How will I know if a company will have a hiring freeze?

These are unprecedented times. COVID-19, in just a few weeks, has upended business. Business has gone to work-from-home, airlines are cutting their schedules and restaurants and bars are being mandated to close by state and local governments. As an HR professional, I can tell you that no matter how well companies prepared for an emergency, most were not prepared for something that was going to impact the entire world.

Many companies are going to be hurt financially from reduced operations, lost sales and outright closures. For some, this will be short-term until the virus has passed and people can go about their business. For others, this will bring long-term impact and for still others, bankruptcy.

Business leaders are currently evaluating their situation. Every business is different and has different capacities to weather a downturn based on their industry and financial conditions. While a position may have been posted just a few weeks ago and you may have even been in the midst of interviewing, a few weeks ago may now seem like ages ago due to the quick change in public health consequences and the economy.

You will need to be patient. Businesses are figuring this out, but many still do not have answers. Do not be surprised if positions are put on hold. This could be temporary or permanent. If you are in the middle of interviewing, keep in touch with your Talent Acquisition contact. Don’t badger them but following up once a week should be fine. Do not be surprised if they do not have an answer for you. When they do know what is happening, they should be telling you. Plan for the worst but hope for the best.

I have never done a video interview. What do I need to know?

Because of social distancing and work from home policies, many employers are still conducting job interviews but are doing so virtually. The basics of interviewing still apply – researching the company, answering questions concisely, and providing specific examples to illustrate how you would behave in different situations.

There are some things that are different. Knowing these and preparing in advance will help you make the most of the opportunity and put you ahead of others in terms of how you present yourself.

Before the video interview

-You may be able to do your video interview on your smartphone as well as on a tablet or laptop. Unless you do not have another option, choose to do it on the larger screen.

-If possible, test the audio and video to make sure you do not have any technical issues. Some platforms, such as Zoom, will allow you to do this. Also, you may need to download a plugin. Make sure you allow enough time to do this, as it could take a few minutes.

-If you have a headset with a microphone, use it. You will get better sound and voice recording. If not, you may want to wear earbuds to hear the interviewer better.

- You want the camera to be at eye level or even slightly above. Many people do not adjust their webcam, and they are being shot from below which is not as flattering. If you have a standing desk, make sure you move it to a position that achieves this. If you do not have one, elevate your laptop to be level to your eyes.

- How you are lit is important. You do not want to appear in shadow. Try to have a light source in front of you to illuminate your face. Bring a lamp or two close to your table or desk that is just to the right or left of your computer. Try for soft light – nothing too harsh, as it will wash you out.

-Eliminate distractions. This can include your dogs barking, children interrupting you or jarring visuals behind you. I know you might be home with school-aged children, but you must keep them away from you while you are on the video call. Also, be careful about your background. People are going to look and be nosy about anything you have in the background, like clothes on a hanger, a messy desk or your artwork. Neutralize your background. All eyes should be on you, not what is on your wall or on your bed. Also, make sure your windows are closed so that outside noise, like lawnmowers or ambulances, cannot be heard during your interview.

- Dress professionally but also simply. Think about what you see news people wear on television - solid colors and nothing that is fussy. Stripes and busy prints can be distracting. Wear something that is clean, pressed and is a step up from what you would wear at that workplace.

-Do you have a hands-free speaker like Amazon Alexa, Apple HomePod or Google Home? Turn it off during your interview, lest something you say activates it. Also, silence your smartphone so you do not get a call or notification during your interview.

-Have a pencil and paper close by to jot down notes. In the beginning, let the interviewer know that you may want to take notes, so if you turn away from the camera, the person knows what you are doing.

-Close all other applications on your computer so you are not distracted by notifications. Also, make sure your computer is plugged in that you do not risk running out of charge.

During the video interview

-During a video interview, you may see yourself on a small inset on the main screen.  Some people find this very distracting. There is a tendency to start watching yourself and losing your train of thought. Just don’t. Instead, keep your eyes on the camera. If you know that this may be distracting for you, you can put a sticky note over the spot on your video screen where you would appear just so you don’t see yourself or move the inset closer to the camera.

- Remember to smile during your interview. A smile helps ease your anxiety and makes you seem more personable. A way to remember to do so? Put a sticky note near you with a smiley face or the word “smile.”

-Have your resume easily viewable so you can refer to it during the interview.  You can have it to the side and out of the camera view. Also, notes or follow up interview questions can also be in the same place, so you can easily see them. As an alternative, you can put a post-it note on your computer screen so that you do not forget an important point you want to make during the interview.

-If you need to drink a sip of water because your throat is dry, do so. You may need to drink a bit so your voice remains strong. You will be talking a lot. You might mention to the interviewer ahead of time that you have a glass of water ready for just such a purpose.

I have a job but was looking for another one. Should I continue to do so?

This is a very hard question to answer. My answer would depend upon the reason you are looking, the industry you are in, your area of expertise and your risk tolerance. I would also add that a new factor may be your chances of being laid off.

Hiring is going to slow. I think that is inevitable. But it is going to be different in many different sectors. The thing about a job search is that it usually doesn’t cost you money. What it does is cost you time – time you can do other things or your opportunity cost. If you decide at some point that you want to stop looking because you are risk-averse and would be uncomfortable moving to a new company now, that is fine. Know yourself and what you are willing to do. You can always change your mind and jump back into job search mode at a later date. If you think there is even a possibility that you could get laid off, though, I would keep up with it. It is a much better plan to create other options, if possible. If you are in a sector or industry that has seen growth due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic, this may be a great opportunity to find other work more in line with what you want to do.

Another  possibility could be that though you wanted to change jobs previously, the new dynamics at your employer may provide unexpected opportunities. Maybe you will get more responsibility and that will make your work better. Maybe you will be asked to do something different which can offer a chance to grow. A crisis can have a negative impact, yes, but it also can create different and better opportunities that you would never have dreamed of a few short months ago. 

Your situation and motivations are unique. You will need to evaluate continuing with a job search based on many variables unique to your situation.