The ongoing coronavirus pandemic means uncertain times ahead for all of us. Many individuals are already seeking new jobs as a result of COVID-19's arrival in the UK, and businesses of all sizes - including recruitment companies - are fighting to stay afloat.

Whether you're a jobseeker, an employer looking for new staff, or a recruiter wondering how to respond to this crisis, we hope that these videos from HRS founder Ricky Martin will help you through this unprecedented period of turbulence.

Coronavirus tips for jobseekers

Even though we're in uncharted territory right now, you don't have to put the brakes on your job search. In this video, Ricky shares his 3 top tips for maximising your chances of securing a new role.

• Be patient. The current situation may mean that the recruitment process takes a little longer than usual right now. Just because you haven't heard anything yet doesn't necessarily mean you're out of the running.
  
  
• Be positive. A positive attitude makes a huge difference when you're looking for a new job. It may be difficult to smile right now, given everything that's going on, but rest assured that your positivity will come across in job interviews (even if those interviews are conducted by phone or over the Internet).
  
  
• Be proactive. While you're waiting to hear back from an application, don't rest on your laurels - continue applying for positions, practise answering some common interview questions, and talk to your recruiter to find other ways to keep your job search moving forward.

Tips for hiring new staff during the COVID-19 pandemic

This is a challenging time for business owners, and now may not seem like the best time to take on new employees. But suspending your recruitment process entirely will have negative consequences in the long term. In this video, Ricky offers his advice for hiring new staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Don't pull the plug. If you cease recruitment now, you will only fall behind the competitors who are still snapping up talented new starters. And that means you'll be at a disadvantage when things start to pick up again.
  
  
• Get creative. You may have to adjust your established recruitment process in order to keep things going right now, but this is a great chance for you to try something different and maybe even find a better way of doing things.
  
  
• Stay positive. Whether you're speaking to potential employees, colleagues in the office, or even your own friends and family members, it's important to maintain a sunny outlook and be a positive ambassador for your company.

Tips and advice for recruiters

If, like us, you work in recruitment, you may be feeling a little bit anxious at the moment. What's the best way to keep things moving right now? What can we do to help our clients - jobseekers and employers alike - to weather this storm? And how can we be ready for when the market recovers?

In this video, Ricky offers his answers to the above questions. It's a must-watch for all recruitment consultants!

The key points for recruiters are:

• Add value. Keep talking to your clients throughout this crisis and make sure you're offering helpful advice (e.g. helping them transition to video or telephone interviews) and adding value to their experience wherever you can.
  
  
• Remain positive. Nobody asked for this pandemic, but it's important for us recruiters to be positive right now as this will instill confidence in the businesses and the jobseekers who rely on us. We have a great opportunity to make things better for people and to help them through this challenging time - don't shy away from that opportunity!
  
  
• Be prepared. The coronavirus crisis will evenutally pass, and the market will recover. Putting a bit of investment in now will make sure you're in pole position to take advantage of that upswing when it does arrive.

COVID-19 tips for employers: conducting remote interviews

With the UK government currently telling us to stay at home, many businesses are now using phone calls and video conferencing software to interview new talent.

If you're new to remote interviews, the prospect may seem a little bit daunting, but don't worry - help is at hand. Here are Ricky Martin's tips for telephone interviews:

And if you're preparing for a video interview, here is Ricky's advice for you:

Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic

Another big side effect of this coronavirus outbreak is that lots of workers are now working at home instead of going to the office every day. In this video, Ricky shares his advice for staying productive while working from home:

Looking for more home working tips? Be sure to read our recent blog post How to Work from Home: 10 Tips to Keep You Productive.

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For more videos on hiring, interviewing, writing CVs, and making the most of every working day, visit www.recruiterricky.com today!