Activity
Can anyone provide some encouragement about hiring activities occurring during the pandemic for those of us who may be experiencing some anxiety about trying to make a move at this time or needing employment? I.e. Has anyone been interviewing, called for interviews, or actively recruiting? Thank you.
Krista Coutts
Marketing Professional, Cross-Functional Leader
339
04/16/20 at 7:18PM UTC
Pretty much all has been said in the comments previous. But the key is to not lose hope! We will eventually come out of this very dark space and there will be huge opportunity! Companies will need smart people to help them regain ground they lost during this time!
Anonymous
04/15/20 at 5:38PM UTC
Prior to the pandemic, I had a phone interview, and one of my questions during that interview was," Are you doing anything different at this time as it relates to travel and the virus?" At that time, the answer was, "No". Well, that changed quickly. Unfortunately, this position was related to the travel industry. Shortly after the interview, I received an email from the company saying that the interviews and hiring for this position were on hold.
There's not much more I can do. I am still actively looking for work, but I think many companies are inundated with responses right now, so I agree, that as an individual, you have to keep on trying. Take time to step away if you feel that you need a break.
Paula Striefel
76
04/15/20 at 11:26PM UTC
You might want to send an email now and again just to check in and keep your name in mind so that when the time comes and they do determine to hire for this position you are not starting from scratch and you build a rapport with the hiring manager.
Anonymous
04/16/20 at 1:51PM UTC
I will do that, thank you for your response
MJP
195
04/15/20 at 5:38PM UTC
There's hope! I have been actively interviewing during this process and was very recently offered a job that I'll start in a few days. (For context, I'm a senior director in the non-profit industry.)
I was lucky to have been actively interviewing at multiple places right when the stay-at-home orders started being ordered. A few places just "ghosted" me - they were supposed to reach out to schedule the next interview but then stopped responding / reaching out. I know those places were very impacted operationally by the pandemic, so I'm not surprised.
A few places proactively reached out to say that they need to reassess / refocus and were still screening, but that their process would take longer than originally projected.
But a few places moved forward as originally planned, as they were feeling the impact of having / covering an open position even more with so much happening at once.
I know I'm very lucky, and am appreciative that things worked out for me. Just know that there are some places that do have the capacity to continue hiring, so keep actively applying and stay positive!
Jennifer TaylorCommunications Professional
1.28k
04/15/20 at 3:50PM UTC
^^^ I'm getting that too. I'll apply for a job via the company website, and within a day or two someone reaches out to me to let me know they are not hiring right now or that they are suspending the job until the pandemic is over.
Anonymous
04/15/20 at 3:45PM UTC
I received an email to start the interview process (a "tell me more about yourself" questionnaire) and by the time I completed the questionnaire (a few hours later) and emailed it back to the sender, the company had temporarily closed operation due to the pandemic. I don't even know if my questionnaire was viewed because I was notified of the closing via an automated email. This situation is depressing in so many ways.
Sara JohnsonFounder bridging strategy + creativity
130
04/15/20 at 2:27PM UTC
Thank you for the feedback - honest, thought provoking dialogue keeps things moving forward. And, yes positivity amidst the chaos can go a long way.
Christine Jacques
324
04/15/20 at 2:23PM UTC
Zoom: it's not just for work any more. Have a coffee with your friends on Zoom. It will lift you up.
Paula Striefel
76
04/15/20 at 11:24PM UTC
And it will make you more comfortable for any video interviews that you might have to do. The comfort factor is huge and I have to tell you that I am not comfortable as an interviewer with this technology yet so I can only imagine what it must feel like as the interviewee.
Christine Jacques
324
04/23/20 at 1:18PM UTC
It's good to know that interviewers are struggling with Zoom too. The pressure is high enough, and then lighting too? Lord help me with this one!
CALLIE WILSONIdentifying opportunities to accelerate growth.
168
04/14/20 at 6:08PM UTC
Hi,
Throughout all of this madness, the one thing you must do is to remain positive. I know that seems hard to do during this time but try to focus on the good things and not the bad. If you have your health, that's a good thing. If you are unemployed, don't feel bad about needing unemployment benefits, after all, you paid into that system and now it's time for the system to give back to you when you are in a financial crisis. Also, most unemployment offices offer paid training, career advice or access to their open jobs database so use these services to your benefit as well.
I am actively interviewing with a company and my interview process started before the pandemic and everything is now moving at a snail's pace, so needless to say, I have had two phone interviews over a 4 week time span and I'm waiting to hear back regarding the next round of interviews. The positive side of this is I am still in the running for the role so I remain hopeful. Most companies have been put in a precarious situation but these circumstances will not last forever. Keep yourself in the game and stay ahead of those who are now procrastinating. When the country reopens and the floodgates open, you want to be out front. We are here to support you and let you know that a positive outlook will resonate with those employers you may speak to regarding a new job and it will take you a lot farther because positive energy can be felt the same way as negative energy. Stay strong! Be well! You've got this!!
Leslie WassonStrategy, Insight & Operations
241
04/14/20 at 5:46PM UTC
Yes, but it's slowed way down, and many places are reducing staff, not adding them. Prepare for a long process. Sorry to be the bringer of difficult news. There are things you can do to stand out more in the market, and if you read back through this forum you can gather a lot of helpful wisdom.
