How Recruiters Are Stepping Up in Tough Times — and What You Can Do Too

These days, people around the world are reaching out to one another in beautiful ways. From delivering groceries to elderly neighbors to funding taxi rides for healthcare workers, we’re seeing an outpouring of heartwarming responses to those directly impacted by the coronavirus. 

Talent professionals are no exception. You’ve always changed lives, and now you’re helping people and companies move forward in a crisis. As we face more job cuts and a greater demand for certain skills, giving just a few minutes of your time and expertise can make a difference in helping a job seeker’s search.  

We applaud those doing just that. Thank you for lending your talents and connections to bettering other people’s lives. For inspiration, see how your peers are:

1. Offering free guidance on resumes and LinkedIn profiles

In order for job seekers to stand out, digital first impressions (resumes and LinkedIn profiles) are key right now. Having things like a great LinkedIn photo, headline, and summary can be the difference between getting noticed or not. The recruiters below are helping job seekers put their best foot forward.

How you can get involved: Decide what you can offer. Think about what knowledge and skills you have that could help job seekers or your peers. Are you a pro at editing cover letters? Do you know how to conduct a flawless virtual interview? Do you have an inspiring story to share? Put it out there.

2. Summarizing helpful advice and tips in writing

Anastasia, a recruiting associate for Tesla’s internship programs, is giving advice to students in a longer-form post about the best way to reach out to recruiters. Helping students access opportunities online is especially useful now that career fairs have been canceled.

Britt created a Twitter thread with some handy tips readers can use right away, like how to show that they are Open to Job Opportunities on Linkedin.

How you can get involved: Posting status updates and commenting on LinkedIn is a simple way to start a dialogue. If you have a knack for writing, consider longer posts and articles to summarize your knowledge. If you prefer the camera, consider live coaching via videoconference, or recording a webinar using your webcam or microphone. Do what’s comfortable, and what you have time for.

3. Using the comments section of status updates to connect people 

To help people find opportunities they might not otherwise have seen, these professionals are opening up their vast networks. They’re encouraging job seekers to comment on their posts so that anyone hiring can connect and reach out.

How you can get involved: Ask for engagement. Encourage your connections to comment on and share your post so you boost the chances it’ll end up in front of someone who really needs it.

4. Collecting resumes of displaced workers to share with their network

With thousands of connections within the hospitality industry, Jeremy is collecting resumes of any displaced hourly workers with the goal of helping them find a salaried placement as soon as possible.

How you can get involved: Take stock of your network. Your connections can be key to someone who has all the right skills, but has limited access to opportunities because their network is small. Scroll through your connections to remind yourself of who you know, and keep them in mind as you engage online.

5. Aiding essential services and frontline organizations with finding talent 

While some companies have stopped hiring, healthcare organizations can’t hire fast enough. Katrina, a job post specialist and CEO of Three Ears Media, created a blog post with tips to help healthcare organizations recruit more nurses, including a downloadable job post template. (Speaking of free templates, others are out there for doctors, nurses, and medical assistants.)

How you can get involved: Remember the big picture. Any content or connections you make today will likely be relevant after coronavirus, so your efforts are an investment in your future too. Your response will remain part of your professional brand long after this is over. 

Bravo, talent professionals

Thank you to all the talent professionals who are giving back during this stressful time. Whether you’re giving ten minutes to review someone’s resume, or ten hours to create a free webinar for your peers, you’re making a difference in a time when people need it.

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