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COVID -19 has brought a significant amount of uncertainty and disruption to our daily lives and in turn our job prospects.
Some had resigned from jobs and were unable to commence their new role when we headed into lockdown and found themselves jobless while others experienced redundancies and stand down. Surveying real estate agencies, we found that 25% of offices made redundant 8% of their staff.
As the saying goes “its easier to find a job, with a job”, but in 2020, for many its just not possible. We have had candidates reaching out to us concerned that their resume has holes in it after the pandemic and unsure how to put their best foot forward in presenting their experience.
Below we breakdown how to handle COVID -19 on your resume.
1. HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY
There is nothing that will diminish your chances in a job opportunity faster than fudging your CV. The entire world has been impacted by COVID -19 and you absolutely do not need to hide the fact that you may have lost your job as a result of the pandemic. Not only has it happened to thousands of people, it is perfectly explainable and employers do understand, there is no need to hide this information.
2. STRUCTURE
Keep your resume clean, structured, and easy to read. You don’t need fancy fonts and graphics, but you do need clear and concise information that a potential interviewer will be looking for. List your previous employment in chronological order starting with the most recent. Ensure you include the company name, job title, period of employment and also include 5 bullet points on the main responsibilities of your role.
3. RECOMMENDATIONS
Nothing can support a job application better than a strong reference. Referees should always be from a business owner and cover at least the last few years of your work history and include your last two places of work. We always recommend seeking a written reference at the time of resignation to keep on file. The person providing the reference will be able to provide a more accurate and detailed recommendation while your work history is fresh in their mind. Some have used this time to reassess their work and have looked to transition into other areas, have your referee support this transition in your reference. For example, “Susie was a fantastic receptionist who was always courteous and proactive in her client interactions. We understand Susie is pursuing a career in shoe sales and believe her happy personality and excellent customer service would make her well suited for this position”. Never underestimate the power a recommendation can have on influencing a decision maker.
Above all else, remember we have all been impacted by COVID -19 in some form, and having lost your job due to this is not a poor reflection of you, it is simply a reflection of 2020!
