The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly affected the labor market and economy in numerous ways. Despite many organizations having the difficult task of laying off or furloughing employees, there are companies actively hiring. And hiring top talent right now is more crucial than ever. While millions of individuals continue to work from home, interviews and hiring decisions still need to be made. Hiring remotely does present its challenges, especially for employers who are navigating this experience for the first time. You may be hesitant to hire someone who you’ve never met in person. At JOHNLEONARD, in addition to in-person interviews, we have experience conducting video interviews and screening candidates.

Below are tips, we as staffing professionals, have found successful when conducting virtual interviews. Try these steps the next time you conduct an interview remotely.

In the United States, the demand for talented temporary workers is high and expected to increase by 0.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the 2020 first quarter, according to the Palmer Forecast™. Temporary work helps you get working right away in a role that best suits your skill set. When interviewing for temporary roles, it's important that you prepare for common interview questions. Check out our infographic for examples of these questions and how to best respond.

When applying for sales positions, you may encounter a mock sales call during the interview process. To impress the person on the other line with your selling skills, you must prepare for the call like a true salesperson. Watch our video for tips on how to best prepare and what to ask during the call.

“What is your greatest weakness” or “Tell me about yourself” are common interview questions that are constantly asked but don’t necessarily uncover much about a candidate. As an employer, it is your job to attract candidates and also identify top talent among those applicants. When interviewing for your organization, it’s important you ask questions that not only reveal the type of employee they are (skills, experience, hard-worker, etc.), but also, to assess how they will fit in with the company culture, their conversation skills, and their ability to perform under pressure.

One of the most popular asked interview questions, “Can you walk me through your resume?” is often one that many struggle to answer or overlook when preparing. Although it is a broad, open-ended question, you can use a resume walkthrough to your advantage. It’s the perfect opportunity to confidently impress the interviewer and ultimately set the tone and direction of the whole dialogue.

“We would like to extend an offer to you, congratulations!” Getting this email or phone call is an exciting moment as a job seeker. Finally, all of your hard work of networking, phone screening and interviewing has paid off. Before accepting an offer too quickly, it is prudent to take time to ask yourself and the employer fundamental questions. Below we have a list of questions to review before saying “Yes!” to your new position.

Are you interested in joining the 27 million Americans who are employed on a part-time basis? Perhaps you are in school, retired, looking to earn extra money, stay at home with children or have other care responsibilities. Whatever the reason may be, working part-time may be the best fit for your current lifestyle. Consider these concrete tips when trying to find a part-time job that meets your career preferences and needs.

If you’re looking for a job within the sales or the marketing field, chances are you’ve probably encountered a mock sales call during the interview process. While intimidating, these mock calls offer you the opportunity to showcase your selling skills and secure the job or move onto the next round of interviews. These calls allow the employer to learn your selling techniques, personality and fit within the role. The following techniques will help prepare you for a mock sales call so you get one step closer to a career in sales.

Whether it’s a phone interview or an in-person interview one of the most common first questions a hiring manager will ask is “tell me about yourself.” It can be a terrifying open-ended question that makes any job seeker nervous. My initial reaction was always, “how do I sum up my life and career in a few sentences?” By preparing yourself for this anticipated question, the nerves will be pushed aside and you will be able to show the hiring manager why you are the perfect candidate for the job.

Thinking about changing careers but not sure how you would land a new job with little to no experience? Often forgotten, your transferable skills are fundamental when considering working in a different field of work. Transferable skills are the capabilities you’ve gained from previous positions or experiences that are transferable to a different type of career or industry. For example, employers seek candidates who possess organizational or time management skills, qualities you most likely have developed from your past professional experiences. Follow these strategies to seamlessly transfer your skills as you make your move from one industry to another.