The Covid-19 pandemic has seriously disrupted the labour market. What can expat partners do to keep their job hunt on track? We asked Dutch-based career coach Anne Galloway.
Prepare for virtual interviews
She says: “There are still jobs out there. Companies are moving to virtual interviews, so you need to be ready for that. Get up to speed with how to work technology and how to look good during video calls. There are many different things to watch out for. You want to come across as professional, so think about what to wear, how your background looks, and about banning kids, pets and your partner from the room.
Gain new skills
Of course, many companies have stopped hiring. There’s nothing you can do about that, apart from getting ready for when the market picks up and companies start hiring again. So do what you can. Look at your CV, for example, and ask yourself: what skills am I missing? Try to do some online courses to fill the gaps and get yourself ready for when things pick up again. Many courses are completely free and some online providers have dropped their fees for certain courses during the current crisis.
Polish your profile
Now is also the time to get your LinkedIn profile up-to-date and check your LinkedIn settings so that recruiters will find you when they are searching again. Get your CV ready too, of course. I’m always surprised how many people only ask me for help with their CV once they’ve found a job they want to apply for: if the deadline is tight, it might be too late. So yes, I think it’s good to be prepared and there is a lot you can do at this time to get yourself ready.”
Photo: Microbiz Mag – Flickr
This article was originally published for the thousands of expat partners that Global Connection supports around the globe. It is reproduced here in its original form.
