Many who have lost their jobs are experiencing uncertainty and panic regarding their employment prospects, especially students who will be graduating during the coronavirus pandemic hit or people who have lost their job because of it. One thing is clear, though: Getting hired now isn’t that easy.

As unemployment has reached a record high due to business closures and social distancing measures brought by the pandemic, many are re-evaluating their job search strategy and looking for opportunities. Rest assured, you can still snag a job or internship! However, you need to know how to adapt and get creative.

As desirable and lucrative as tech careers go, many are often intimidated by their accessibility to them. Not true at all! Introducing: Salesforce; the world’s #1 customer success platform and one of the fastest-growing tech ecosystems in the world. I believe that everyone can learn Salesforce and use the skill to pivot and build their own lucrative cloud computing career. Salesforce is quickly becoming one of the best technologies to create opportunities for all– from AI to robotics, general CRM, marketing, etc.

Here are three valuable tips that will get you hired during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Gaining new skills in the lockdown is your best route.

Utilizing your time in quarantine to your advantage is very important as you are getting “back in the game.” The first thing I’d recommend is to complete personal development exercises. They are a great way to see if you’re on the right path and an opportunity to address which skills you could get or improve on to meet your objectives. Career coaches generally recommend completing a SWOT analysis to identify personal strengths and weaknesses and the opportunities and threats in the workplace. Then, have a clear idea of which skills you need to improve on that could make you stand out.

After your SWOT analysis, you’ll have a few ideas on what to look at. If you find yourself here, it’s because you’re evaluating a new path in cloud computing. Ultimately, recruiters will value what skills you can bring to the table. So, if you are having a difficult time finding a job — use the time to identify yourself and build new skills. Everything from specific technical skills to verbal and written communication to problem-solving skills can be made at home! So, what’s an excellent place to get started? Trailhead.com is the free gamified Salesforce learning platform in which you can gain badges and gain Salesforce skills as you go along. (Here’s a short preview of getting started: Salesforce for Beginners (Trailhead for Newbies). You can earn them at your own pace and use them as a helpful way of studying for certification exams (through quizzes and application exercises) should you choose to get Salesforce certified.

Trailhead isn’t just for technical skills, either! There are lots of great specialized badges, but here are a few soft skills-focused badges to inspire you:

• Public Speaking Skills
• Storytelling & Communication
• Virtual Collaboration
• Strategies for Successful Sales Team Interviews
• Great Management

Where should I look for jobs?

Job hunters are directly looking at company websites, but there are plenty of other places people can look for jobs. Job sites are valuable in sourcing those resources, but it can be time-consuming to know where to go and go through them all. The #1 recommended place to start with is LinkedIn. If you haven’t already created a profile, we highly recommend doing so! Keeping your LinkedIn profile up-to-date is an excellent signal to recruiters that you are on the market. A resume that stays up to date if anyone reaches out is incredibly valuable. As you skill up, you’ll update your profile too! The more optimized your profile, the more recruiters will come to you rather than the algorithm having to work for you!

Some websites to check out:

• https://www.dice.com/
• https://careers.google.com/jobs
• https://www.idealist.org/
• https://www.ziprecruiter.com/
• https://www.indeed.com/
• https://www.monster.com/
• https://www.glassdoor.com/index.html
• https://www.careerbuilder.com/
• https://www.snagajob.com/
• https://www.simplyhired.com/

Some industries haven’t been hit hard as the others, so it’s worth considering employment in sectors you may not have considered before. Of course, I especially encourage you to check out jobs in the tech industry. Still, anything related to customer service, financial services, healthcare, business software, government, and marketing will undoubtedly have opportunities that you can leverage as a Salesforce professional. For example, if you were planning to get a job at a consulting firm, you might look to startups, nonprofits, and local companies that need help navigating this crisis.

As you optimize and search for these roles, it’s worth considering networking and looking for groups in the many Trailblazer Community Groups (learn more about them in this badge). If you participate and contribute, are helpful, and make an impact, many community members will take notice. The community certainly takes on a comradery. If you’re practical and gracious, I’m sure if anyone didn’t post about it, you could potentially hear back from other community members who have potential ideas to help you out.

Be a Unique Candidate

As you start to make any career plan, you’ll begin driving your focus on what you seek in a career, but you should always keep in mind to be flexible with that plan. The pandemic demonstrated to many how quickly even the best plans can change in such a short time. Being flexible with your “original plan” the types of roles or industries you are applying to will genuinely leave you more open to new opportunities. With some luck, it may help you discover something incredible. (That’s what Salesforce is like for many! The #AccidentalAdmin hashtag on Twitter is inspirational to many who “stumble on” Salesforce administration.)

“Those who can adapt and seek out possibilities will thrive.”

What are some ways to make yourself unique? Apart from skilling up, many people find unique ways to stand out, especially with networking. Whether from clubs or the Trailhead Community, leveraging advice and references is a great way to go! Maybe consider collaborating on a volunteer project or collaborating with others on different Salesforce lessons. Many start blogs on their websites or create new portfolios to put their skills on display. All in all, it can not only improve your skills but often show your involvement could be an incredible asset for your next role (in the form of personal development or career skill ups).

You’ve got this!

Get creative and think about past roles and communities you’ve enjoyed — you never know where those networks might lead you! I’m not doubtful that you’re a hard worker, but any rejection means that you’re not a good fit. Stay optimistic, and keep your head up! Job hunting is a numbers game, so long as you’ve got yourself together and stay organized (for those who struggle with this, creating a job board or template like this could be valuable.)

If you enjoyed this post and want to learn more, check out the Lipstick and Tech YouTube channel for career advice, tech blogs, Salesforce, etc.

All in all, good luck!