‘How do I get hired?’ Early career individuals’ employment strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the employment and career expectations of millions of Americans, including individuals in their early career stage. Instead of the robust labour market that was projected prior to the pandemic, this population faced layoffs, job offers rescinded, unemployment, and underemployment in 2020. Their job hunt strategies amidst the pandemic are an important topic of research inquiry. This qualitative study investigates respondents’ perspectives of online employment sites, social capital, and personal branding via social media as methods to obtain employment information and to get hired. The authors provide practical suggestions to enhance job seekers’ employment searches.