The Confident Career

Who’s Hiring in the Wake of COVID-19

In the midst of this uncertain time, it can seem as if every business has come to a grinding halt. The unemployment numbers look grim, with claims currently hovering near 17 million as the impacts of COVID-19 continue to effect the economy at large. What you’d be surprised to know, however, is that many key industries are actively hiring new employees to help them handle the increased demand that has come with people utilizing their services more than ever.

3 Things to Keep in Mind as You Embark on or Continue Your Job Search

Despite the changing world, it is possible to initiate or continue searching for a job at the moment. And yes, it will be different. It’s true that some jobs may be harder to come by right now, and if you’re in one of those industries, know that there are opportunities in other fields where you can parlay your skills. There is great demand for jobs in healthcare (these jobs don’t all need a medical license), maintaining medical and consumer supply chains, or delivering essential goods to those staying home—some of these may be part-time jobs, some gig-jobs, and other full-time opportunities.

It’s encouraging that these opportunities exist, but keep in mind that your job search will still be challenging to traverse. Because so many businesses are now operating out of the homes of workers across the country, the responses from recruiters and hiring manager will likely be slower than usual but know that there are companies that will hire for the roles they need the most.

How to Navigate a Virtual Career Fair

Like most things, the way busy, career-driven people navigate job hunting is changing. Luckily, it’s easy to meet recruiters through virtual career fairs. Virtual career fairs are online events where employers and job seekers can meet using chat rooms, teleconferencing, webcasts, webinars, email, or other digital channels to exchange information about job openings. Almost every industry can be represented at job fair, making it the perfect chance for those in the job market to see what’s out there.

Job Searching in the Time of Coronavirus

Ah, the job search! Is it just me or has it gotten a bit more complicated lately? As one of the many people who have been actively looking for a job recently—you better believe I’ve been watching the Coronavirus with my eyes wide open, but the past few weeks have left me scratching my head and grappling for more information. Just when I think I’ve got a handle on it; new information comes to light that makes me take a closer look. Whatever you may think on the subject, the Coronavirus is having a gigantic impact on industry and society at large—and that, my friends, is nothing to be scoffed at. With Coronavirus being the dynamic situation that it is, it’s hard to know how to go about applying for jobs at all. Read on for the latest information!

Navigating Benefits as a New Grad: A Guide to What’s Cool and What’s Important

Navigating the job market is stressful no matter you experience level. But for new grads, there’s an extra layer of complexity added to the process. It’s often difficult for new grads to figure out things such as typical pay for the position they want in the city they want, whether the PTO the company offers is normal or not, and whether having a keg in the office is actually a benefit or more of a distraction. This guide will help break down what’s normal, what’s cool, and what’s just plain useless when it comes to benefits a company is offering.

The Art of Nailing the Interview for a Remote Position

With remote work being increasingly offered by employers, job seekers are more likely to consider such roles in this digital age. The idea of working from home, a coffee shop, or anywhere can be an appealing alternative to slogging through rush hour traffic.

But how can you put your best foot forward when interviewing for remote work positions when the hiring manager can’t even see, well… your foot? Be prepared for your next remote position interview with these tips.

Starting Salaries Have Not Changed Much Despite Tight Job Market for College Graduates

The unemployment rate in the United States is currently at 3.5%. With more jobs than job seekers on the market, usually that means employers offer higher wages as a recruitment tactic. However, in this case, a significant change in salaries offered has not occurred, which is puzzling many experts. Furthermore, while pay rates have not increased, profits, in fact, have.

While experts are still analyzing the situation, there are several factors that may be contributing to lower salaries or a lower rate of raises. In no particular order, some of these include:

Is Hypersensitivity A New Skill Employers Are Looking For?

In 2016, the World Economic Forum (WEF) released a report in which it listed the top skills employers will be looking for in 2020. We’re now in 2020 and we can see that much of what was predicted in the report has been correct. Soft skills took the top spots of the list, and understandably so. If you compare today’s workplace with those from the past, you won’t see people leaning over at their individual desks relentlessly typing away from 9-5. Instead you’ll see plenty more scenes of collaboration and team work. The dynamics of the workplace are changing and with it a new set of attitudes have been rolling in. Eight out of the top 10 skills mentioned by the WEF are:

Are Traditional Jobs Being Outpaced by Gig Economy Opportunities?

California recently made headlines as it passed a bill, AB 5, to reclassify freelancers or independent contractors, also known as “gig workers”, as employees. The intent of the bill is to provide more benefits and protection for freelancers, but many employers and freelancers are at odds with the new law, set for January 2020. For employers, the law may cause a 30% increase in costs as the newly classified employees would require minimum wages, health benefits, holidays, and more. For freelancers, being classified as employees will restrict their freedom and flexibility to set their own hours and other work terms, which, for many freelancers, is the huge draw away from traditional jobs and towards contract work, with 51% saying that no amount of money will draw them back into traditional work. 

But what exactly is the Gig Economy and how relevant is it in the bigger picture of the American workforce?

Why Failure Helps Your Career

When you listen to celebrities being interviewed about their success, they often end up talking about their failures. They reflect on how many times they were rejected and how, if you want to achieve your goals in life, falling flat on your face is a prerequisite.

Fear of failure is so common because it puts a magnifying glass up to our insecurities. Failing makes us feel uncomfortable, like we have nothing worthwhile to offer. So, it becomes easier to avoid trying anything new because then we don’t have to broadcast our shortcomings and confirm our hidden self-doubt.