As if the job market wasn’t already difficult to navigate, a pandemic hit and upended everything. Now, whether you’re a fresh graduate or freshly laid off, it’s harder than ever to look for a job. Apart from plenty of establishments not being in operation, it’s challenging to look for a job right now because the labor market is saturated with job seekers, thanks to the fact that 40 million Americans are currently without work.

But if you’re actively seeking a job amid this crisis, you’re already one step ahead of your competition. Below, we offer other ideas on how to navigate the job market successfully amid the coronavirus pandemic.

1. Polish your already-polished resume

What you thought was a resume that can stand out from the stack when things were normal might not shine as bright now. With people desperately looking for employment, they’d want to catch hiring managers’ attention with stellar resumes. Make sure yours don’t get lost in the pile by creating a perfect resume and cover letter. The former must highlight the experiences you have that’s relevant to the position you’re applying for, and the latter must show you’ve researched their company and know what you can bring to the table.

2. Stay on top of job postings

Looking for a job is a job. You cannot treat it like you’re simply browsing through your Facebook feed. Instead, you have to be intentional about your job search. Carve time out of your day to look through job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed. It’s also helpful to set up alerts when companies post openings for positions you’re looking for so that you get notified right away.

3. Be open to other opportunities

According to a study by internship platform RemoteInternships.com, around 28 percent of fresh graduates are considering changing their career path. That is understandable, seeing as plenty of establishments are closed or not hiring right now. But if you’re open to other career opportunities close to your field, you can get hired and learn in the process. For example, with a programming degree, you may be able to write code and design graphics for companies who do 3D animation outsourcing, which is popular right now.

4. Practice for a virtual or phone interview

When you pass through the initial hoops of the job hunting process and get invited for an interview, it will likely be done via phone or video call. And while you might have experience with in-person interviews, but video interviews are assessed a little differently. For example, it’s easy to get distracted and lose eye contact through the camera or ramble through the phone. Prevent this from happening by asking someone for assistance in practicing for a virtual interview. Have one of your family members or friends call you up and ask questions as an employer would, and you must answer them as if you’re in a real job interview. This way, you can ace the interview without a fumble when the time comes.

Finally, don’t give up. We know it sounds trite, but everything is going so slowly right now that you might be tempted to sit back and wait. Don’t. While the job search might be difficult, it’s those with the talent and the perseverance to keep looking who are more likely to get employed.

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