2013 Alum Eleanor Meegoda spent her Fellowship at Detroit Venture Partners as analyst where she oversaw deal flow, supported portfolio services, and managed the venture capital firm’s internship program. 2013 was a critical time for Detroit – it was entering the beginning stages of a painful bankruptcy that would drastically shift its trajectory and those of its residents.
Unless you’ve been serving as a contestant on Big Brother, the chances that you’re witnessing an event of historic proportions – much like Eleanor – with the current pandemic are pretty high. You may have been impacted by it indirectly, become privy to just how deep the health and economic tolls are, or wondered what it means for your job prospects. Similar to Detroiters at that time, there are a lot of questions about what’s next.
On the job front, Eleanor has been working to answer some of those questions. Eleanor co-founded JobStep with Nikhil Deshmukh. JobStep is a career coaching platform that helps job seekers find, transition, and succeed in growing careers. In response to the growing pandemic, they created a guide and shared their thoughts on finding a job when things get bumpy. 

Be on the lookout, take it easy, and get creative.

“Despite the ongoing pandemic crisis, we have some good news. We’ve found that companies are still hiring. While many firms are posting on job boards, keep an eye out for other channels like social media or informal networks, which are often lower-cost ways to reach job candidates. Search accordingly – ask professional contacts, friends and family if they know of opportunities and search on social media for hashtags like #hiring, #openings, etc.,” said Nikhil.
“Be creative about your job search and make the most of your time. Even if you don’t see roles for you, but you feel enthusiastic about a particular company, consider reaching out to them directly. Many employers will have openings that they circulate to their networks first. By reaching out, you can get to the top of the pile. We’ve also seen that freelance and shorter-term contract work can be a bridge to longer-term opportunities, though it is important to protect yourself and your interests.”

Set yourself apart.

Eleanor says “the best candidates are both curious and interested in solving the problems that the employers need solving. As you network, ask questions about the industry, the day-to-day work, and the business challenges. Ask your contacts how they acquired the skills necessary to address those challenges. Asking good questions is often a better way to show your capabilities than trying to have all the answers. Plus, it shows you’re coachable, which is a big trait that employers look for in entry-level talent.”
“And once you have a sense of the problems you’d solve in that role, show that you have the skills and qualities to solve those problems,” she also says. “In your resume and interview, summarize experiences where you’ve successfully used those skills in the past. If you keep getting feedback that you’re missing some critical skills, go out and learn them and then freelance, contract, or volunteer your new skills to prove you can do it.”

Hone in on a set of skills or qualities. 

The skill that Nikhil has come to appreciate the most is being resourceful. “To me, someone who is resourceful identifies problems by asking smart questions and also takes the initiative to solve them. In my own experience, being resourceful happens more naturally when I have put in a certain amount of preparation and diligence ahead of time, and keep an open mind about what possible solutions might be.”

Seek out employment resources and tools when starting your search.

Eleanor encourages you to check out their “Finding a Job During COVID-19” guide which shows you how to build connections and respectfully network into your next job. She says “studies show job seekers are nine times more likely to land a job when they have a referral. We designed our course to even the playing field and help you get referrals.”
She also loves Patricia Mou’s The Ultimate Job Resource Stack Google Sheet. “She’s done an amazing job curating normal and remote hiring boards, updated hiring lists, and job skill resources.” If you’re looking to bolster your experience, Eleanor suggests looking up freelancing platforms or Craigslist for gigs. For skills-based volunteering, they recommend Catchafire.

Follow this job advice during the pandemic. 

Nikhil recommends getting to know people – mentees, peers, mentors – and staying in touch with these acquaintances as you move through your career. “Maintain these connections by reaching out on occasion to catch up, or better yet, by asking how you can help out. This help need not be a large commitment: it can be sharing resources, recipes, articles, ideas, offering to read resumes, or just checking in to say ‘Hi’,” he says. 
When you have the bandwidth, he also suggests considering volunteer, freelance, and contract opportunities outside of work. In Nikhil’s words, “these are great ways to build new communities of friends and create opportunities down the line. You’ll activate a community of people who can speak to your work and recommend you. When you eventually need to call in a favor from your community, it won’t feel transactional. And, please, help however you can during this pandemic; checking in on friends, family, and community members, supporting community efforts to fund-raise for our most vulnerable neighbors, volunteer, and maintaining physical distance to ease the burden on our health care system – these are all great things to be doing.”

Take care of yourself along the way.

Nikhil cautions job seekers to “watch out for job search burnout. It takes a lot of work and bravery to put yourself out there, so make sure you’re paying attention to how you’re feeling over time and take breaks.”
“The most important resource for your job search is your emotional well-being and confidence. Find out what fills your “energy bucket” and do that. The job search, for most people, requires you to put yourself out there, and that can be draining. Do things that replenish your energy, daily,” said Eleanor. “Some tools I use to keep myself balanced and motivated include Woebot, a therapy chatbot, the DownDog yoga app, frequent calls with my friends, and anything written by N.K Jemisin.”

If you scored a job interview during the pandemic (or any major economic event), congratulations! Many companies have put hiring processes on hold. The fact that you’re still making progress is no small feat; you should be proud of yourself.

As you prepare for your interview, you’ll find that many companies are still working remotely which might mean an adjustment to the traditional approach to interviewing. Most of the standard interview advice still applies, though, with some slight modifications.

If you haven’t already, start with our Guide on Nailing Every Interview Question, Every Time. That’ll get you prepared to show the hiring manager why you’re a good fit for the job. This guide will walk you through how to approach an interview in the midst of these uncertain economic times.

Test your tech.

Chances are, if you land a job interview during this time, it’ll likely be a video or phone interview. Make sure your devices are ready. Download whatever software you’ll be using in advance. Make sure you can get it running on your device and that you know where all the controls and settings are.

If you’re doing a video interview, make sure you have a quiet place where you can have a professional conversation. Open up the camera on your phone or device and check to see what’s visible in the background. If the background behind you isn’t projecting the professional, polished image you’re going for, consider finding another location, hanging a simple cover, or uploading a simpler background photo if the app and device you’re using will allow for that. Don’t go too far with the uploaded backgrounds, just a simple plain color or even an image of a window or simple room will do – now is not the time for beach views or memes. Some of the same rules apply if the interview is by phone too. Try to make sure you’re in a quiet environment that won’t be distracting to you or the interviewer. Lastly, make sure your phone or computer is fully charged before you start.

Prepare for plan b. 

Call it Murphy’s Office Law – even if everything ran smoothly during your test run, if the tech can fail, it will. If you downloaded Zoom, made sure it worked, and picked out the perfect place at home to project professionalism, the video call may still lag or be choppy. Make sure you have one backup device that you can use, even if that’s just switching from video to a regular phone call. 
Your best bet, if you run into any tech problems, is to roll with the punches and continue the conversation as quickly as you can on another device. Recruiters should be understanding and accommodating to issues that arise. Many people have had to move their entire lives to a digital space overnight, so don’t beat yourself up if things don’t go perfectly.

Get “there” early.

If you were going for an in-person interview, you would aim to arrive at the company’s offices a few minutes early. You should do the same for a video interview. Log on to the video conference or dial in to the conference call line at least five minutes before your scheduled interview time. This gives you a buffer in case you run into any tech problems and a chance to quickly switch over before you lose too much time. 

Get dressed.

We’ve seen all the jokes and memes. We know that after weeks at home, working and studying remotely, getting dressed hasn’t been anyone’s top priority (we love our sweats too!). But for a job interview, make it yours. Put on real clothes – top and bottom. You may think only waist up is necessary, but better to play it safe and get fully dressed just in case you have to stand up or grab something during the call.

Make sure you’re fully dressed and ready to be seen when you log onto the video chat. There have been folks caught undressed and unaware when they thought they were just testing their camera. And even if the interview is by phone, it still may be worth getting dressed just to put yourself in the right state of mind.

Focus on your flexibility.

Recessions and large scale global events, like a pandemic, often make companies change directions. Many times in ways that they cannot always anticipate. Projects that were important a month ago may be put on the backburner indefinitely. This is doubly true in startups, especially early stage companies that are still searching for their product-market fit. To be able to change directions quickly, they’ll need team members who are incredibly flexible.

While you’re answering questions and talking about your qualifications, you’ll also want to signal that you’re the kind of team member who is adaptable and can roll with whatever the day brings. If you worked on a project that encountered a lot of challenges, make sure you mention it and how you’ve learned to handle unexpected obstacles. When you’re explaining why you’re interested in the role, acknowledge that you know things might change and you’d be happy to work at the company in any capacity. Practice saying something like “my analytical skills would serve me well on your data team but I know things are constantly evolving. I’m so inspired by what you’re building here, I’d be thrilled to lend my talents to the team in any capacity.”

Ask about employee safety.

You’ll spend most of the interview answering questions about yourself – what you’ve done in the past and how that prepared you to handle responsibilities of the role. But at the end, you’ll probably get some time to ask your interviewer questions. You should be ready with questions about the role, the company, and that person’s experience there. If you need some suggestions, we have a list of sample questions here.

You can also ask some important questions about how the company approaches employee safety, especially in light of the current pandemic. It’ll help you understand how leadership approaches employee safety and shed more light on what it might be like to work there. Ask questions like “in what ways was your team well-prepared to work through the current pandemic and what new policies or procedures have you implemented in light of the current situation?” or “what has the current situation taught you about leading through a difficult time?”

Preparing for a job interview now isn’t too different than it’s always been. You just need to make sure you’re prepared and ready to let your experience shine through digitally, even if you can’t meet your potential future team in person just yet.  

We won’t sugarcoat this for you. If you’re a recent grad just starting out, finding a job is going to be tough right now. The economy is down and there’s a lot of uncertainty about when things may turn around. Many companies are focusing on reserving cash and paying the team they have.

But there are still open jobs out there. Many companies are still hiring — either to replace folks in critical roles that previously left or to grow the teams that will help them grow the business. It’s still possible to find a job right now. Job seekers will have to be more nimble and persistent in finding them, especially ones who are entering the market with more potential than proven experience.

Follow these tips to get yourself ready to find the right job, even when times are tough.

Be prepared.

We often start our job search advice with “do your research.” And for good reason — nothing turns a hiring manager or executive off more than a job seeker who is unprepared and unaware of widely available information.

When looking for a job in a crisis, being prepared is even more important because there are more qualified candidates than there are available jobs. You’ll have to be willing to go the extra mile to stand out. Being prepared is an easy way to do that.

Before you submit an application, make sure you’ve done the necessary leg work. Start with the company and understand their products, their competitors and their team. Read the company blog, follow their leaders on social media, do a news search to read their press coverage. The goal is to know as much as you reasonably can about the company.

Then, dig into their industry. How is the industry projected to fare during an economic downturn? Where does this company stand within its industry — are they a major player setting the tone for everyone else or a young, upstart trying to disrupt the status quo? What are the major trends that all companies in the space will have to adapt to? In this economic climate, every company is considering whether they’ll see a surge in new customers or a precipitous drop in demand. Make sure you understand how this company’s industry will be affected and how the company will weather the storm.

Be polished.

You’ve done your research, so now it’s time to show the company that you’ve gone that extra mile. Spend time poring over the posting for the job you’re applying for. Then, tailor your resume and cover letter specifically to the needs of the position and the company. Companies are not taking on the added expense of hiring someone new unless they have to, so having someone in the role must be important for the business. Read through the job description with a critical eye to figure out how this role fits into the overall success of the business. The hints will be there!

For example, if you’re applying for an Account Executive role, you may be required to work closely with current and prospective clients so relationship management and sales skills will be a must have. Keywords like “great communicator,” “go getter,” and “prioritizes goals” will tip you off to what success looks like in the role.

Take those keywords and use them to tailor your resume and cover letter just for this job. Are they looking for someone who can cold call prospects? Include the time you went door to door canvassing for a ballot initiative on your resume. Oh, they need someone who can meet ambitious goals too? Use your cover letter to tell the story of how you crushed your personal best on your club sports team. Make sure you actually use those same keywords in both your resume and cover letter. Some companies use automated systems to scan and reject applicants based on whether their resumes include certain words. Tilt the odds in your favor by including  language they’re using. 
Bonus: here’s a helpful guide on crafting and formatting your resume and cover letter.

Be flexible.

Finding a full-time job in the midst of economic uncertainty requires a lot of flexibility. When a company does decide to hire in this kind of economic environment, they have an extraordinary amount of leverage. They benefit from the increased demand for the smaller supply of jobs, especially quality ones. And if it’s a company building a cool product and offering decent pay, benefits, and a strong team culture, they have even more of an upper hand.

That means you, the job seeker, will have to be incredibly flexible to nab the job you want. You’ll need to be flexible on the exact kind of role, the salary, and even the location of the job. You may have had your heart set on working in project management, but now customer success might be the only thing available. Rather than being precise about what you want out of a job, broaden your focus to include jobs that can affirmatively answer these two questions — “will I learn useful skills here?” and “will I like working with these people?”

Again, it’s a tough market and there are more qualified candidates than there are jobs. Digging in your heels will mean you’re looking for work longer than if you’re flexible about what you’re willing to accept. Do some yoga stretches now and be prepared to bend for the job you want.

Be patient.

Recessions force companies to move more slowly than usual, and much more slowly than they’d like to. Founders and leaders of that company are keeping their eyes on the numbers every day. Where they previously were driven by growing sales, many will shift to trying to simply keep and service their current customers. They’re similarly keeping an eye on holding down expenses as tightly as they can. Even if their teams desperately need a new engineer or content marketer, they may delay making that hire as long as they can keep expenses down and conserve additional cash.

This means job seekers should plan to be in it for the long haul. Even if you’re charming the pants off of every recruiter and HR manager you speak to. Even if you’re willing to take any job to get your foot in the door. Even if you have an amazing skill set that’s in high demand.

Remember, each company is trying their best to maintain and take care of their current employees. Don’t take any slowness in the hiring process as an indicator of your ability or fit for the role.

Be a hustler.

If you, like most Americans, still need to make money while you’re on the hunt for the right full-time job, be prepared to hustle in the meantime.

While many companies won’t be able to hire people full-time, and provide all the benefits that come with being a full-time employee, they may still be willing to pay contractors for help. Think about what skills you have, what skills you’re looking to build, and see if you can contract or consult for a business that needs them. Really into social media? Reach out to some smaller businesses to see if they need help creating content or managing their online presences. Know how to code? See if that tech startup might need an extra set of hands.

You likely won’t be able to charge a lot at first because they may not have big budgets but that extra money could help you stay afloat while also building your resume.

Finding a job in a down economy is going to be tougher than normal. But it’s not impossible. Follow these tips and keep your head up. You’ll eventually find a role where you can learn, grow and start your career off on the right foot.