Riding out the Pandemic and Recession Job Hunting During Work from Home

Riding out the Pandemic and Recession

The global coronavirus outbreak, followed by an economic recession Singapore is just coming out of, has all but fipped the world upside down. Don’t panic though! There are still job opportunities out there as you buckle down and ride the storm out.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the world in ways never seen before in recent history. From entre industries grinding to a halt, countries keeping their borders shut to remote work models becoming the new norm. As a graduate jobseeker, this may all seem incredibly overwhelming – especially when the prospect of fnding your frst job is already prety nervewracking!

Here are a few tps to help you get through what might be coming ahead. Keep holding on to your long-term plans to fnd a job, but remain fexible at the same tme. Although the local economy is recovering, the global pandemic and situaton remains uncertain, so be prepared to make short-term adjustments if necessary.

For example, even as you keep an eye peeled for a company and job that appeals to you, you can stll look out for internships, short-term contracts, or even consider going freelance. These may not seem like stable employment prospects, but think of them as short-term stopgaps untl a longer-term opportunity avails itself. Plus, they’re a great way to ensure you contnue building and exercising employable skills!

And remember, even in the midst of recovery, there will always be organisatons hiring. Every recession and recovery cycle brings with it winners and losers. Tech and logistcs companies, for example, are stll doing well. You just have to keep your ear to the ground and learn how to fnd who’s stll hiring. It may take longer than usual to fnd a steady-paying graduate job this year, so you’ll want to watch your personal fnances! Begin by cutng of whatever expenses you don’t need. Look through your expenses to fnd hidden ones you can do away with, or start fnding creatve ways to encourage yourself to save.

As a rule, try to plan for blocks of three months – a quarter of a year – at any one point in tme. Forecast your essental expenses for the next quarter to the best of your abilites, and do your best to ensure you have enough savings on hand to cover those few months.

Be fexible with your long-term plans Manage your fnances and save up

Make use of online events and classes Take care of yourself

Our bodies may be stuck at home, but our minds don’t have to be too! Make use of webinars and virtual events, or take online classes and certfcatons to upskill yourself.

Employers are stll holding webinars and atending virtual events to engage with students and graduates. These are fantastc ways to grow your professional network and stay in touch with what’s going in the industries of your choice – all from the comfort of your own couch.

Subscribe to your dream employers’ graduate mailing lists or social media feeds so that you’ll be alerted of any online events they’ll be having, or check in with your university careers services centre to see if they know of any upcoming ones.

Likewise, online classes are a great opportunity to build new employable skills in preparaton for your future job prospects. The more skills you pick up to round out your skill set, the beterequipped you’ll be to land that dream job and succeed at it once the opportunites come your way. Last but not least, remember to take care of yourself. With job-huntng, a recession and everything else in between clogging up our to-do lists and newsfeeds, it can be a lot to handle all at once.

Look out for signs that you’re developing anxiety. These include: • Fatgue • Difculty sleeping • Feeling helpless • Having trouble just managing what’s presently on your plate because worries about your future keep distractng you

Remember that anxiety is a normal response to uncertaintes. The key is not to let it overwhelm you by overthinking what may lie ahead, but instead focus on what you can do each day – one step at a tme. Focus your energy on what you can accomplish today and now, and let tomorrow’s worries be for tomorrow. Rinse and repeat from there.

Stll, if the anxiety feels too much for you to handle alone, there’s nothing wrong with seeking external advice. Talk to your university counsellor, your career services coach, or any therapist or help hotline of your choice. A fresh perspectve may be just what you need to keep yourself on track mentally and emotonally.

At the same tme, try taking up new hobbies or make tme each day to do the things you enjoy, like playing online games with friends. You’re more than just your job search, afer all. When all is said and done, you’ll be stronger, more resilient and beter-equipped than ever for your dream career!