1 Update your CV
If you are looking for a new job your CV should be 100% updated and in tip-top condition. This is where following CV best practices and making sure that you avoid some of the key CV faux pas is key. We recently highlighted 5 reasons why you should add hobbies and interests to your CV, and now is the time to understand how every aspect of your CV can have an impact on getting hired.
2 Update your LinkedIn profile
If you have a LinkedIn account, a recruiter is likely to review your background, connections and experience via your LinkedIn profile alongside the CV that you send. Make sure you spend as much time on this as you do when updating your CV, as it may well be that a hirer finds you there first and before any specific role has become apparent.
3 Gain some new professional skills
Many of us understand that lockdown has given us time to learn new skills. Those skills could be invaluable in getting hired. Learning skills such as advanced social media use, basic coding, copywriting, editing, photoshop, through to more personal updates such as improving your soft skills, can give you that competitive edge when it comes to applying for new positions.
4 Discover new podcasts and thought leaders in your industry
Now is the time to improve your mind! If this is through reading acclaimed business books, listening to industry experts via podcasts, or connecting with thought leaders over social media, all this personal development should stand you in good stead for when you are at the interview stage and need to think quickly and with a professional answer!
5 Take a short term job
COVID-19 has left some graduates and experienced career professionals between jobs. We recently highlighted why taking a short-term job during COVID-19 can be a good thing and once you’ve finished here, you might want to read that too.
6 Volunteering
Whilst it may well be ‘remote’ volunteering that you have to undertake, there are plenty of ways to help out right now. This could mean volunteering your professional skills - for example undertaking social media for charities, mentoring young folk, helping someone complete a CV, or even phoning your elderly neighbours.
Paying it forward will hopefully make you feel better and more positive about the situation, but also add really valuable skills and experiences to your CV and life experiences that you can talk about at any job interview.
7 Networking
Talking of talking, just because we are mostly confined to the home doesn’t mean that networking has to stop. This is the time to try to make those invaluable connections on LinkedIn, chit-chat with thought leaders on Twitter, or join relevant networking platforms, such as The Dots, a platform for the creators and freelancers.
It also means reconnecting with your existing business network, you never know what opportunities are out there until you start to chat!
~~
TableCrowd Talent is a startup-focused recruitment agency based in London. If you’re interested in a job working for a startup send us your CV, and also read up on 5 ways that working in a startup differs from a corporate role.
