{"id":8368,"date":"2020-06-29T14:34:50","date_gmt":"2020-06-29T18:34:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=8368"},"modified":"2020-06-29T14:55:24","modified_gmt":"2020-06-29T18:55:24","slug":"looking-for-jobs-while-you-wait-out-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=8368","title":{"rendered":"Looking  For Jobs While You Wait Out COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"column column--full article__header\">\n<div class=\"article__masthead\"><time class=\"timestamp timestamp--pub\"><\/time><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__subhead\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?attachment_id=8164\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8164\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8164\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?attachment_id=8164\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/download.png?fit=225%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"225,225\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"download\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/download.png?fit=225%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/download.png?fit=225%2C225&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-8164 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/download.png?resize=150%2C150&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/download.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/download.png?w=225&amp;ssl=1 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>The economic impact the coronavirus is having on job seekers is potentially crushing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"column column--full article__content\">\n<div id=\"js-article__body\" class=\"article__body article-wrap at16-col16 barrons-article-wrap\" data-sbid=\"91E6235C-9B76-11EA-8B70-DE183C938A05\">\n<p>This a simple reality whether you\u2019ve been laid off, are looking for a part-time retirement job, or are a recent graduate (Congratulations!) on the cusp of launching your career.<\/p>\n<div class=\"paywall\">\n<p>It\u2019s a waiting game. Many employers have instituted hiring freezes. Job postings have dropped. But that doesn\u2019t mean you should put the brakes on your search. It\u2019s frustrating, but one move you can make right now is to look around the edges and set-up \u201cinformational\u201d interviews.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a back-to-basics job hunting technique that you control. You\u2019re taking action. By having an informal conversation with someone outside your close circle, you bolster your network laying the groundwork for a continuing relationship, and, who knows, it can spark your curiosity about potential positions, or opportunities that weren\u2019t on your radar. (You might not even realize that you\u2019re stuck in a moment, trying to replicate your old job and that\u2019s unlikely.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read on<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marketwatch.com\/story\/its-still-possible-to-look-for-jobs-while-you-wait-out-covid-19-2020-05-21?link=MW_latest_news\"> MarketWatch<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8378\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8378\" style=\"width: 200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?attachment_id=8378\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8378\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8378\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?attachment_id=8378\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/CB-Headshot-1-2.jpg?fit=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"683,1024\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;GORDON&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D7200&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1548591672&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;35&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0025&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"CB Headshot 1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/CB-Headshot-1-2.jpg?fit=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/CB-Headshot-1-2.jpg?fit=640%2C960&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-8378 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/CB-Headshot-1-2.jpg?resize=200%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/CB-Headshot-1-2.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/CB-Headshot-1-2.jpg?resize=600%2C900&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/CB-Headshot-1-2.jpg?w=683&amp;ssl=1 683w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8378\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caitlin Bonney Photo courtesy of Ms. Bonney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For this column, I asked my millennial niece,\u00a0<a class=\"icon none\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/caitlinbonney\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Caitlin Bonney<\/a>, 28, a microgrid solution developer at Schneider Electric to share her top advice on how to make the most these interviews, which I will get to shortly. Last year, she graduated from Duke University\u2019s Nicholas School of the Environment with a master of environmental management degree. While she was a student, Caitlin used informational chats to learn what types of roles exist as well as to connect with potential employers. Now, she regularly talks with students, to help them navigate careers in the renewable energy world.<\/p>\n<p>Caitlin called me, after listening to a recent\u00a0<a class=\"icon none\" href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/417721982\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">webinar<\/a>\u00a0I presented for the\u00a0<a class=\"icon none\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newstartcareernetwork.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New Start Career Network<\/a>\u00a0at the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. She reminded me that my advice wasn\u2019t just for older workers. It applied to someone in their 20s like her as well.<\/p>\n<p>One of the key messages I delivered to the audience of mostly 45+ job seekers was the importance of reaching out to professional contacts and contacts of contacts for just these kinds of conversations. Employers tend to hire people they know, or people who they know, know. The reality is that a candidate with a referral is far more likely to have their r\u00e9sum\u00e9 read and land an interview. It\u2019s the Holy Grail of a successful job search.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"article__subhead\">8 tips to get the most from an informational interview<\/h2>\n<p>Now, as promised, here are Caitlin\u2019s five tips for navigating a successful informational interview, or informational chat (plus, three from me).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Take the lead in setting up the call.<\/strong>\u00a0If you have the person\u2019s phone number \u2014 either they gave it to you, or it is in their signature on their email, set up a calendar invite via email that says Caitlin to Call Kerry at 111-111-1111. If you just have the person\u2019s email, send a calendar invite with a link to the video chat or meeting platform of your choice. Be ready to have your video camera turned on, but assume video is off unless the other person suggests it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Keep it short and sweet.<\/strong>\u00a0Never set a calendar invite for more than 30 minutes. I suggest doing 20 minutes which lends itself to easily be extended another 10 or more. Be able to clearly state what drives you. People do informational interviews for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it\u2019s to gather information on what jobs and industries are out there, other times it is to get a foot in the door and hopefully a formal interview. No matter what the reason, you should always be able to answer the question: \u201cWhat drives you?\u201d It might not be directly asked, but you can weave it into the conversation to make you memorable. Framing it in the context of a story is even better.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do your recon.<\/strong>\u00a0Utilize the \u201cNews\u201d feature of any search engine such as Google or Safari. Search the person\u2019s name under news. This is, of course, in addition to looking at the person\u2019s LinkedIn or personal website. Do the same \u201cNews\u201d search for the company \u2014 this will reveal more information about the company than can sometimes be gathered online and can provide talking points.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Have a list of questions.<\/strong>\u00a0What drew them to the industry? What has helped them succeed in their career? Remember you want to learn about their jobs. What do they see as the areas with the most opportunities right now? What skills are in demand? Who else should you talk to about career paths and opportunities in the field?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Follow up.\u00a0<\/strong>Send an email within four hours of the call. Thank the person for the time, state something that you learned, or that was memorable. If you invite them to connect on LinkedIn, be sure to send a personalized message thanking them for taking the time to talk on the phone. Do follow up with a job posting for their company (if applicable) and ask for their advice on if you might be a good fit. Only send your resume if asked \u2014 LinkedIn can serve as your resume if your name is being shared with others.<\/p>\n<p>Remember you\u2019re trying to \u201cconnect\u201d with another person, so be excited and confident and enjoy the conversation.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, here are three from me:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Be patient.<\/strong>\u00a0Setting up an informational interview can take some tenacity. It\u2019s best to narrow the people you want to reach to those at companies where you would one day like to work or who you respect as a leader or innovator.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Focus on them.<\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s not about you. This is a hard one, since it\u2019s human nature to want to talk about ourselves. When we\u2019re in job-hunting mode, we\u2019re hard-wired to put on the razzle-dazzle of selling why we would be a great hire.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Listen.<\/strong>\u00a0You are there to learn about this person, this company, this industry. Trust me, people will have a great impression of you, even if they don\u2019t realize it consciously, if you can show that you\u2019re genuinely passionate about what they do and their career path.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re not asking them to hire you, you\u2019re asking them to share their wisdom. Who doesn\u2019t like to do that?<\/p>\n<p><strong>By<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"author  hasMenu\" data-scrim=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;author&quot;,&quot;header&quot;:&quot;Kerry Hannon&quot;,&quot;subhead&quot;:&quot;The Wall Street Journal&quot;,&quot;list&quot;:[]}\">\n<h4>Kerry Hannon and Caitlin Bonney<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?attachment_id=8257\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-8257\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8257\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?attachment_id=8257\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/PJCover.jpg?fit=333%2C499&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"333,499\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"PJCover\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/PJCover.jpg?fit=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/PJCover.jpg?fit=333%2C499&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-8257\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/PJCover.jpg?resize=200%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/PJCover.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/PJCover.jpg?w=333&amp;ssl=1 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><a class=\"icon none\" href=\"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?mod=article_inline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kerry Hannon<\/a>\u00a0is an expert and strategist on work and jobs, entrepreneurship, personal finance and retirement. Kerry is the author of more than a dozen books, including\u00a0<a class=\"icon none\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Great-Pajama-Jobs-Without-Commute\/dp\/1119647770\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&amp;qid=1588940252&amp;refinements=p_27:Kerry+E.+Hannon&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-1&amp;text=Kerry+E.+Hannon&amp;mod=article_inline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Great Pajama Jobs: Your Complete Guide to Working From Home<\/a>,\u00a0<a class=\"icon none\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Never-Too-Old-Rich-Entrepreneurs\/dp\/1119547903?mod=article_inline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Never Too Old To Get Rich: The Entrepreneurs Guide To Starting a Business Mid-Life<\/a>,\u00a0<a class=\"icon none\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Great-Jobs-Everyone-50-Updated\/dp\/1119363322\/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1588940461&amp;sr=1-1&amp;mod=article_inline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Great Jobs for Everyone 50+<\/a>, and\u00a0<a class=\"icon none\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Money-Confidence-Really-Financial-Single\/dp\/1682614336\/ref=sr_1_15?dchild=1&amp;qid=1588940531&amp;refinements=p_27:Kerry+E.+Hannon&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-15&amp;text=Kerry+E.+Hannon&amp;mod=article_inline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Money Confidence<\/a>. Follow her on Twitter\u00a0<a class=\"icon none\" href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/#!\/KerryHannon?mod=article_inline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@kerryhannon<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:20px; padding-top:10px;\" class=\"hupso-share-buttons\"><!-- Hupso Share Buttons - http:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/ --><a class=\"hupso_toolbar\" href=\"http:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-small.png?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top:5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\"\/><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var hupso_services_t=new Array(\"Twitter\",\"Facebook\",\"Google Plus\",\"Pinterest\",\"Linkedin\",\"StumbleUpon\",\"Digg\",\"Reddit\",\"Bebo\",\"Delicious\");var hupso_background_t=\"#EAF4FF\";var hupso_border_t=\"#66CCFF\";var hupso_toolbar_size_t=\"small\";var hupso_image_folder_url = \"\";var hupso_url_t=\"\";var hupso_title_t=\"Looking  For Jobs While You Wait Out COVID-19\";<\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/js\/share_toolbar.js\"><\/script><!-- Hupso Share Buttons --><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many employers have instituted hiring freezes. Job postings have dropped. But that doesn\u2019t mean you should put the brakes on your search. It\u2019s frustrating, but one move you can make right now is to look around the edges and set-up \u201cinformational\u201d interviews.<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:20px; padding-top:10px;\" class=\"hupso-share-buttons\"><!-- Hupso Share Buttons - http:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/ --><a class=\"hupso_toolbar\" href=\"http:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-small.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top:5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\"\/><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var hupso_services_t=new Array(\"Twitter\",\"Facebook\",\"Google Plus\",\"Pinterest\",\"Linkedin\",\"StumbleUpon\",\"Digg\",\"Reddit\",\"Bebo\",\"Delicious\");var hupso_background_t=\"#EAF4FF\";var hupso_border_t=\"#66CCFF\";var hupso_toolbar_size_t=\"small\";var hupso_image_folder_url = \"\";var hupso_url_t=\"\";var hupso_title_t=\"Looking  For Jobs While You Wait Out COVID-19\";<\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/js\/share_toolbar.js\"><\/script><!-- Hupso Share Buttons --><\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8164,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[328,20,59,40,531],"tags":[139,60],"class_list":["post-8368","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career-advancement","category-career-change","category-careers","category-interviews","category-marketwatch","tag-job-search","tag-jobs"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kerryhannon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/download.png?fit=225%2C225&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3YFQS-2aY","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8368","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8368"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8368\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8380,"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8368\/revisions\/8380"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8368"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}