Recruiters' priorities have changed thanks to COVID-19, and we've got all the details on what job seekers need to know.

This year has been characterized by change, with the COVID-19 pandemic transforming the way we live, work, and play. 

We at TopResume were curious to learn how this sense of monumental change has impacted the job-seeking process. We spoke to over 300 recruiters and hiring managers to learn about what they really care about and how the pandemic has impacted their hiring processes. 

We found that since COVID-19 became a regular part of our lives, recruiters … 

  • … care less about employment gaps

  • … care more about cover letters

  • … care more about interview thank-you notes

So, what's a job seeker to do in light of this new research? How can they make sure they are paying attention to the new factors that hiring managers are suddenly paying extra attention to? 

We've assembled a guide for you that includes all of our best advice on these topics, so you can be ready to impress.  Watch the video below to hear our career expert, Amanda Augustine, explain the findings and read on for more tips on how you should react as a job seeker. 

Recruiters care less about employment gaps when hiring

Recruiters and hiring managers are human too; they understand that our current situation is not normal. The overwhelming majority of recruiters we surveyed were unfazed by an unemployment gap and did not view an unemployment gap as a stigma for the job seeker. 

If you're unemployed right now and have been for a few months, don't worry. It's more than likely the people evaluating your candidacy won't even think about it — and we have all the advice you need below to make sure you're prepared to address it. 

How to mentally handle an unemployment gap 

An employment gap can be mentally and emotionally draining. 

In this article, we offer tips and advice to help you keep your chin up. Your job — or lack thereof — does not define you, and sometimes your mental roadblocks can sabotage your job search before it even starts. 

How to explain gaps in your employment history on your resume

When you have an employment gap of a few months, or even a few years, it can be difficult to know how to handle that on your resume without leaving a gaping hole. We are here to help, and have solutions on how to explain gaps in your employment history on your resume. 

How to explain gaps in your employment history in an interview 

Once you get to the interview portion of your job search, you'll want to be prepared with an explanation for your employment gap that portrays you as the confident candidate you are. 

Although recruiters don't view employment gaps as stigmatizing, you don't want to downplay your achievements or overshare too much information about your gap. 

Recruiters want to see a well-written and thoughtful cover letter

In a competitive job market, the little things matter. Our new data proves how a cover letter that is tailored to the job description and requirements is more important than ever. Historically, career experts have urged job seekers to write cover letters, even though they acknowledged only a 50 percent chance of them actually being read. 

However, TopResume's new data demonstrates a growing importance of writing a thoughtful cover letter. We've got an arsenal of information ready for you to use to make sure every cover letter you send is a job-winning one. 

How to write a cover letter

This guide will teach you step-by-step how to write an immaculate cover letter, from the greeting to the sign-off and everything in between. 

How to show personality in your cover letter

Employers are interested in you, your personality, and how you might fit into their workplace — and the cover letter is a great place to show off who you are. 

Cliches to cut from your cover letter

When you're a hiring manager, you see a lot of cover letters — and there are certain cliches that seem to come up time and time again. Stand out from the crowd by what you don't say, and learn what common phrases to avoid in your letter. 

It's (still) essential to send a post-interview thank-you letter

The importance of saying "thank you" after an interview

A little gratitude goes a long way, and recruiters consider a post-interview thank-you letter more important now than ever before when making hiring decisions. It's critical to your job search that you send a note via email to the people you interviewed with. 

You can use the post-interview thank-you note to re-establish the unique talking points you connected over with your interviewer and highlight any important qualifications or qualities you have that might have been glossed over during your qualification.

Our guide, linked above, includes these tips and several more, so you can feel confident and assured when you send your own letters of gratitude.

Conclusion

We poll hiring managers and recruiters on an ongoing basis to understand the state of the job market. We want to be your career companion and help you make sense of the job market. 

Right now, the data speaks loud and clear: Don't worry about your employment gaps, but do spend extra time and attention on your cover letter and post-interview thank-you notes in our current job market.

In a competitive job market, your resume needs to be truly extraordinary. Let our writers craft the perfect resume for you today. 

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