First the lockdown--then salary cuts--then increasing anxiety and fear of being infected--then job loss --followed by extended lockdowns--and now the whole new stress of looking for a job again! 

This is how the working cycle has been for most professionals the past three months. If you have been furloughed or are forced to take unpaid leaves or even worse been laid off, this phase is surely difficult for you. But this is also the time to look for something new, notwithstanding the fact that the world economy is in shambles and the economic shutdown has forced businesses and companies to shut shop.

But since one can’t wait for the virus to go away, it makes sense to be proactive and launch headon into the arena of a job search. Here are a few suggestions: 

1 Be where the world is:
a) ONLINE is the new trend and that is the world where things are actually happening. If you have always avoided networking on the online world, it is high time for you to now become familiar with the space of social media, social networking, and the online domain. Meeting and greeting people for a job is difficult but internet has got your back. Enrol for different video-conferencing on tools like Zoom, FaceTime, and Google Meet where you can reconnect with your existing contacts, meet new people in your chosen field or industry, and schedule or apply for interviews as well. Get yourself on different platforms, let people know what you do or would love to do - be out there for people to notice you.
b) Monitor Social Media platforms: Enrolling yourself and your resume on different job search portals is a way, but after that, it is your job to monitor all the social media platforms. Start by looking at your first and second connections on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and prioritize those who currently work or have previously worked in the field, industry, or for a company that interests you as many companies upload their job vacancies on their social media handles. If need be, buy their premium account packages which lets you directly connect to the person who has posted the job; send an email or InMail message, text, or call the person to touch base. Also, if you have ignored not updating your social media profiles, especially the ones related to jobs and professional world, it maybe time to do so; request your previous colleagues and bosses to write recommendations for you, post pictures of your awards and accolades...basically blow your trumpet in the noisy world of social media.

It is important here to note that while it is fine to be persistent, be a polite badgerer. Remind them politely about the status of your resume and whether something can be worked out for you. 
c) Be shameless: Put out the call for a job out on your social media handles; tell people your story, your skillset, your experience; ask them to help you find a job. Many a time, emotional calls touch people’s heart more than professional sounding requests. People are bound to read stories rather than formal requests...spin a narrative around your job hunting and layo off.

2. Reflect and update your skillset:
You’ve probably been doing something for a long time and get used to it. But as a break, use this time to reflect on what you are doing versus what you want to do. Do you want to continue doing the same thing? Is it time for you to move on? What is the job that excites you? Once you reflect on these it will be easier for you to update your skill set accordingly. Look out for different courses online, attend webinars that might interest you and give you an insight about what you want to learn or do.  

3. Be positive, sound positive:
Rather than complaining to a prospective recruiter how the lockdown created misery for you, focus on how you utilized the lockdown duration productively and how that would be beneficial for the company in the long run--we all love proactive people than whiners. A

4. Give it time: Now that you’ve researched well about the different fields, industries, worked on your skills and resume, practice patience and give it time. You might’ve mailed a huge list of companies and reached out to all your resourceful contacts, but you may still not get a positive response. Understand that many employers are probably working remotely, due to which interviews may be on-hold or may not want to hire new candidates. Try and keep an open mind to any kind of situation and face it with patience.

5.Start small, start anywhere: Given the economic slowdown you may not like the package of the designation being offered to you at the time, but basis your skill set, if the job/project/company makes sense to you, pick it up with a discussion with the HR on upgradation in future, for example three months afterwards. Remember that any opportunity you lose, is time and money you are losing. So, think through before turning the chance down.

Pro-tip:  Stay Healthy!

These can be a stressful times and you might feel frustrated which will affect you physically as well as mentally and emotionally. And an emotional wreck is not an ideal candidate, EVER.  So, start by taking small actions such as exercising or working out at home, following a healthy diet and getting enough sleep. This will not only help you deal better with frustrating times but also project an image of a ‘person in control of the circumstances’ to any prospective hirer.

Good luck!!!