Finding New Job During COVID-19 Pandemic a Challenge, But Not Impossible

Looking for a new job during a pandemic can be stressful and complicated. With furloughs and cutbacks, more people are in the market for a new gig. In fact, the April unemployment rate in Minnesota spiked to 8.1%, according to figures with the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Before the pandemic hit in March, it was 2.9%, a historic low.

In just one month, the number of unemployed Minnesotans surged 55%. The number grew by 160,627 to an April total of 249,453.

Mike Lang, director of employment services with DEED, says now is not the time to be shy. He says it’s crucial to let everyone know you’re in the market for a job. He says there are several things job seekers can do to stand out when searching for a job.

DEED officials say key to finding a job during pandemic is networking. Photo courtesy: Pexels

“Networking is most effective when the seeker anticipates what the employer needs and wants,” said Lang. With this knowledge, they can stand out from others who have similar backgrounds. It’s not just about meeting the minimum qualifications, and you also have to present yourself as an excellent fit for the employer.”

Job Openings in Nursing, Service Industry

Officials with DEED say health care is the one of the sectors with the most openings. There’s a demand for nursing assistants, registered nurses and personal care aides.

CSL Plasma in New Hope has a few openings. Apply here.

Other professions currently in demand include customer services reps and security guards.  As you can imagine, grocery store work is also high priority right now. Hy-Vee is looking to hire temporary hourly employees to help restock stores and serve customers. Apply here. 

Government Job Openings Vary

There are several government job openings ranging from full-time to part-time work. The city of Brooklyn Center is hiring for an aquatic fitness group instructor, lifeguard and a neighborhood engagement liaison.  The city also have an opening for a part-time firefighter. Apply here.

In New Hope, however, the city doesn’t have any full or part-time openings. But there are still many seasonal job opportunities in New Hope’s Parks and Recreation Department. Apply here.

Fast-food and retail jobs are not hard to come by, but finding an upper-level management or higher-paying white-collar job can be challenging. In this case, seeking a government job might be the way to go.

High-paying management jobs harder to find. Photo courtesy: Pexels.

There are currently 10 Hennepin County job openings. Employment opportunities vary from month to month. 

“This is a little lighter than we’re used to,” said Laura Miller, human resources manager with Hennepin County. “It’s from COVID-19 for sure. The slowdown of a couple of different positions. So, we’re just trying to be more careful about what we post.”

Hennepin County is hiring for several positions in its IT department. One of the positions listed is for an identity and access management analyst. That job opening will close in four days, said Miller.

“They would be responsible for running the day-to-day functions of the access management team and troubleshooting challenges,” she explained.

The salary range for this position is $68,000 to $102,000.

Hennepin County is also looking to hire an assistant county assessor. This person would be responsible for managing the commercial appraisal division. The individual would manage the tax court calendar and direct and advise employees and local assessors on current real estate appraisal data. The salary ranges between $75,000 to 125,000 based on experience.

Miller says there are several reasons to work for the county. She says Hennepin County offers many professional career development programs.

“They offer tuition reimbursement. We have an employee career center where people can talk with our career center coordinator about their next step at the county. They can also learn to build a solid Linkedin profile, or how to beef up their resume,” explained Miller.

The human resources manager says there is a lot of opportunities to move around within the county. She also says the health and retirement benefits are exceptional, noting PERA, the retirement plan for government employees. 

“I think that speaks to why a lot of people stay with the county for so long because there are many different things to do.”

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