Writing a Resume For Post-COVID Job Market 

Unfortunately, COVID has hit the job market hard with its business closures, job losses, and reduced incomes. As executive job seekers begin to emerge from this bleak economic landscape, a new way of approaching the job market has taken place. They’ll need to re-evaluate what attributes companies are likely to be looking for in a winning candidate given the past year. CEOs must now look through the lens of this plague year to find candidates who possess more dynamic skill sets, immense tech-savviness, and other traits needed to thrive in the evolving business world. As you begin updating your resume to attract CEOs and their hiring managers, you should consider what they’re scouting for and highlight those “must-have” crucial professional traits that you possess.

You Have Remote Work Experience

The pandemic has shifted the whole concept of ‘what it means to go to work.’ Instead of catching a train or hitting the expressways, employees across the country walk into their home offices to work remotely. Hiring managers are actively seeking applicants who have not only worked from home during the pandemic or at some other point but thrived while working independently outside of the office. Having witnessed how well the remote platform can work, many companies now plan to maintain many workers on a small or hybrid basis, saving substantially on their operation costs. Based on those factors, you’ll want your resume to demonstrate that you are independent and self-disciplined and perfectly comfortable with remote work and all that it entails.

You’re a Change Drive

The pandemic, and its lockdowns forced companies to change how they operate overnight. Outstanding leadership was essential at companies at various levels of all types of companies. Demonstrating that you have experience driving the changes needed to operate and thrive in an adverse situation will help you update your resume to attract CEOs and hiring managers. Many experts have warned that COVID isn’t likely the last pandemic that we will face. Companies want to ensure that they have an agile leadership team that can adapt to change quickly and guide the company to success despite its challenges.

You Are Tech Savvy

If you’re competent in utilizing Zoom, Slack, and other online applications that support remote work, you should highlight this aspect of your experience on your resume. Overall, it would help if you are ready to demonstrate that your tech-savvy skills relate to platforms that support many means of communication. Communication is a core competency that CEOs look for in executives and up-and-coming leaders. Being able to master the technology needed to speak to both colleagues and customers is a skill that’s likely to remain at the top of the list for hiring managers. Of course, you should also plan to highlight other aspects of your experience with technology. The tech world is advancing rapidly, especially in applications designed for the evolving business world. You’ll want to showcase that you’re able to and enthusiastic about keeping up with new tech trends.

You Have a Track Record of Problem Solving

ProwessThe COVID pandemic revealed many vulnerabilities in company structures, supply chains, etc. Consider your experience. What problems were you able to successfully address in the past year? Hiring managers will be looking for job candidates who can think creatively in a crisis to achieve successful outcomes. Many companies had to shift gears in record time to help meet supply chain challenges in the last year. Others had to design remote work paradigms quickly. If you were involved in changes like these and contributed to the problem-solving process, be sure to report this on your resume and be prepared to discuss it in a job interview.

You Can Prioritize Workplace Culture

Workplace culture is always an essential element for a company, but the pandemic had a way of exacerbating companies with poor workplace culture. Businesses with a healthy employee culture are more likely to cope with crises like the pandemic than groups already struggling. As an applicant searching for a leadership role in a company, you’ll need to help define and nurture your company’s culture. Are you up to it? Have you made business culture a priority in the past? Are you ready to discuss how cultural movements like #metoo, political upheaval, anti-vax, cancel culture, etc., affect workers and business culture? How have you navigated these issues as they apply to company cultures you’ve been involved with? CEOs will be looking for culturally astute candidates that have the mindset needed to guide their teams through divisive times related to the work environment. Keep these new core competencies in mind as you search for a position in a post-COVID world. By highlighting sought-after job skills, you’ll need to attract the eyes of hiring managers. If you don’t possess these skills, now is the time to focus on them so you can begin to develop these in-demand skill sets.

About Barbachano International

Barbachano International (BIP) is the premier executive search and leadership advisory firm in the Americas (USA, Mexico, Latin America, & Canada) with a focus on diversity and multicultural target markets.  Outplacement and Executive Coaching services are provided by our sister allied company Challenger Gray & Christmas. Since 1992, BIP and its affiliates have impacted the profitability of over 50% of Fortune 500 Companies.  BIP has been recognized by Forbes as Americas’ Best Executive Search Firms and currently ranks #27 and #3 on the West Coast.  Headquartered in San Diego, California with satellite offices in Florida and Mexico.  As member-owners of NPAworldwide Recruitment Network, we are supported by partner offices in over 50 countries.