How to find work during a pandemic

BY INGRID VAN DER MERWE

We all know that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on the global economy. And in any economic downturn, many organisations slow their recruiting. So what can you do as a new graduate to find your place?

Widen your lens

You have more options than you think. Most graduates only think of the obvious outcomes of their degree, but all degrees equip graduates with generic and transferable skills. You also gain transferable skills through other activities like voluntary or community work, leadership positions, sport and society involvement. You can use these skills in most jobs.

Read about employability skills here: bit.ly/3eYU46P

Do your research

Look into the sectors that have thrived during the pandemic and are expecting growth in the coming months. There will most likely be opportunities in these sectors, so follow the companies in these sectors on LinkedIn.

Current examples of growing sectors include e-commerce (Amazon, Takealot.com, Uber, dark kitchens), technology (Microsoft, Skype, Cisco), telecoms, pharmaceuticals, logistics and online education.

Have a look at this site and look up the skills embedded in your degree: bit.ly/3nSDFoK

Set alerts and keep track

Jobs are still being advertised in many sectors, so make sure that you set alerts on key job sites (There are many! Do a Google search for job sites in SA.). If you are a UCT graduate, check MyCareer. You can still access this portal three years after graduation.

Keep track of your applications on a spreadsheet or on a project management platform like Trello. Note closing dates and what you have submitted. It gets confusing if you are invited to an interview and you can’t recall your application, let alone the job description!

See how to set alerts here: bit.ly/3f425aE

Shift your focus

Don’t give up on your career dreams, but be realistic. Make your short-term goal getting any sort of job to gain work experience. Most jobs will help you to develop skills that you can use in your next job – yes, even waitering. It's fine to apply for and accept work that is not the type of work you would have aspired to as a student. We’re in a pandemic, after all – no one will be judging the type of work you are doing if you are doing it to pay the bills. Don’t stop applying for a challenging graduate job, but know that you may have to realign your plans.

Any job, however menial, has the potential for you to show reliability and initiative. Any job can be a stepping stone to something else. See it as an opportunity to get a good recommendation from whoever manages you. Take pride in whatever you are doing. People with positive attitudes get good recommendations.

Do freelance work

What skills could you offer? Here are just some sought after skills which could be used on a freelance basis:

ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS – LOOK UP VIRTUAL ASSISTANT GIGS

DATA CAPTURING

CODING

ONLINE TUTORING

PROOF- READING OR EDITING

There are many freelance opportunities online – all you have to do is look! To start out, offer your services to friends and family, and advertise it on social media.