Monthly Archives: August 2020
Job hunting during a pandemic
Many have found themselves looking for employment during the COVID-19 crisis. Whether your hours were reduced at work, or you just need a change, there are some dos and don’ts that come with job hunting during a pandemic. Read on to learn some of our favorite tips for employment success:
Know What You Want
Everyone’s situation is different – some people need a new job altogether, while others are looking to supplement their current income due to reduced hours. This means you need to decide what you are looking for in a job before you even start. Will this work be temporary? Are you hoping to turn it into a career? How many hours do you hope to have each week? Knowing these answers before you start your search will help narrow your choices to only the best options for you.
Be Flexible
These are unprecedented times – which means you find yourself looking at an unprecedented line of work. If you are searching for a job to pay the bills, keep an open mind. You may have never pictured yourself working the jewelry counter at Macy’s after two decades in government service, but if it suits your needs, try something new – and maybe even be open to enjoying it.
Brush Up on Your Interview Skills
It may have been a while since you last interviewed for a job, so take the time to review some common interview questions, as well as practice your answers. You can even role-play with a friend or family member to practice giving your answers out loud. Bonus tip: Prepare some questions to ask the interviewer, too.
Go to Where the Jobs Are
These days, most, if not all, jobs are posted online somewhere. Places like Indeed.com, LinkedIn, and even Craigslist are good places to search for potential employment. If you have accounts on social media platforms, let your friends know you are looking for a job and what you hope to find, which will increase your odds of landing an interview or two.
Prepare to Zoom
Many employers are utilizing video services, like Zoom or GoToMeeting, to interview prospective employees. Treat a video interview like an in-person interview, and dress for the part. Prepare for the call beforehand by checking the sound and microphone on your computer (or the device you plan to use), and look at your video feed ahead of time to ensure that any visual distractions are out of the picture.
Do Some Networking
We already discussed utilizing your social platforms to find employment, but you can take it a step further. Research online groups that are dedicated to helping people find jobs, and go out of your way to make connections with people who are looking to hire. It’s important to be genuine during this process – don’t ask for help without giving some as well, even if it’s just your perspective as someone who has successfully held a job for most of your life.
Update Your Resume
When is the last time you reviewed your resume? This is the perfect opportunity to give it a once-over and make necessary adjustments. You probably don’t need to keep your high school baseball stats on there, but you will definitely want to update your certifications and any training you have completed. Another bonus tip: It’s time to remove the line that talks about how proficient you are in Microsoft Office products.
Ask for Feedback
If you were laid off from a job that you otherwise had a successful career in, reach out to your former boss and ask for their thoughts on your job performance, including your strengths and areas in which you needed to grow. You can even ask them to be a reference for your next interview, which can go a long way in helping you secure the position you’re seeking. Consider asking for feedback from family and friends in regards to your resume, the job you are applying for, and even the way your video looks over a virtual call to ensure that no detail is overlooked.
Take Some Classes
If you are between jobs or even just find yourself with a few more free hours each week, this might be the perfect time to take a class or to get a certification in another field that interests you. You may not make a career out of it, but you will learn something new that may give you an advantage when looking for your next job. Educating yourself will always work to your benefit.
No one can predict the future, but you can make yours a little less uncertain by taking steps to find your next job. Grab a cup of coffee and start making a list of what you will do today to help your new career begin.
New scam alert: spoofing
A unique type of technology now enables fraudsters to fake the number they are calling from by making a false number appear on your caller ID. It’s extremely effective, because the number displayed appears to be your bank’s correct contact number.
This scam is called number spoofing. Using specialized technology, the number appears on the victim’s caller ID display. The fraudsters may call to say there is a charge you need to verify or you might receive a text saying someone from Georgia’s Own will contact you. If you receive either of these, you need to call our numbers to confirm if we called you or sent you a text.
Here is what you need to know:
- Don’t trust caller ID. Scammers can spoof any number so it looks like they are calling from a particular company, even when they’re not.
- Don’t give personal information. Don’t provide any personal or financial information unless you’ve initiated the call and it’s to a phone number you know is correct. Georgia’s Own would never ask members to verify your full SS#, full card number, card expiration date, CVV or PIN number.
- If you get a robocall, hang up. Don’t press 1 to speak to a live operator or any other key to take your number off the list. If you respond by pressing any number, it will probably just lead to more robocalls.
The best advice to beat the scam is simple – never assume that someone is who they purport to be just because the number displayed on your caller ID matches that of an organization you know. Always be suspicious if you’re asked for your four-digit PIN or full online banking passwords. Same goes for transferring or withdrawing money or giving your card to a courier. Remember, your Credit Union will never ask you to do any of these things.
How to make your Zoom set-up rock
Before March of this year, you may have never used Zoom in your life. By now, you have probably logged quite a few hours on this service or other video conferencing services, as it has become the communication tool of choice for many during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As many employees are still working from home, now is the perfect time to brush up on some basics to make your Zoom set-up fit your needs. Not working from home? These tips can still go a long way making every video call a little bit better.
Lose the Silly Backgrounds
You have probably spent time playing with the different background options Zoom offers, ranging from a lovely mountain scene to a still from a recent Godzilla flick. While these certainly add some fun to your conference call, they aren’t always the best choice. For starters, they are distracting: It’s difficult to discuss a budget report while you are watching a coworker sitting in Jurassic Park. The backgrounds also cause visual glitches on the screen, meaning that if you are using visual aids, they may not come across to those watching your screen if you are also using one of the fake backgrounds.
Find the Right Background
So if you can’t use the fun backgrounds, what should you use? This really depends on the purpose of your call, but for professional calls, try to find the least distracting background in your house or office. A blank, light-colored wall looks best, but if your desk is in front of an organized bookshelf or decorative wall hanging, that works, too. The key is to keep your background space as clean and organized as possible, both to minimize distractions and present a professional image during your call.
Wear Pants
This may seem obvious, but if you are on a professional call – or even if you are chatting with a buddy – what you wear is more obvious than you think. Even if only your top half is visible, you will inevitably get up to grab a file, or to refresh your drink, and wind up sharing a lot more personal information than you intended, like your love for Ninja Turtles pajama pants. It’s just for an hour, so put on your slacks and look the part for the job.
Go Towards the Light
Good lighting is a key part of a successful Zoom call. For the best lighting, use a light source that is close to your face, like a lamp. You can also use natural light from a window, and even increase your screen brightness to add to the visible light around you. Avoid sitting with your back to a window or any other light source, unless you are trying to conceal your identity and only show your silhouette.
Dress for a Meeting
Sure, you may be at home, but if you are jumping on a Zoom call for your job, act like the meeting is in person. This means combing your hair, dressing as you would for the office, and double-checking to make sure you haven’t buttoned your shirt incorrectly. Dressing in a solid color is your best bet, though it’s better to stay away from solid white or solid black shirts, because they can cause you to look distorted on the camera.
Find Your Sound
A Zoom call only works if you can communicate, which usually means you have to hear everyone clearly. Invest in some headphones or earbuds that will allow you to hear the other people on your call. Make sure your computer has a reliable microphone, or use an external microphone so your words aren’t cut off. While you’re at it, eliminate other sounds as much as possible – silence your phone, turn off any alarms, and kick your pets out of the room so your sound will not be interrupted.
Set the Stage
Before you even join your call, take some time to prep the area in which you will be working. This means having supplies, like a pen and paper for notes, as well as any materials you are supposed to have available for the meeting. Consider keeping a water bottle nearby if you will have to do a lot of talking, so you don’t have to get up and leave during the call if you need something to drink.
Test it Out
Even though your laptop has been reliable for the last seven Zoom calls you made, it’s still a good idea to double check that your headphones and microphone are working, as well as your Internet connection, before each meeting. Each device has a different way to test the volume and sound, but if you’re not sure what to do, you can always have a quick Zoom call with a friend or colleague to make sure they can see and hear you well.
Mute Yourself
We realize this sounds harsh, but it’s for the good of the group. If you are on a Zoom call with multiple people, go ahead and mute your microphone until it is your turn to speak. Zoom will automatically give the spotlight to the person making the most noise, and that construction going on next door is louder than you think, so do everyone a favor and mute yourself until you are speaking. If you are the meeting host, consider muting everyone at the beginning and instructing them to stay muted until you call on them.
Keep it Steady
Make sure your device is set up in a place where it will not wobble or tilt at an awkward angle. Use a stand for your phone, or find a good place to set your laptop for the duration of the call. Don’t carry the phone around with you, or even hold it up – no matter how steady your hand is, your phone is heavier than it looks, and the other people on the call will be treated to a roller-coaster effect as your screen begins to shake and move.
It may sound like a lot of rules, but for services like Zoom, a few details make a big difference. Take some time to prep your meeting spot, gather what you will need, and iron your best button-down to create a Zoom experience that will be successful for everyone involved.