Learn How to Put COVID-19 Experience on Resume in the Best Way

Whether you embraced remote work, upskilled during a lockdown, or volunteered in your community, the impact of COVID-19 has undeniably left its mark on the professional world.

As individuals adapt to new ways of working and industries pivot to meet emerging demands, showcasing your experience and resilience during those unprecedented times can be a game-changer for your resume.

The million-dollar question is, how do you effectively incorporate your COVID-19 experience into your resume without undermining your achievements or diluting your core competencies?

Keep reading to find out how you can seamlessly integrate your pandemic experience, highlighting your adaptability, and resourcefulness, while capturing the attention of potential employers.

Why You Need to Add COVID-19 Experience to Your Resume

By highlighting the challenges you faced during the pandemic and the ways you overcame them, you’ll not only stand out among other applicants but also prove your ability to thrive in uncertain times.

COVID-19 experience resume writing manifests in various forms, such as remote work, volunteering, upskilling, or even managing personal responsibilities during the crisis. For example:

• If you transitioned to working remotely, emphasize how you maintained productivity and communication with your team despite the new environment
• If you lost your job during the pandemic, showcase any relevant volunteer work, online courses, or certifications you pursued to fill the gap and enhance your skill set
• If you worked on the front line, EduReviewer can help you include any clinical experience on resume to demonstrate the valuable skills you’ve acquired

Showing off your new skills can also showcase your problem-solving skills and innovative thinking. Post-pandemic, employers are increasingly seeking these qualities.

Should You Update Your Resume With Vaccination Status?

Another thing you might wonder is if you should add your vaccination status to your resume. Especially if you’re interested in working within the federal government. So, the question that arises is, should you add COVID-19 experience to a federal resume and include your COVID-19 vaccination status too?

While there is no standardized answer to this query, it’s worth considering the potential benefits and drawbacks of including your COVID-19 experience on a federal resume.

• Including your vaccination status on your resume demonstrates that you are responsible and take public health seriously. This can be really helpful in industries where safety and health protocols are important, such as healthcare, education, and customer service
• Some employers will prefer vaccinated candidates due to the reduced risk of spreading the virus within the workplace. In such cases, highlighting your vaccination status can give you an edge over other applicants

However, it is important to note that including your COVID-19 vaccination status on your resume is not always necessary.

• Some employers won’t consider this information relevant to the job or might be concerned about privacy and discrimination. In these instances, it is best to err on the side of caution and leave out this detail

If you’re wondering how to list security clearance on resume, EduReviewer will help with that as we cover this in one of our articles. But it’s best to include it under a separate section, such as “Certifications” or “Clearances”.

Highlighting COVID-19-Related Skills on Your Resume

We’re sure you’ve become more proficient in many different areas during COVID-19. But, the following skills highlight some of the most important attributes that employers are seeking.

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Remote Work

Remote work has become a norm during the pandemic, and as remote and hybrid jobs increase, more employers are now looking for candidates who are comfortable working from home.

In your resume, talk about the tools you used to collaborate with your team and clients to complete your tasks, such as:

• Video conferencing
• Email
• Zoom, Slack, Trello, or Asana

Also, emphasize your ability to communicate effectively, build relationships, and resolve conflicts in a virtual environment. If you’re wondering exactly how to put remote work on resume, EduReviewer has the most up-to-date information on how to do just that.

Crisis Management

From supply chain disruptions to employee safety concerns, the pandemic created numerous challenges for businesses. Describe the challenges you faced, your strategies for overcoming them, along with your results. For example:

• Maybe you were involved in a new safety protocol that minimized the risk of infection in your workplace.
• Or you may have implemented a contingency plan that ensured business continuity despite the pandemic.

Personal Growth

Consider any volunteer work or community involvement you engaged in during the pandemic. This not only highlights your commitment to improving your community but also showcases your leadership and teamwork skills.

• Participating in local support groups.
• Helping neighbors in need.
• Contributing to fundraising efforts.

Think about any professional accomplishments achieved too, such as:

• Completing a big project.
• Receiving a promotion.
• Navigating a team through the challenges of remote work.

You could even emphasize how you’ve maintained discipline and accountability during the pandemic by setting goals, tracking progress, and implementing strategies for continuous improvement.

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How to Put Covid-19 Experience on Resume

To showcase your COVID-19-related skills on your resume, you need to be strategic and intentional. EduReviewer can show you how to write a kickass resume in no time. And in the meantime, here are some tips to help you incorporate these skills into your career profile:

Use Relevant Keywords

Relevant keywords that relate to COVID-19-related skills and experiences will help your resume get noticed by human recruiters and applicant tracking systems (ATS). For example, if you have experience in remote work, use keywords such as:

• Virtual collaboration.
• Remote communication.
• Distributed teams.

Similarly, if you have experience in crisis management, use keywords such as:

• Risk assessment.
• Business continuity.
• Emergency response.

Highlight Your Results

When describing your COVID-19-related experiences on your resume, focus on the results you achieved. Instead of just listing your responsibilities, mention the specific outcomes that demonstrate your impact. For example:

• Say, “Led a remote team of 10 employees that increased productivity by 20% and reduced costs by 15%” instead of “Managed a remote team”

By highlighting the results, you’re showing potential employers that you’re a results-driven professional who can deliver tangible value.

Showing the Impact of Your Covid-19-Related Skills

Wondering exactly how to add COVID-19 experience to resume details? Well, to make your COVID-19-related experiences more impactful, you need to show the employer the tangible results and outcomes of your skills and achievements.

Use Data and Metrics

If you have experience in remote work, use data and metrics to quantify your achievements. Things such as productivity, efficiency, or cost savings will show the employer how your skills have improved the business.

In the same way, if you have a background in crisis management, you can use metrics such as risk reduction, revenue growth, and customer satisfaction to show how your skills have contributed to the success of the organization.

Tell a Story

By telling a story, you can engage the employer and demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively. Use a narrative structure that follows the problem-solution-result framework.

1. Start by describing the challenge or problem you faced.
2. Then explain the strategy or solution you used to overcome it.
3. Finally, highlight the results or outcomes you achieved.

Shadowing is a great way to demonstrate your ability to learn from seasoned professionals in real-time situations. EduReviewer provides tips on how to prove your shadowing experience on resume to highlight your commitment to continuous learning.

Provide Examples

To make your COVID-19-related experiences more concrete, provide examples that illustrate your skills and achievements. Use specific anecdotes or case studies that showcase your abilities. For example:

• If you have experience in virtual communication, provide examples of successful projects or initiatives that require effective virtual communication. This will make your resume more vivid and memorable.

Any lab experience on resume is especially valuable for positions in research and technical fields. For example, EduReviewer has a wealth of resources on how to emphasize the techniques used and outcomes you achieved while working in a lab.

How to Address Employment Gaps Related to COVID-19

If you have experienced an employment gap due to the pandemic, you need to address it on your resume. Here are some tips to help you do that:

Be Honest

When addressing an employment gap, explain how the pandemic has affected your job search or employment status. Also, mention any activities or initiatives you have undertaken during the gap period, such as online courses, volunteering, or freelance work.

By being honest, you’re showing the employer that you are accountable and responsible.

Focus on the Positives

Another method you can use to address employment gaps is to focus on the positive. Emphasize the activities or initiatives that demonstrate your productivity, creativity, or adaptability.

Also, highlight the skills you’ve acquired or improved during the gap period, such as virtual communication, remote work, or crisis management. This will show how productive and proactive you’ve been during the pandemic.

Use a Functional Resume

If your employment gap is significant, consider using a functional resume instead of a chronological resume. A functional resume emphasizes your skills and experiences rather than your work history.

You should use this type of resume if you have the relevant skills and experience for the job you’re applying for but don’t necessarily have work experience.

Additional Resources for Job Seekers During COVID-19

COVID-19 has created many challenges for job seekers, but there are resources available to assist you. If you need to know how to include COVID-19 experience in resume, for the best resume writing services, check out this EduReviewer article that’ll take you through everything you need to know. In the meantime, take a look at the following resources.

Job Search Websites

There are many job search websites that specialize in COVID-19-related job opportunities. Some of these websites include:

• FlexJobs
• Upwork
• Monster

These websites feature job listings for remote work, virtual communication, crisis management, and other pandemic-related skills. They’re also perfect for freelancers looking to make it on their own. There is a useful article on how to put entrepreneurial experience on a resume at EduReviewer for more information on how to succeed as self-employed.

Online Courses

Many online courses are available that can help you acquire or improve your COVID-19-related skills. Some of these courses are free, while others require a fee. Some popular online learning platforms include:

• Coursera
• Udemy
• LinkedIn Learning

Career Counseling

There are many career counseling services available to help you with your job search or career transition. Some organizations that offer career counseling services include:

• CareerOneStop
• Job Corps
• Goodwill Industries

If you need more help with finding the service best suited to your situation, EduReviewer can provide updates on resume writing services reviews and ratings to help with job search strategies.