LANSING, Mich. — With record unemployment and fewer companies hiring finding a job looks very different than it did even a few months ago. Amanda Brandeis looks at the new task job seekers are dealing with.
Christy Schmidt, lost her job during the pandemic. A California native, Christy Schmidt traded the city for a small idyllic town in Oregon, surrounding herself with views worthy of a postcard.
“First day of working at Navis is complete. This company is amazing I have the coolest team, well I don’t have, I’m part of the coolest team, I am so blessed.” “It was literally my dream job, the best company culture I’ve ever been a part of.”
Navis specializes in technology for the hospitality industry, including hotels and resorts. She thought working from home would be temporary, just during COIVD-19 until the day managers called an all-team meeting. “And it was very tough for them to tell us we no longer had jobs, that they were doing everything they could to make the company survive.” She says it felt worse than a bad break-up.
“So I did start the job hunt but that just showed there really aren’t that many jobs available.” The in-person interaction where Christy felt she thrived had been replaced with virtual interviews and she’s had to rely on LinkedIn as a way to network.“Thankful for technology we can still have these interviews, but it is different being behind a screen and not having that face-to-face interaction.”
After months of searching, she finally found an opportunity that made her hopeful - only to learn it was a scam. “All they want is personal information, didn’t want to know about my experience or background.”
Now she’s considering having to leave her home – and move back home to California where there are more jobs. “Maybe I need to relocate myself right now just to survive right now.”
Tim Best, CEO of RecruitMilitary states that "My first word of encouragement is, you’re not alone.”
Tim Best has spent the last two decades helping veterans find careers through massive job fairs at venues like Yankee Stadium. Now they’re going virtual.
“Really no one understands what a virtual career fair is until they experience it.” Employers market their brand in virtual chat rooms, which can lead to a video interview on the spot. “I’ve seen this before in previous recessions, where people do rethink their career paths.”
Christy Schmidt is broadening her search – considering jobs she might’ve overlooked before the pandemic. “Knock on every single door because I know eventually one is going to open and it’s going to be the right fit for you, and I’m confident that is out there for me as well.”
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