E-commerce is where the jobs are, and other tips on job-hunting in the time of COVID

What can you offer? Who are the people in your network? What resources do you have? Surveying the digital landscape to find a job suited for the times needs to consider many factors. BY GRETCHEN HO ANCX | May 25 2020 facebook twitter

For many industries badly hit by the pandemic, those who are in danger of losing their jobs are left to wonder about what’s next. How do you find a new job when there is so much belt-tightening happening around? How can you shift to another talent or skill, when you’ve been doing “your thing” for most of your life? How do you find your blueprint in a virtual world with endless possibilities if you can’t even manage your own social media pages?

It’s not just the current work force that’s faced with these problems. There are tons of students who have just graduated, or are just about to graduate, and are now left hanging and finding themselves disconcerted with the whole situation. What do you do when your course does not meet the need of the times?

There’s definitely a lot of discernment that needs to happen. Don’t be afraid if you haven’t found anything yet—many of us are still looking for ourselves in the dark. Here are some things you need to keep in mind if you are willing to go on a mission of self discovery. 

1. Keep an open mind.

Change can only happen when you are open to it. Try to imagine yourself in different roles. If you were given a chance to reinvent yourself, who would you be? How would that person look like? Is there anybody you want to be like? Is there a career you’ve always wanted to get into, but have always been afraid to try? Be open to the possibility of reaching beyond your comfort zones, even if it’s just in your head (for now).

2. Take a look at the market.

While some industries are losing relevance in the midst of this pandemic, there are also some whose significance is at an all-time high.

For social media, it’s more important to be clear with who you are, what you want to be known for and what your message is. Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash

According to digital marketer Carlo Ople, a top e-commerce website has been aggressively hiring and posting job listings on the internet. He adds that there are a lot po of freelance work available from logistics companies and apps. “If you have a specific skill related to e-commerce you can also opt to go freelance. You can offer digital marketing services like ads, content, public relations, search engine optimization, etc. There’s a big opportunity in the gig economy versus full time jobs.”

Apart from the digital world, the number of home businesses are also expected to go higher, with more people wanting to minimize movement to prioritize health and safety.

3. What can you offer?

Like any business, you need to see where you can meet the needs of the world. Maybe through a talent, skill, service or a product. What other things are you good at? For businesses, how can you shift your services to be more relevant to the times? 

It’s okay if you don’t know the answer yet, but it helps to experiment too. For example, if you’ve never cooked or baked anything in your life, this is the perfect time to try. Use this time to find your other interests. You may just discover a new talent. 

4. What resources do you have?

Let’s be realistic. You can only work with what you have. How much are you willing to invest in the exploratory phase? How much will it cost to start a new business? How much are the online classes going to cost? If you plan on being a content creator, what is inside your home that you can use to create content with? Creativity helps in reimagining our work and home spaces. Think out of the box.

Search for jobs in markets relevant at the moment. Photo by Adeolu Eletu on Unsplash

5. Who can you work with?

People usually gravitate toward the people they trust, especially in rough times. Evaluate your network and see how you can work with others to kick something off. Your social media spaces can be a good start. There are lots of communities being formed right now online—from Viber to Facebook. That latest webinar? It could be a way to expand your network. Your very own neighborhood can also be a good place to form connections. (Be wary though of those taking advantage of the times.)

6. Don’t be afraid to start small.

Let’s admit it. Change is scary. If you are afraid, you can do it in small steps and figure things out along the way. For example, take freelance work first before committing to a full-time job, or do something for free initially to give it a try. Being conservative is wise at this point, too. Little by little, you’ll get to figure out the things you don’t want to do, and which ones you’re willing to go for. For social media, it’s okay if you start with a small following. It’s more important to be clear with who you are, what you want to be known for and what your message is. Know your brand. A unique selling point will cut through the noise. Make sure you have the goods to back it up.

You may also like:

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• How can food businesses survive a pandemic? An F&B expert gives his insights

• How to really work from home (and not just watch Netflix all day)

• More employers and workers embrace flexible work arrangements in the time of COVID-19

7. Be a constant learner.

Remember that it is okay to make mistakes. Failing is a part of the process. Use it as a way to learn and get better. Use this time for a fun self-discovery. Getting feedback from those closest to you will help.

Don’t be afraid of being judged by others. We are all in a crisis. There are so many people like you who are also trying to reinvent themselves. If you don’t have ideas yet, it would help to go into YouTube or Facebook and take inspiration. There are also webinars that you can participate in that can supply those ideas. Having a growth mindset instead of a fixed one helps in breaking away from what you’ve been used to. Don't give up when your work doesn't get traction right away. Keep on innovating.

8. Write your own pandemic story.

Whether it’s reinvention, or doing something that is totally out of your line for now, remember that the pen is in your hands. You write your story. Don’t let this crisis defeat you. Years from now, when we look back at this pandemic, what story would you like to tell your children of how you survived and made it through? It's all up to you, really.

I hope this helps you in your journey.

For more stories from Gretchen Ho, check out womaninaction.ph.

A. Make sure to prepare the following BEFORE attending the Virtual Career Fair

1. Visit our Career Fair at csonline.newinti.edu.my for the list of employers, positions available and know them well in advance, do some business intelligence work on what they do, their competitors and market presence.

2. Register to your preferred employers in Hiring Sessions (HS) available only for our students. 

3. Gather the information about the companies you plan to apply and list of questions you may want to ask via HS with employers.

4. Prepare an updated online resume with LinkedIn, curriculum vitae (CV) or visume.

5. Prepare an elevator pitch in case you are required to pitch about yourself.

6. Learn how to use virtual collaboration tools and practice good meeting etiquette.

B. Make sure to prepare the following DURING Career Fair

1. Ensure  your updated online resume and soft copy of university credentials for online submission / application is ready.

2. Dress formally, use professional language and act professionally at all times during the Hiring Session. Remember the champions' mantra “LFSTER-BIT”: You must be Looking good, Feeling good, Smell good, Engaging, Truthful, Respectful, Business Intelligence and Technology savviness.

3. Join the HS room 10 minutes earlier, so you will be have some extra time to test your devices’ audio and visual.

4. Be friendly, speak clearly and maintain a positive attitude when communicating with employers. 

5. Get their contact information and thank them for spending time with you.    

C. Make sure to prepare the following AFTER the Career Fair

1. After the Career Fair, follow-up with the employer by connecting with them on LinkedIn. 

2. Remind them of who you are and where you met them.

3. Provide feedback on  the CF after each session.

1. Registration for the Virtual Career Fair 

Student to submit Online Student Registration Form for our Virtual Career Fair at least 1 day before the event and to register and attend for the Official Opening of the Virtual Career.

2. Prepare an updated Linkedin Profile, Resume, Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Biodata. 

Student to prepare an updated Linkedin Profile, Resume, Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Biodata for the employers. (This is applicable for all Final Last Semester (FLS) and Pre-Internship Students (PIS). 

3. Apply your interest by submitting your updated Resume, Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Biodata to employers 

Student to register their interest Job and Internship vacancies available for the Career Fair by submitting his/her updated Resume, Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Biodata to employers. 

4. Dress appropriate “Professional Attire” for the meeting 

Student to project a professional looking: 

LFSETR-BIT: Looking good, Feeling good, Smell good, Engaging, Truthful, Respectful, Business Intelligence and Technology savviness. 

5. Prepare a 2-min “VISUAL ME” video 

Student to ensure 2-minutes “VISUAL ME” video about himself/herself is available at all time. (Optional) 

6. Feedback on the event 

Student to provide their valuable feedback about the event at the end of the day.

Visume (Video Resume) - A traditional resume outlines your qualifications, skills and experiences on paper.  A video resume lets employers see your personality, passion and see if you are a good fit. 

Here are the simple tips in designing your own video resume:

1. Plan before you film. Think about how you want the video to feel. Are you talking directly to the camera? Will you be interviewed? Will you showcase the project you have worked on?

2. Work on the key points you want to say and write your ideas ahead of time.

3. Do not make it boring by reading out a script word for word, and don’t just read out your written resume. An employer will read that if they want to.

4. Start by introducing yourself and tell the employer why you are the RIGHT person for the job.

5. The first few seconds of your video should grab the employer’s attention. So, be engaging and show enthusiasm.

6. Stand out from the crowd and show employers what you can offer to them.

7. Approach your video resume in the same way you would  a face-to-face meeting. Dress formally if it was an interview or in a way that matches the style of your video.

8. REMEMBER: Keep it short and under 2 mins or 120 seconds. Make sure it passes the SHARE test do not put up content you would not want going viral and take down the video when you are no longer looking for employment.

9. You can find plenty of resources online just search “introductory video editing” tools, use your imagination and start filming yourself.

BEFORE THE ONLINE MEETING 

1. Kindly put in your full name when joining any meetings for them to identify you easily and with appropriate profile picture.

2. Be punctual at all times and learn to open the room 5-10 minutes earlier.

3. Check your email to ensure you have received the meeting link. 

4. Get yourself familiarized with the video conferencing collaboration tools that going to use for the meeting such as the popular Zoom, CISCO Webex, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Skype and etc.

5. Get and test your camera and microphone/earphone ready to have a better meeting experience.

6. Make sure your laptop/mobile phone is fully charged and remove any notifications / reminders to avoid disruption to your online meeting.

7. Be careful on the background when switching on your video, and ensure that you are dress appropriately and all app/sound notifications are muted.

8. Ensure that you have stable internet connection to avoid any disruptions. 

9. Find a quiet environment work space at home to  join the online meeting.

10. Make sure that the private and confidential information are not visible when sharing your screen or presenting.

DURING the ONLINE MEETING

1. Please press “mute” button to mute yourself if you are not talking or press "unmute" button if you need to talk.

2. When you ask question, please unmute yourself first or your may type your questions in “Chat” box

3. It is better to have your camera or video on when you are joining in meeting for a more human touch connection. 

4. Do not move your camera/video too often as it is distracting to others.

5. Remember that it is always better and faster to be connected in a UTP/LAN cable than wireless connection.

6. Get all your note taking tools ready. 

7. Have a stand-by device unit if in case something happens to your current device.  

AFTER THE ONLINE MEETING

1. Share your feedback or send a thank you note to the host.

2. Follow up with the host if there’s any pending confirmation or next step required. 

3. Practice posting in Linkedin to enhance your personal brand presence, it is good to tag the host/employers involved in the meeting.