Question:

How can I continue my job search when I can’t even leave the house?

Answer:

The very fact that you asked the question suggests good things about you. It would be very easy to just give up and wait. Good for you for continuing your campaign!

Here are a few tips:

Maintain a schedule. Every day, get up and get dressed. Get some exercise and connect with other people (virtually, if necessary.) Live as normally as you can.

Consider taking a short-term job. A surprising number of companies are hiring large numbers of people: Amazon, Apple, and Google are among them. Locally, consider Walmart; CVS and Walgreens; all the grocery stores; Qiagen and Thermo Fisher.

Take some time to spiff up your LinkedIn profile. Make some new connections; you never know who might have the one contact or piece of information you need. Consider using the Alumni feature at your school’s LinkedIn page to find connections with whom you already have something in common. Be sure to include a personal note in your connection request! (If you need some information about LinkedIn, check out the class materials from Workforce Services’ The LinkedIn Connection.)

Consider picking up a new skill. Lynda.com has courses on practically everything; you can use it for free with your Frederick County Public Libraries card. One skill you might want to have is Zoom. It’s an online meeting platform that will probably come in handy for remote interviews. GCFLearnfree.com has basic classes on topics like Prezi (a presentation program), Meetup (find local groups built around a shared interest; great for networking your way to a new job), Instagram (social networking), and many versions of the Microsoft Office suite. They cover many other topics as well.

Continue to research companies. One of the better ways to move your job search forward while quarantined is to learn as much as you can about prospective employers. Narrow your scope to three to five companies that interest you. See if they have openings that sound like you. Then learn everything you can about them. When you send your resume and cover letter, mention a few obscure facts you learned in your research. Since very few job seekers do this, the hiring manager will be impressed.

Two activities to avoid:

Sitting at the computer all day, applying for every job in sight. (This is never a good idea, unless you want to prolong your job search.)
Panic. The world is not ending; you will work again. Limit your exposure to the news and social media to what helps you.

As many have noted before, this will end. We truly are in this together. Continue your job search with this in mind.

How To Continue Your Job Search From Home