If you’re actively applying for jobs right now it’s likely you’ll be asked a question about your COVID experiences during the past 14 months. All of us will have had unique and varied experiences- so the recruiter isn’t looking for a specific answer to the question. However, how to respond is a good opportunity to demonstrate a number of personal qualities and skills that recruiters value.
You may be asked about COVID as an icebreaker in order to put you at ease. Or the interviewers may be genuinely interested to know how others have coped during this unique and challenging time in our history.
Wherever if comes, if you’ve spent time beforehand and are anticipating the question it won’t surprise you if you are asked.
Your COVID story
Thinking back over the past year, reflect on your personal experiences. It may help to structure your thoughts:
- How have you spent your time?
- What have you found hardest to deal with?
- Are there any aspects of Lockdown you’ve enjoyed?
- How have your priorities changed as a result of COVID?
- What have you discovered about yourself as a result of Lockdown?
- What are you most proud of?
- How have you looked after yourself?
Your responses to questions will vary substantially. You may have had to ‘keep calm and carry on’ in a front line role, been furloughed or lost your job. Maybe you had to adapt to 100% virtual working overnight or juggled both work and home-schooling while competing for broadband. Perhaps you were shielding or caring for others. You may have experienced COVID yourself or suffered personal losses. Some aspects of COVID you may choose not to talk about if these are distressing. You can decide before the interview what you’re prepared to reveal.
From the recruiter’s perspective, hearing how you have uniquely responded to the pandemic can illustrate valuable personal qualities and strength of character.
Some of the things you’ve done will illustrate your personal qualities; doing the shopping for a neighbour who has been shielding; checking in on friends or family who have been struggling; keeping children or teenagers on task with school work; learning new technology at speed; following a Joe Wicks exercise routine as a family; setting and achieving goals; taking care of yourself- whether through exercise, relaxation or healthy diet or reading.
These examples provide evidence of:
- Adaptability– the ability to change the way you do things where necessary- often at short notice
- Resilience– staying strong for yourself and others
- Bounceback– dealing with setbacks and emerging stronger and energised as a result
- Optimism– Keeping positive – the ability to see the light at the end of the tunnel
- Self-management– the ability to work unsupervised
- Problem solving– finding work-arounds for challenges
- Willingness to learn new things– your ability to adapt and curiosity to keep learning
- Service– support for others
- Creativity– finding fun ways to achieve what’s needed
- Digital skills– willingness to learn and perhaps teach yourself new technical skills
- Humour– helping others to see the funny side and lifting their spirits
- Organisational skills– getting things done despite the additional challenges COVID has imposed
- Leadership– managing and supporting others to get through the past year
Regardless of your personal situation you will be able to highlight a number of the above skills and qualities.
In response to the following question: ‘What have you found to be the most challenging aspects of the past 12 months and what strategies have you used to cope?’
A sample response might be:
‘Initially I found it hard. One day I was in work with colleagues- the next we were provided with a laptop and had to work from home, setting up a variety of new technologies we weren’t familiar or comfortable with. I had no suitable workspace and was in the process of moving house- though the sale initially feel through. The daily COVID updates were truly depressing. So at times it’s been stressful and countless meetings on Teams and Zoom are exhausting.
I stayed sane by walking outdoors every day and taking screen breaks. Box sets were a big help. I supported my team through regular but short 1-1 meetings to ensure they were managing and had the technology they needed.
I surprised myself by starting to enjoy some of the technologies I was having to learn and now they feel normal. It’s made me really appreciate close friends and family who I’ve missed the most.’
In this example you can see evidence of Self-care, Leadership, Adaptability and Willingness to learn new things.
Develop your own examples. They will enhance your interview and help you shine.
Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.
Charles Swindoll
Author: Anne Wilson
