How To Increase Your Chances Of Getting Hired During A Pandemic

17 June 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked many issues around the globe, one of the top ones being the lack of employment in Canada. The pandemic created some jobs due to the COVID screening and vaccine appointment setters required. However, the economy witnessed more job losses or reduced working hours since many businesses have shut down temporarily or forever.

Canada’s labor market has seen a surge in the unemployment rate. According to the Labour Force Survey, the unemployment rate rose 0.6 percentage points to 9.4% in January 2021, the highest rate since August 2020. Thousands of jobs were erased, reducing income for many households.

At a time like this, job seekers need to go the extra mile to get hired in a legal position since the competition may be very high. Here are some steps you can take to get your application noticed.

5 Strategies To Enhance Your Job Opportunity

The pandemic situation is always a tough time to find a new job. But if you are going to follow these strategies, you will find a suitable position for you.

Here are the five strategies you need to follow to boost your chances of getting a job.

1.Consult A Professional

If you have switched up your resume, applied to all the positions available, but you are still unemployed, you may need expert help. Talk to a group of legal recruiters in Toronto who have studied the market thoroughly. Since legal recruiters spend most of their time helping people fit the right job, they will know what steps to take to get you hired.

Legal recruiters will find you positions that best suit your qualifications, saving you the time and effort of applying to multiple job postings.

2.Tailor Each Cover Letter

You already know the drill. Editing each cover letter to fit the job requirements that you are applying to is essential. However, it is not enough to change a few words and edit the name of the company.

You must research each company you are applying for and focus on all the details. When the employer notices your attention to detail and interest in the company, your application will stand out among others.

3.Make Networking A Routine

Having connections helps you wherever you go, but it is particularly helpful during a job hunt during a pandemic. If you continue to make connections through your friends, family, or social media, more people will get to know you.

Once you share your skills with the potential link, they might think of you when a position at their firm opens up.

To network efficiently, brush up your LinkedIn profile and look for people to connect with on the platform. Make sure your profile is updated and outlines your skills.

4.Use Rejections As A Lesson

Don’t get demotivated if you aced an interview but did not hear back from the employer. There may also be instances where you do not get called for an interview. All of that is okay. Use those rejections as a lesson by analyzing each step during the pandemic time. If you had an interview, figure out alternative responses to the questions the recruiter asked you. Practice those new answers for next time.

If your application got rejected before the interview process, go through your resume, cover letter, and social media platforms. Switch things around and see if it makes any difference.

5.Boost Up Your New Skillset

You are experienced or a fresher; this strategy is always effective to deal with the pandemic situation. Pandemic is never bringing you a good glamorous memory. But this is high time to brush up on your existing skillset. The pandemic and the lockdown situation bring you more time to learn new things. Utilize this time more positively.

The new skill learning always delivers the more profitable outcomes. Now, most of the excellent training institutes are offering online courses. Do research some of the latest trendy skills and try to utilize this time more positively.

Wrapping It Up:

Getting a job during the pandemic can be challenging, but you must hold on tight and give it your best shot. Due to the status of the economy, your rejections are not a reflection of your lacking. However, it will not harm you to follow the steps above to get your application noticed.

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8 Family Friendly Careers That Offer Great Pay and Work-Life Balance

According to research, 33% of people are unwillingly stuck working on weekends and holidays. This lack of work-life balance can affect their both their well-being and their family relationships. There are many family-friendly careers that will enable you to enjoy life and spend more time with those who matter. Out of 38 countries that were surveyed for work-life balance, the US ranked at 30. This is due to the fact that Americans are mostly overworked and under-rested, leaving them little time to actually enjoy their lives. 8 Family Friendly Careers That Offer Great Pay and Work-Life Balance If you are wanting a career change, it is never too late to switch to a family-friendly career that will not only will you have a great work-life balance, but you will also make a great living doing what you enjoy. But what careers enable you to enjoy a work-life balance? There are many careers out there to choose from, it can almost seem overwhelming. That's exactly what we are about to teach you, keep reading to discover a career that is right for you. 1. Graphic Designer: If you have a creative personality, love working on computers, and helping businesses grow, then the career of a graphic designer is perfect for you. You will need to be an excellent problem solver and have the ability to see minor details. Work-Life Balance: Being a graphic designer allows for a great work-life balance because you can literally work from anywhere as long as you have your computer and a wifi signal. Most graphic designers embrace the digital nomad lifestyle and travel the world, or work from home, spending more time with their families. 2. Elementary School Teacher: The career of an elementary school teacher is at the top of the most family-friendly careers list. If you love children and have great patience, this career choice is a perfect fit for you. Work-Life Balance: Because teachers only work during the school year, they have the entire summer off on a paid leave. This enables more time to spend with your family, traveling, summer activities, and lot's of free time to do what you love. 3. Web Designer: Thanks to the ever-evolving internet, the career of a website designer will never be outdated. If you love math and coding, you would love the challenging and lucrative career of being a web designer. Work-Life Balance: Because your work involves a laptop and the internet, you can literally work from anywhere you want to. You can spend more time at home with your family, or spend more time traveling the world as a digital nomad. 4. Online Marketer: If you love the social aspects of marketing and want to have a lot of freedom with creativity, then the career of an online marketer is perfect for you. You will experience challenges that involve a knowledge of sales psychology and create unique campaigns to help businesses get more sales and awareness. The job changes frequently with the constant changes by social media and Google's algorithms, so it will always keep you on your toes to keep up with the changes. Work-Life Balance: The most exciting part about being an online marketer is that you can do this career anywhere, as long as you have wifi. You can have clients from all over the world and help businesses grow. 5. Software Developer: The high-paying career of a software developer is an ideal job for many computer lovers. Not only does it pay very well, but also, usually the companies that hire you will provide many awesome benefits and a positive work environment. Take Google, for example, they treat their employees to outings and picnics regularly, as well as health bonuses and three free meals a day! Work-Life Balance: Depending on your work environment, you could be working for an awesome company that focuses on giving a high level of work-life balance to their employees. It is definitely one of the most fun careers to pursue if you get in with the big companies. 6. Dental Hygienist: Being in the medical career field, the life of a dental Hygienist is rewarding and very fulfilling. You are helping people become healthy and have beautiful smiles that will build their confidence for life. Work-life Balance: Because of the clinical setting for a dental hygienist, there are usually no expectations to work on weekends or holidays. You will also work during business hours, and have the choice of part or full time. This makes being a dental hygienist one of the best jobs to support a family. 7. Hair Stylist: Being a hair stylist is a very rewarding career, usually, you get to wear your own clothing, and socialize with customers as you assist them to look and feel their best, boosting their confidence and helping them to feel amazing. If you are used to a boring desk job, becoming a hairstylist is pretty much an exact opposite. You will be standing most of the day, moving around, talking, and providing immediate results for your clients. Work-Life Balance: Because of the flexibility of the job, you can basically create your own hours, especially if you own the salon. This enables to you create a schedule around your family events and spend more time with those you love. 8. Pharmacy Technician: The career of a pharmacy technician is both challenging and rewarding. The duties involve tasks that take some mathematical skills and attention to detail, such as ensuring that the medications are filled at the right time. Work-Life Balance: Because of the typical hours of operation for a pharmacy, there is usually no expectation of long hours and overtime. This allows for more time with family and doing the things and activities you love to do. A pharmacy technician is one of the most family-friendly careers on the list, learn more about this great career if it interests you. Learn More About Family-Friendly Careers: If any of these family-friendly careers interest you, perfect! It is never too late to make a career choice that will give you a better quality of life and the ability to spend more time with your family. If you are ready to get started on a new career path, check out our article on how to rock your first job interview. Read Also: How To Start Your Career As A Financial Advisor? Top Things To Know Before Entering A Medical Career

What No One Tells You About Working Remotely

Remote working has been on the rise for some time now, with thousands of organizations the world over embracing more flexible working options to accommodate their employees and provide them with a better work-life balance. Additionally, many professionals are themselves catching onto this millennial style of working, having realized that their job shouldn’t determine where they choose to live or confine them to any one particular region or country. The progress in digital technology over the past decade has led to a significant difference in the way we organize our lives, meaning we have the freedom to move around more while still holding down a steady career. Nevertheless, some people are still coming to terms with this newer form of working, so we’re here to bust some of the most common myths surrounding remote working and what it really means to take on such a flexible approach to work. Myth #1 Become a Millionaire by Working from Home You may have come across many such clickbait-type ads in the course of your browsing the internet, claiming how easy it is to make yourself a small fortune by working from home, without even having to do any real work. Unfortunately, this happens to be one of the biggest myths about remote work. Just like any other office-based job, you will actually be required to put in the same level of hard work, if not more, as your boss is maybe even more likely to check up on you to be satisfied that you’re reaching your set targets and not slacking off watching daytime tv in your PJs all day. Myth #2 You’ll never get promoted when you work remotely People may assume that just because you don’t physically show up at your place of work every day, your superiors will have no way of knowing how hard you work. This is a common misconception since most companies that support remote working keep close tabs on their employees’ tasks. Hence, if your work is up to scratch, there’s no reason why your efforts won’t be recognized and rewarded accordingly. Myth #3 You have to work the same hours as the rest of your non-remote team With the exception of Skype meetings and the like, one of the major advantages of remote working is the fact that you won’t be expected to work a regular 9-to-5. Very often, you’ll get to make your own hours and as long as the work is done efficiently, your employers won’t care when you work. In fact, as long as you’ve got a laptop and a Wi-fi connection, the rest should not be an issue. This gives you more flexibility to plan your work around your life, rather than the other way around. If you need to run errands or go to the gym, for example, you can do so. Working remotely also leaves you with more time to do the things you love, whether spending time with friends or family or just relaxing with a cup of coffee, entertained by the options online gaming provides. With so much extra time on your hands, your quality of life will definitely take a turn for the better. Myth #4 You’ll get bored, lonely, and depressed when working remotely Sure you may occasionally miss the office small talk and water-cooler chit-chat while working remotely. However, most organizations that promote remote working have set up instant communication channels so you can be in touch with your colleagues easily, even though you won’t be seeing them on a daily basis. Additionally, there are now many remote working communities that act to reduce these feelings of loneliness and may increase productivity levels by mimicking office environments. If you’re thinking about taking the plunge into the world of remote working, you should now have a better understanding of how it works and what to expect. All in all, we believe remote working is the way forward, and many more companies are likely to adopt this approach in the near future. Read Also : 5 Of The Highest Paid Remote Jobs Go For A Better Legal Job In 2018!

The Art of Answering Hard Interview Questions

Navigating hard interview questions can be a challenge most job seekers face. Especially when these tough questions do not have a correct answer! Knowing how to answer tricky questions while maintaining professionalism can set you apart. Below, we break down some of the difficult interview questions asked during interviews. Then, offer strategies for crafting solid responses and outline the professional etiquette necessary to leave that long-lasting positive impression. #Hard Question 1 - “Tell me about yourself.” This is more of a statement than a question, but it's the opening question so many people have trouble with. It's the simplest thing imaginable, yet people seem to need to learn how to do it. The trick here is that you don’t have to tell your entire life story; in fact, please don’t. Stick to basic information and then cut to educational and professional qualifications, which can help you in the job role you are interviewing for. #Hard Question 2 - “What are Your Weaknesses?” I know that everyone says not to do this. You know be all quirky and make a witty joke! Not very ideal interview skills. But interviewers now really appreciate quick wits! I recently, however, did it in a big interview. My answer to this question was: "Since I am assuming there is a finite amount of time for each applicant, and there are many qualified applications, my biggest weakness would be running out of time to tell you how fantastic I am." It worked, too. One of the serious ones even had a light hint of a grin on her face! It’s a bit of a trap, but interviewers just want to know that you’re self-aware and working on it. Nobody’s perfect, so feel free to use a real one. Just make sure it’s not a disqualifying one. For example, do not give stupid and vague answers like "I am a perfectionist, and since I always tend to give a perfect copy of my work, it affects my mental health." Derailing mental health because of crippling OCD is a serious condition, and you shouldn't be using this to put yourself on a pedestal! #Hard Question 3 - “How Are You Working on Your Weaknesses?” Among the hard interview questions, weaknesses will take a good chunk of it. If you answer the previous question well, this question will inevitably come your way! Example: “I’m trying to improve my presentation skills. I’ve been joining Toastmasters and practicing my speaking.” “I am currently focused on improving my communication skills, particularly my public speaking. I am working on being a more persuasive speaker so that I can do well in this class and professional presentations. One area that I believe would help me be more effective is learning to use visual aids to give better presentations.” Give detailed steps that you are taking to turn your weaknesses into strengths. #Hard Question 4 - “Why Our Company?” Let me get this straight! You are fooling no one by implying this is the only interview you have lined up. This is one of the reasons why you need to be professional and do thorough research about the company who is interviewing you. It begins with tailoring your resume, and cover letter based on the company's job role. Next, knowing about the job role and what they are looking for. Among all the hard interview questions, this is particularly a test of how well you’ve researched the company. Interviewers want to see genuine interest in the role and organization. First, state the company’s values, culture, or projects that match your interests and goals. Second, communicate what you can contribute to their team. Pro Tip: Be detailed! Don’t just say, “I like the company’s mission.” Explain what specifically appeals to you about their objectives/goals and why you are passionate about what they do. #Hard Question 5 - “Why Should We Hire You?” This is your chance to tell them why they should take a chance on you. Share with them your top strengths that would be compatible with the job posting. Think of it as a quick elevator pitch. (Pro interview tip: You should always have an elevator pitch about yourself ready). As if you entered an elevator with the CEO of your dream company – 30 seconds – how would you sell yourself to him/her? You want to make it clear that YOUR skills, experience, and confidence make you unmistakably perfect for this job or this company! “I have been in customer service for five years and have never missed my performance goals. I’m looking forward to using my abilities in your company to help customer satisfaction.” #Hard Question 6 - “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” This question is to ensure two things: Whether you are committed to the position you are getting. Do you have the zeal to do better and strive for a promotion in the foreseeable future? Most interviewers are trying to determine if you plan to stay with the company or are likely to leave as soon as you find a better opportunity. They also want to understand your level of ambition. Think of how your goals would align with the position and company you’re applying for and discuss how you’d like to grow within the company. Pro Tip: "Do not mention other roles or industries; talk about how you can progress within the company that is interviewing you." #Hard Question 7 - “Describe a time you dealt with a difficult situation.” Every corporation has its own difficulties to deal with. However, if this is your first job, you can very well draw conclusions from your academic challenges. Pro Tip: They do not want to know whether you handled a team of teams and dealt with a difficult situation all by yourself. However, they will want to know whether you have the strength and resilience to deal with any difficult situation alone. This question tests your problem-solving and stress-handling abilities. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your response. For example, pick an example from your professional life, describe the difficulty, detail what you did to address it, and emphasize the positive result. "I had a client that was upset over something that wasn’t communicated correctly. I fixed it immediately and told the client we wouldn’t make mistakes like that going forward. Plus, I offered them certain gifts as compensation. The client was happy with the results. It just takes a little bit of hearing the other side to ensure you retain an angry customer." #Hard Question 8 - “Can you explain the gap in your employment?” Most people have a time in their employment history when they weren’t working for one reason or another, whether it be for personal reasons, going back to school or some other endeavor. Therefore, these tough interview questions about gap years can make almost anyone nervous! The best way to answer concerns over an employment gap is honestly. However, ensure to mention things you did that will show how and why you were still productive during that time. Any courses you did, or how you upskilled yourself in this gap year, or work on projects will help strengthen your case. Pro Tip: Keep it positive. You should be honest, but this is not an opportunity for you to vent about what annoys you at work. #Hard Question 9 - "What motivates you?" Your answer should be related to the position you’re applying for, so think about what you’re most excited to do at this job and why—whether it’s reaching a personal goal or being able to help other people, for example—and explain how that relates back to your role at the company. #Hard Question 9 - “What is your greatest professional achievement?” This question is a great chance to subtly brag about yourself, but also remember that the interviewer wants strengths relative to the position, not in general. For example, if you are applying for a management-level position and have managed teams in the past, explain how many people you have managed, the largest team size you have led, and any notable achievements as a manager. "I led a team who achieved an almost 20% boost in sales in just six months thanks to our new customer engagement strategy." Pro Tip: Whenever possible - quantify. Numbers always add a layer of credibility. Plus, try to keep your face and tone professional whenever you say such a thing. It shouldn't come out like you are bragging, but at the same time, you should be proud of your achievements and not downplay it." #Hard Question 10 - "Do you have any questions for us?" Don’t say “no.” This is your opportunity to demonstrate that you’re genuinely interested in the position, so ask a good question — or several. Inquire about things like company culture, team dynamics, or growth opportunities within the organization. However, save questions about salary and benefits for later in the process. Especially if you have a few interviews to crack, always ask about the salary in the final round. Do not worry; you can always negotiate, and even if the salary is not up to the mark, you cannot always take that position. Pro Tip: Come prepared with a list of questions to ask that demonstrates you’ve done your homework. Here is a list of unique interview questions to ask the employer! Professional Etiquette Tips for Interviews Now that you know about the hard interview questions and the answers that are close to the appropriate ones, here are a few more items to remember! 1. Being Punctual is Non-Negotiable Being punctual should be a non-negotiable when it comes to attending interviews. Arrive on Time. It may sound simple, but arriving on time for an interview is critical. In fact, 10-15 minutes early is probably the best arrival time. However, not more than that, you wouldn't want to seem too eager or nervous. 2. Your Posture Speaks a Lot Your non-verbal signals reveal a lot about yourself. Sit with your back straight, make eye contact, and smile with a firm handshake. Don’t hold your arms or fidget, as the interviewer might take it wrongly as a sign of apprehension or disinterest. Instead, slightly lean forward and nod to show that you are engaged. 3. Listen – Do not Just Jump to Answering The art of active listening is a must when giving an interview! Allow the interviewer to complete his/her thoughts and then answer the question. It helps you to frame your response in a better way and reflects your genuineness in the conversation. 4. Politeness is Given Being polite also has a long way to go. Start and finish the interview by thanking your interviewer for their time. And send a follow-up thank-you email later too; to remind them how interested you are in this job. 5. Dress code If you’re unsure what to wear, it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed. Even if you’re not sure of the company culture, dressing a little more formally will give the impression that you take this opportunity seriously. Plus, who doesn’t look great dressed up? Look at some of the best interview attire for men. Why a Good Cover Letter Matters as the Final Touch? A strong cover letter for a resume can be the difference between standing out or blending in with the pile of applications. It’s your chance to showcase why you’re a perfect fit for the role beyond what’s listed in your resume. A great cover letter adds a personal touch, offering data for your qualifications and highlighting specific achievements that match the company’s needs. Plus, it’s an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your communication skills. Make it concise, focused, and tailored for each job. This effort shows you’re genuinely invested in the role. Confidence is Everything! Mastering hard interview questions and maintaining professional etiquette is essential for landing your dream job. With the right preparation, you can confidently handle even the toughest questions. Always remember to follow up after your interview, and don't overlook the importance of your cover letter as the final touch. These small details will make a big difference in setting you apart from other candidates and getting you closer to that job offer. Read Also: From Nervous To Confident: Mastering Interview Questions Guarantee To Ace EVERY Retail Interview: Top Retail Interview Questions And How To Answer Them

How To Increase Your Chances Of Getting Hired During A Pandemic