There is no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic has hit our industry hard. With the economy contracting, companies large and small have furloughed or laid-off workers, and the historic spike in unemployment means the job market is extremely competitive for sales and marketing roles right now.
Despite the bad news, there are still jobs out there. Just because there’s more competition doesn’t mean you aren’t the right person for one of these jobs. Someone will get the job you want – and that someone should be you. The trick is to be smart about your search, clearly demonstrate your value to a prospective employer, and use your networks to your advantage. Here are our tips.
“There are still jobs out there. Just because there’s more competition doesn’t mean you aren’t the right person for one of these jobs. Someone will get the job you want – and that someone should be you.”
1. Go where the money is
One industry’s famine is another’s feast. Our individual and work habits may have shifted fundamentally, but companies and individuals are still spending money and taking care of business.
Think about the industries that are positioned to make the most of our changed habits: delivery companies, entertainment and communications services, health products, learning institutions, lenders, and logistics experts. Tourism companies may have shuttered for a while, but streaming services are more in-demand than ever. Since startups are often the best positioned to pivot in changing circumstances, there may be more tech jobs open now than you realize. Some of these companies are hiring even more than they were a year ago.
2. Embrace your inner show-off
Now, more than ever, it’s important to show your wins. In a tough market, hiring managers will be looking for proof that you can raise revenue for them efficiently. You’ll need to give them that proof, and give it to them quickly – they likely have a lot of applicants to screen, and so your revenue-generating potential must be immediately apparent. Make sure you’re on Betts Connect, so you can highlight your typical quota and deal size, notable accounts you’ve worked on, and the verticals you have experience with. This will help hiring managers see at a glance the benefit of taking you on.
All jobs are now digital jobs. Now is the time to show how great you are online, or how easily your skills can be applied to the digital world. Proof that you thrive in a remote environment will also help.
“All jobs are now digital jobs. Now is the time to show how great you are online, or how easily your skills can be applied to the digital world.”
3. Leverage your network to access the hidden job market
We all know people who have lost their jobs. How can you help them get a new role while also helping yourself? Job-hunting can be a slog in a tough job market, but building networks of friends and colleagues means you can send potential opportunities to each other and make referrals where possible. As they say, there are only a few degrees of separation among all of us. Being open about your job search and helping others with theirs increases your chances of finding a connection to the hiring manager you’re looking for.
Tech jobs are notoriously hard to find through conventional means such as job listing sites. If you want to tap into the underground job market for startups, you need to leverage your network. Just like you know people who have been laid off, you surely also know someone who works at one of the companies that are growing due to the coronavirus.
There are great job opportunities out there, even in a downturn, for those who are able to action these three tactics. You know how to sell – you do this every day. Just apply your sales and marketing skills to selling yourself and there’s every chance you’ll succeed. Best of luck!