Jen David 
Competition is steep, but don't get discouraged
The COVID-19 crisis has had a significant impact on the jobs market, with many people experiencing furlough or redundancy for the first time. Whilst jobs in the grocery, healthcare, and warehousing sectors are seeing a surge in hiring, many more employers have either scaled back or temporarily stopped recruitment.
The Independent reports that more than 6.5 million jobs could be lost, equating to a quarter of the UK's total jobs market, with accommodation, food services, wholesale, retail, vehicle repair, transport, storage, and administrative and support services worst affected. A survey in The Guardian anticipates the gloomiest outlook for UK jobs in almost three decades, and the BBC highlights a record fall in vacancies between March and May. As the furlough scheme, supporting nearly 9 million workers, is phased out, businesses are expected to announce more redundancies.
One thing is certain: when unemployment is high, the jobs market becomes crowded ‒ competition for jobs is fierce as large volumes of applicants apply for fewer jobs. In order to maximise your chances of securing a new role in this challenging market, you'll need to be well prepared. Luckily, we're here with some job-search advice and job hunting tips on how to succeed.
Be patient
Unless you're extremely lucky, you're unlikely to walk straight into a new role in a crowded jobs market. You're in this for the long haul, so decide on your job-search strategy and give it the time and commitment it deserves. Don't get disheartened if you're not immediately successful, as you'll need those reserves of confidence and energy to shine in job interviews.
Additionally, a CV and cover letter tailored to the job advert and company is much more likely to be noticed, so, rather than send out scattergun online applications to dozens of job postings, it's worth spending extra time and patience on crafting specific applications for fewer roles.
Focus on presentation
First impressions count! Take the time to create the right impression by building a personal brand, with you as the product. You can do this in both your application materials and your online presence: align the styles of your CV and cover letter and tell the same story on your CV as on your LinkedIn profile.
Throughout your application process, keep communications to the point, relevant, and uncluttered. With a pile of applications in front of them, recruiters and hiring managers will be looking to reduce the stack to a manageable amount. Make it as easy as possible for them to notice ‒ and select ‒ yours.
Manage your reputation
Now's the perfect time to audit your social media profiles. Go through every online account you have, to make sure there's nothing that could come back to haunt you, as hiring managers and employers will often Google job applicants before offering them the job. Whilst it's fine for your profiles to show your personality and sense of fun, a recruiter will certainly be wary of any profiles which show behaviour that would reflect badly on their business, such as bad-mouthing employers or hints of illegal activity.
Network
Estimates reveal that between 70% and 85% of roles are filled through networking and networking events. As soon as you're happy that your LinkedIn profile is up to scratch, focus on building your network, gaining recommendations, and reaching out for help with your job hunt. Keeping active on the site means that you'll be at the top of people's minds if they hear of any appropriate roles.
Don't restrict yourself to just LinkedIn though. Leverage your other social networking sites ‒ such as using Twitter ‒ and contact people in real life to explain your situation and make reciprocal offers of help.
Be flexible
You'll need to accept that, in the current crowded jobs market, you may have to compromise on the roles you apply for. It's worth carrying out an assessment of your skills and identifying which ones would transfer well into new sectors or roles in order to expand your job search beyond the limits of what you'd have previously considered.
Even if the job that you eventually secure isn't in your area of speciality, you'll still be earning and minimising any career gap on your CV. Your proactive approach and work ethic will surely stand you in good stead with recruiters when the time comes to move on.
Finding a new job in turbulent times
Data shows that worker availability is rising at the fastest rate since the recession in 2009, whilst the Office for National Statistics reports the largest quarterly decrease in vacancies since current records began in 2001. It's certainly competitive looking for a job in a crowded jobs market, but it's not impossible to succeed. There are still job opportunities available, so when armed with a competition-busting CV and the advice above, you're in a good position to take the next strides in your career. Good luck!
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