed. I’ve been doing first interviews over the phone and second interviews via Zoom. I have also asked people to come to an outdoor interview during which we sat at a table, at least six feet apart, wearing masks. I ended that when the weather stopped cooperating.
Your interview is very likely to be conducted via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to install the appropriate program on your phone or tablet or computer and learn how to work it.
It was ok in March to say you were not comfortable with Zoom, but not anymore.
Install them both and try them out; both are free. Use them with your friends and family. Just be sure that, on the day of your interview, you know how to connect, know how to turn on the video, and know that the microphone works.
Dress for the virtual interview the same way you would dress for any interview. This does not necessarily mean you have to wear a suit. For the industries listed above, you probably should not wear a suit. Think business casual.
Yes, you can focus on the top of your body while wearing pajama pants, but just make sure you don’t get up during the interview. Do not wear a tank top or a t-shirt with graphics or words. Those would not be appropriate for any interview anywhere.
I did choose not to hire a candidate who was otherwise qualified for the job, because she wore a tank top for the virtual interview. This brought into question her ability to use good judgment and told me much more than anything that she said.
Be careful about where you sit for the virtual interview. Most places in your home should be ok, but I did an interview with a young man who was sitting in front of a poster of a partially nude woman. Again, it spoke to his lack of judgment and made it impossible for me to hire him.
3. Be completely honest about your intentions
Essential industries and services need staff. Under normal circumstances, I would not be interested in an applicant who appeared to just want a stop-gap job. Things are different now. I need people who want to work, can use good judgment, want to learn and do their best for however long they are with us.
Be honest about it. Specify your intentions in a cover letter (see below).
4. Include a cover letter and add volunteer and other experiences that relate to the position for which you are applying
Many positions allow you to apply without a cover letter. Don’t. I will tell you from many years of experience that, if you include an appropriate cover letter, you will have a much greater chance of getting an interview.
- First of all, it will make you stand out, in a good way. Fewer than 18% of applications that I see include a cover letter. When I see one, I can assure you that I read it.
- It is important to note that all cover letters are not equal. Of the few cover letters that I do see, too many are obviously copied from somewhere (or just poorly written) and make no indication of the job that you are applying for or why you want or are qualified for it. These are actually worse than failing to include a cover letter. Below is an actual example of a letter that I received as part of an application.
“I am writing you today to introduce myself as a candidate for this open position here at your company. I am aware of the Company’s excellent character that upholds a performance-driven environment, hard work, effort and attainment. The company mission statement and values are aligned with my own personal values and vision.”
This person clearly uses the same letter for every position, indicating that he is lazy and has no idea what the company mission statement or values are.
He did not get an interview.
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel with every cover letter, but please at least mention the organization and the job title for which you are applying. You can then explain why you are looking for a job that is outside your usual profession (if it is), and mention any related activities.
For instance, if you’re looking at a social services position, remember every time you helped someone in need and find a way to get it into your letter. Some examples:
- During high school, I was a member of the Heart to Heart Club, which provides companionship to persons with developmental disabilities
- I spent several summers working at a day camp for underprivileged youth and really enjoyed it
- While in college, I tutored math and English at the local Boys and Girls Club twice per week
5. Think about ways that you can be helpful and spell them out
You can say something in your cover letter like:
“I understand that this is a difficult time and I can assure you that I am very interested in learning about what you do and how I can help. I am a fast learner, a self-starter and my attendance is exemplary.”
Be honest. If your attendance is not exemplary, don’t say that it is.
“While I do plan to return to [whatever your field is] once that field opens back up, I have been reading about what it takes to be [job title for which you are applying] and am very interested in learning more. I would bring my ability to learn, my attention to detail and commitment to this new endeavor.”
No matter their background, I would interview these people because of the cover letters.
An application that includes neither relevant experience nor a cover letter will automatically go into the NO pile.
6. Take action before the interview and come prepared
Now, once you’ve talked about how interested you are, do something about it. If you’ve said that you have been reading about what it takes to do the job you’re applying for, then do that and be able to speak at the interview about what you’ve learned, what you would still like to learn, and how you can be helpful.
For instance:
- If you’re applying for a warehouse job, find out what kind of lifting is required (the ad probably includes a full or brief job description which should give you this information) and practice carrying (or moving, or whatever is required) that amount of weight before the interview. Instead of talking about how you’ve never worked in a warehouse but really want to try it, explain that you’ve been practicing carrying the appropriate weight to be sure that you can and want to do that all day.
- If you want a job in a mental health program, do some research on schizophrenia and affective disorders. Be honest about your lack of experience (if that’s the case) and explain the research that you’ve done, what you think is interesting, what you hope to learn more about, and what you think you can offer (patience, empathy, a calm demeanor, etc.)
Do not make any of these statements if they are not true.
I will hire the candidate to comes to the interview prepared in this way.
7. Show up for the interview, whether virtual or in person
Good for you if you think this is obvious, but many people don’t show up, with no call or communication of any kind. I have seen this hard-to-believe behavior in people applying for direct service, supervisory and management positions.
- If you get another job before the interview, call the hiring manager, thank him or her and cancel the interview. You don’t know when you will cross paths again and you want to leave an appropriate and professional impression.
- If the interview is in person, wear a mask and keep it on. Do not wear a mask that has writing on it that could be considered unprofessional. With a few exceptions, that’s pretty much any mask with writing on it.
- If the interview is to be in person and you absolutely can’t show up for it (if you have been exposed to someone who is positive for COVID-19, for instance), call and explain and ask for a virtual interview. The hiring manager will appreciate your good judgment.
I would much rather hire a person who wants to learn and do a great job temporarily than someone who can’t be bothered to use good sense, regardless of how much experience they have.
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