By Jenifer Brown
Some of you may have been personally affected employment-wise due to COVID-19 either by a cutback in hours or salary or even a downsizing layoff. Perhaps you just want to continue to advance in your career but are unsure how to do so in these uncertain times!
Now, it is even more crucial to network on social media and career websites. During this COVID-19 pandemic, many of the 2020 conferences and meetings have been cancelled or postponed until next year limiting in-person networking opportunities. Note that MD Publishing is hosting regional HTM Mixers and MD Expo in Tampa this November. You can find out more at HTMMixer.com and MDExpoShow.com. However, because of the limited in-person events, now is the time to make sure you are “profiled” on sites like LinkedIn, the AAMI Career website, regional biomed association websites and career websites like Indeed.com and Glassdoor.com. No matter what site your “profile/resume” is on (though I suggest using all of them) be sure to add a photo, correct and updated work history along with contact information including a cellphone number and email address.
Once you have your “completed profile” on these sites, you need to go a step further. You need to be proactive in networking and reaching out to members. Don’t assume that just because you are on there, that employers and opportunities will come to you!
For example, on LinkedIn you can join various biomed groups and/or your specialty area and then participate in the virtual discussions to get noticed. On the Association of the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) website at www.aami.org, become a member and read up on the latest news and trends. Then, check out the organization’s career web page and post your resume. For the regional biomed associations, do a search for which ones are in your state or geographical area and become a member!
The AAMI website has a list of biomed associations. Click on the tab “Who We Serve” and then click on “HTM Associations” to view regional organizations.
For career websites, you need to make sure that your resume has current and correct work history with dates and complete contact information. To be proactive on those sites, you need to check job postings on a regular basis and apply directly rather than wait until employers reach out to you! Most importantly, if contacted you need to respond in a timely professional manner. Most employers/hiring managers have the “three strikes and you’re out” rule of thumb. If they reached out to you three times with no response back, they will move on to the next candidate and an opportunity that may have been perfect for you is lost!
Lastly, because of COVID-19 most employers have replaced the in-person interview stage of their process with a video interview. Video interviews need to be treated just as professionally as one done in person. In a video interview, like an in-person interview, your appearance, attire and body language are being assessed as much as your communication skills. Prior to a scheduled video interview, be sure to set up and test the software on your computer or tablet to prevent technical difficulties!
The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of TechNation or MD Publishing.
