COVID-19 has impacted nearly every industry – especially the “gig economy” or better known as jobs like ride share driver, on-demand handy-work/cleaning, and freelance roles. If you were previously doing a “gig” job, you may be thinking “How can I successfully pivot to currently in-demand jobs?” Answer: With your transferable skills! We’re sharing key steps in using those skills to your job search advantage.
1. Identify Your Transferable Skills
What skills did you learn as a ride share driver that you can use as a delivery driver for a grocery story? What skills do you have from your profession as a barber that you can use on the job at Walgreens?
Key skills like customer service, cash handling, creative problem solving, and working in a fast-paced environment are useful across many job types. You can easily set yourself apart by sharing how you have used these skills in past jobs, and how they would make you great in the role you’re applying for.
Think creatively and focus on how your experience will make you a great fit for a new job and share it confidently. After all, about 40% of your interview will be based on your attitude and ability to show your personal brand – so show you are positive, hardworking, and have some good, relatable experience.
2. Update Your Resume
If you were an independent contractor you may not have created or updated a resume online since you started working in that role. When a recruiter or HR individual is looking at your resume, they need to quickly be able to see your up-to-date contact information, past jobs you’ve had from most recent to oldest, when you started working there and stopped working at each job, and your highest level of education.
Don’t go overboard on bullet points, and make sure you’re using a clean font like Times New Roman, or Calibri. Keep it simple and you will be sure to be seen! Need examples of resumes? Click here to view Skills’ previous insights into building a resume.
3. Use Your Network
Some people say your network is your net worth. Most independent contractors have good connections in their community (friends, neighbors, family, etc.), and this is the time to enlist their help.
Ask your connections whether their employers are hiring, and whether they would be willing to be a referral. Your chances of getting hired increase nearly 7% when you are referred by someone who works at the company. Do not be shy! More than ever, communities are coming together to help one another.
There is no way to know how long these changes may last, but what we can do is use our skills and our time to support jobs and services that are now in-demand.
Share this with a friend who may be unemployed right now, and help them land a job today!
A great place to start looking for open opportunities is on our jobs menu — apply online for one of our many open opportunities.
