12 tips for looking for a job in 2020

Searching for a new job can be a stressful time for anyone. When we combine this with the fact that the world of work has been turned upside down in recent months, and this is starting to impact the employment market, this can be unsettling.

Finding a job during and post the current crisis will look different, as businesses adapt their recruitment cycles. There will likely be more people looking for work and applying to the same jobs so it will be more important than ever to ensure your CV stands out from the crowd.

hi I'm victorious brought on the international talent director for Robert Half I've worked here for the last 24 years always increment both internally and externally and what I'd like to do over the next 25 minutes is really give you some tips and tactics as to how you can navigate your way through your job search in these very uncertain times thank you over the course of the last month the employment market and the world of working has been turned upside down unlike recessions we've seen before this health driven economic crisis has come without warning a rapid rate leaving businesses and individuals feeling suddenly very vulnerable today I would like to provide some guidance and tactical advice on how to increase your chances of securing your next role in the current climate I also aim to provide some hope and some direction through this difficult period and to give you some insight as to what we anticipate and know our clients will now expect them are applicants moving forward a lot has changed and has become very uncertain in a short period of time being prepared for your job search will be something you can control and get a head start on what changes are we gonna see in the employment market well there's no doubt that the market is going to look very different during and post the current crisis there will be some of you who never believed you would be now unexpectedly looking for another job there are some of you who are sitting there feeling very vulnerable right now or you may just feel that it's the right time to make a move and explore the market well whatever your situation there are going to be things that are likely to have changed from the previous market we were all working in so for some time they're going to be less jobs in the market but this will recover slowly and we may see new types of opportunities rising from the changes that have occurred there are going to be more people looking for work and applying to the same jobs as many have lost their jobs or are uncertain of the stability of their current role employers will have more choice and there a tougher more rigorous recruitment process will be in place it's been a candidate driven market for many years and now the client will be more so in the driving seat for hiring the process is likely to be slower for some companies they may now only hire for one position so they will want to get it right others will have urgency in the role as workload is piled up and they will need an immediate start you might get hired and on-boarded virtually and work from home from the beginning of your employment this is a new skill that will be required and assessed throughout your interview process traditional job functions may now look different before some roles are going to be more critical as the economy recovers credit controls cybersecurity are amongst just a few some industries are going to thrive as a result of this situation others will have long lasting damage and others will recover over time we're already seeing that logistics FMCG and online retail are already benefiting those of you who can demonstrate flexibility adaptability self motivation innovation and positivity particularly during these uncertain times of rapid change we'll have the advantage candidates with strong technical skills in their fields coupled with soft skills and a positive attitude will get hired those who can differentiate themselves over others will have the edge work ethic will still be a key attribute required of any new hire and many new companies are going to emerge as a result of this disruptive climate where innovation and entrepreneurship will rise quickly and will start to embed itself at a rapid rate position yourself to get hired so there are going to be some tough times ahead for businesses and jobseekers and it might take some time for things to return to some feeling of normality so some top tips to give yourself the best chance to get hired it is important to have the following to keep you focused and positive so firstly you must have a plan for the next 30 to 90 days which include your goals the decisions you need to make and your ambitions SMART goals which you can review daily and weekly so you feel that progress is being made let's remind ourselves what a SMART goal is so a goal that is specific what is it that you want it details a meaningful plan for example you want a job in finance for a tech company what would that look like why do you want it and then how are you going to try and get it measurable how are you going to track your progress what metrics will you set yourself to measure what you've achieved small obtainable markers which will help you stay focused achievable realistic steps outline to get where you want to be relevant relevant to you and your ability and your skill set and of course a timeline when do you need to have achieved each step so I would suggest that you set a few SMART goals on various aspects of what you want be that in your personal goals or your work goals you may not reach all of them but with a set goal and a plan you are giving yourself a better chance also reassess those goals weekly to ensure that they are realistic you might need to adapt them along the way so making sure that your CV your personal statement and covering letters are prepared your LinkedIn profile is updated and that you've contacted your former employers regarding your references you may need both written and verbal your network who are you going to approach specific companies target companies where have you got transferable skills but not necessarily the industry background writing a long list of specific companies to approach and why you think you would be good for that company regardless of whether they are hiring or not you could also reach out to a previous employer updating your LinkedIn profile make sure that it mirrors your CV will do more of this in a minute setting your status to open to new opportunities and there is a webinar coming up on LinkedIn social media and personal branding which will help you miss register with and build strong relationships with relevant recruitment agencies they will want to hear from you and they're going to be invaluable in your search to obtain a job ask them for transferable skills advice share information with them and likewise glean information from them to help shape your job search for examples industries that are buoyant or emerging markets register with all job boards relevant for your work setting alert so you're the first to hear from those roles and use your plan to approach strategically rather than applying to everything and anything critical roles and industries some companies will really win in this market make sure you know who they are tracking the stock market who is on the rise and for each industry where are the upsides pharmaceutical risk insurance online logistics are just a few that are benefiting tracking job boards for industries and companies that are hiring not just jobs that suit you think about whether you can diversify your career with your current skills that you have and what could you transfer be brave is this a time to do something different change direction and what will you compromise on what is a deal breaker for you doing a budget assessment at this time you may have to consider taking a part-time temporary contract role or even a permanent job at a lower salary ensure that you do a rigorous budget plan what can you scale back on where can you save money do you need to keep that car do you have the best deal with your internet provider knowing what amount you really need will enable you to apply for more roles and you won't feel so resentful for having to take a cut in your salary if you are flexible and cognizant of the realities you can make an educated decision on what employment looks like for you for the foreseeable working from home will do more on this but setting yourself up a dedicated area for working from home to find your next job is really important try to find somewhere as light and as quiet and as personal as you can plants pictures of family and friends suitably heated whatever makes you feel good you need to feel really confident in your environment and it will boost your motivation and your morale for many working from home might now be the new normal so setting yourself and your space up early or make the transition into working from home much easier there is loads of content most of us know how to put together however many people make many simple errors so little things like no more than two pages don't let the recipient of your CV guess anything give them facts and fill in all the blanks ensuring that the format and the font the layout the employment order the education and the summary listing achievements in each of your roles are all important to get right including relevant metrics related to the role that you're applying for for example sales performance revenue amounts company growth cost saving initiatives how many people you managed and projects that you executed putting your interests and hobbies and passions be real show your personality be mindful of the person reading and don't fabricate on your CV including a hyperlink to your LinkedIn profile if you don't have a LinkedIn profile you will be at a disadvantage the interviewer will be checking out the social media and LinkedIn will be their first port of call however there are now gonna be new requirements on a CV given the current market the following will need to be included in your CV so what is the client really looking for highlighting and creating your bespoke CV around each application by reading and then rereading the job descript what are the skills and the competencies required in the job write them down and start thinking of the specific examples you have of when you've done these the CV needs to demonstrate not just the skill but the achievement experience or outcome can you demonstrate your ability to have worked from home and been productive unsuccessful and provide examples can you articulate your technology skills and capability in communication tools such as Skype zoom Microsoft teens etc what level of capability do you have if you're a leader do you have proven experience and success in hiring and managing a team remotely change brings innovation what examples can you give that prove that you have been innovative in these tough times can you provide examples of where you've had to adapt and change plans or strategies processes direction or speed to execute the result on your achievements and how much money have you saved or created what processes have you implemented to save time upskilling yourself what online courses have you completed what self-development books have you read what have you done to demonstrate that you are up for self developing and have the desire for continuous self-improvement and a willingness to be coached reread the Job Description conduct significant research on that company and create an impactful covering letter it's no longer good enough to just send a CV and a generic cover letter you must differentiate yourself this does not mean for you to go over the top but you do need to communicate why you are interested and why you are suitable and what skills you bring as an employee as more companies interview and hire remotely prospective candidates need to adjust and learn a new set of skills of being interviewed and hired remotely preparation is everything knowing who is interviewing you most interview processes should give you the name of the person that will be at the end of the call review that person's information on LinkedIn understand their background thinking about what is the exact time slot what time frame will be the interview have I received a calendar invitation including in Skype or zoom have I accepted the invitation notifying the sender so they know that it's confirmed from my side it may sound overly prepared but it isn't you may only get one chance to nail this first conversation and if you're late to the call or have no idea who the interviewer is and your internet connection is down you are reducing your chances of getting the job so preparing your technology conducting a tech trial run each time for each interview on whatever video conferencing platform they're using is absolutely critical so considering is the software up to date have I logged in recently do I know my password making sure that you've actually logged into the interview five to ten minutes early and be waiting for the interviewer check the webcam and the audio prior to the call try to always use headphones as it makes the sound quality much clearer so having a back-up plan even with all the best planning technology goes wrong so do you have the interviewers email address and contact mobile number in case you need to let them know that the internet or the Wi-Fi struggling or maybe the call quality drops out sometimes worth asking others in the house if they cannot use the internet for the time of your interview to increase your bandwidth always have your mobile phone ready but on silent and you can always call the interviewer or SMS them if the technology fails either of you you can always reschedule or switch to mobile if needed hiring managers will want to see you as they would do in person so looking down into the camera in a car in the car park isn't the best place for a video interview but if it's the only place that you can speak freely let the interviewer know in advance so you don't start the interview on an uncomfortable note be in a quiet place the quietest place in the house mobile phone on silent for any alerts dog put away sir no barking don't move the banked and again a laptop is best but if you only have mobile access and make sure that you prop it up securely dress the same as you would do for an in-person interview appear professional and appropriately attired from head to toe if you're concerned about the expectation either assume that the other person will be professionally dressed or ask in advance make sure that your lighting is good in the space that you're seated and for those of you who've got limited space options at home most apps now have a blurring background function so use that facial expressions tone of voice and body language so be calm in your speech pattern speak clearly with measured pace and volume try to speak a little slower than normal to accommodate any time lag on the call meta language is everything your smile your love your ability to build rapport through eye contact and signs of active listening leaving a few seconds after the interviewer has finished talking before you respond because this internet sometimes has a delay and you don't want to talk over them look at the camera or if that feels unnatural look at the person on the end of the call try to avoid looking at your own image as it will distract you and your eye contact with the interviewer you can consider hiding your own image from view to avoid that temptation my suggestion is get your friends to critique your style and give you feedback body language facial expressions and do a trial interview with them they will always be your harshest critics a strong close you're likely to be given the option to ask questions at the end of your interview always ask at least two or three even if your prepared questions have been answered from the interview content you can always reword the question or find a new angle related to it show that you've been listening by referring to a previous topic or something that has been unclear that you wish to have fur disgust summarize your understanding of the role and articulate why you are suitable and why you are interested maybe even more now that you've been interviewed don't be afraid to ask the interviewer if they have any immediate feedback or comments on your suitability if you're confident things have gone well this question may well pay off thank them for their time and confirm the process moving forward what are the next steps if this is a direct application or with a recruitment agency I always would suggest a strict follow up with an email to the interviewer or the agency consultant and they will pass it on to the employer expressing your thanks for their time and information reconfirm your strong interest don't overdo it less is more the fact that you've sent an email and have kept it short and professional will be appreciated preparing for competency based interviewing the company that you're applying to will have written a job description and this will include competencies that are required for that role put together by their senior leadership management and Human Resource teams and this will outline the critical competencies known as a competency framework required for this job often there are four to five and they will be listed in the job description so be sure to plan or ask the recruiter what they are so for example some competencies might include through a business support or administration role the competency required might be organization or prioritization for financial services or banking analytical or critical thinking for project management business transformation resourcefulness planning and adaptability so many interviewers will work around what's called the star method so the S is for the situation and the question asked of you is describe the time or please give me a situation or give me an example when you have and it's typically around a challenge or a problem that you countered and you will need to state what that problem or challenge was in that specific example it might be a recent example or something that happened 10 years ago or at university or perhaps sometimes in your personal life the T is the task and this stage requires you the candidate to clearly outline what was the task in hand a was the action essentially what did you do what course of action did you take to overcome the challenge what did that look like don't go on for too long here it's vital to be concise and perhaps list three action points with a brief and succinct comment on each basically the wise the interviewer is looking for levels of competence with reasoning and explaining the action behind what you did and lastly it is the result the result it's the outcome that you achieved whether this be a success or a failure and that depends on the question that's asked of you but you should comment on what you learnt and what you would do differently in the future research so researching the company website the home page before the interview will help with this the About section is a good place to start LinkedIn will also provide you with metrics and information on who works there who is the CEO who is the CFO lean on your recruiter here for additional information knowing the company's revenue and financial positioning will never hurt you in an interview situation finding out what the key competencies are for that type of role by reviewing other job adverts and the same fields will help you build a list of attributes that are common calm sea based interviewing is all about demonstrating your proof and providing evidence of what you have done within those areas so taking the time out to do your planning and researching your examples when those competencies will help you win at the interview in a highly competitive candidate market it's important to know how to differentiate yourself to recap these are the key areas to focus on the quality and the appropriateness of your covering letter and you'll see be ensuring that each is bespoke your response rate enthusiasm and how you get your personality across well at interview they research you've conducted on the company the industry the job the backgrounds of the interviewers your ability to answer competency-based interview questions well and with substance and specific detailed answers to demonstrate how you've upskilled yourself and how versatile you are in a changeable working environment and lastly your follow-up the ability to articulate why you should get the job these are all critical areas to differentiate yourself so to close out there is good news out there every day companies are posting jobs every day candidates are getting hired every day new companies are emerging so new job functions will emerge to companies that have been slumped will begin to gain back their customers and will rise again so don't give up keep evaluating your goals always take the interview opportunity it's all excellent practice ask for feedback so you can improve be patient and be flexible seek out help them recruitment agencies friends and family most of all stay positive and don't give up so thank you very much for joining I really hope that you got some good takeaways I if you have any questions at all then please do reach out to your recruitment consultant at Robert Half and good luck

At Robert Half, we are committed to helping people find the right role. We want to help jobseekers feel confident as they adapt their job search to the new world of work. Victoria Sprott, International Talent Director of Robert Half, who has over 24 years’ experience recruiting and training, will provide practical insights in a 30-min webinar on:

The changes we are seeing and expect to see in the job market
Refreshing your CV to get noticed
How to adapt your interviewing techniques to make the best virtual impression
Tactics to differentiate yourself in a competitive market

12 tips for finding a job in the current climate

As you move past the initial shock of unexpectedly losing your job. If you are looking for a job right now, here are a few tips to give you best chance of getting hired:

1. Set yourself SMART goals

Keep your job search focused and positive. Regularly reviewing your goals daily and weekly will give you a sense of progress.

2. Update your CV and cover letter

Ensure you accurately reflect your skills and achievements and the potential you have to offer an employer. Don’t forget to tailor it for each role you apply for.

3. Don’t undervalue your soft-skills

Flexibility, adaptability, self-motivation, innovation and positivity particularly during time of uncertainty can be a real advantage.

4. Make sure that your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date

Ensure that your Linkedin profile accurately reflect your CV to maximise your chances of getting noticed.

5. Consider your network

While on LinkedIn, consider who in your network you might be able to approach who can support your job search. Are there any specific companies or target industries your skillsets would be valuable to right now?

6. Develop your skills

Set aside time to update or expand your skillsets. Think about how could diversify your career by adding to your current skills.

Related: Here at Robert Half we want to help you stay competitive in today's career environment, that's why we offer our candidates free access to e-Learning, our programme of online training courses.

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7. Temporary or contract roles

Consider widening your search to include temporary on contract roles as this can improve your opportunities of securing a role.

8. Work with a recruitment professional

Upload your CV to recruitment sites, where consultants will review your qualifications and experience, then match you to relevant, open positions.

9. Spend some time researching the company

Review the company website, if they have released any new solutions, their social media channels as well as their financial reports for insights into the goals and mission of the business.

10. Start practising your video job interview techniques now

Find a well-lit space and dress professionally as if you were going to an in-person interview. Pay close attention to your facial expression, tone of voice and body language to effectively build a rapport with the hiring manager.

11. Preparing for the job interview

Prepare your answers for common interview questions and use the STAR method for answering competency-based interview questions.

12. End the interview on a high with a strong close

Make sure that you have interview questions prepared for the hiring manager and reinforce your interest for the role, and why you think you would be a good fit. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback straight after the interview as well.

Many companies are already adapting their business models and innovative companies will emerge through this period of change. Companies are recruiting for roles every day, and candidates are finding new opportunities as a result.

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Learn from Robert Half’s expert recruiters so you can build a talented team of employees or advance your career. Operating in over 300 locations worldwide and as one of the premier recruitment agencies in Singapore, Robert Half can provide you with assistance where and when you need it.

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Webinar: Securing a role in uncertain times

12 tips for finding a job in the current climate