The average person changes jobs 12 times in their lifetime, according to the latest available public survey data (2019). Employees don’t expect their job to last longer, and today’s employers often didn’t see their employees as lifelong commitments even before the pandemic hit.

Covid 19 arrived in the United States officially in February 2020, and one result was a significant shift in the expected direction of the economy. During the Pandemic months of 2020 and 2021, unemployment has hit all-time highs and lows.  We have never seen unexpected change happen so fast in most of our lifetimes.

If you have survived so far and are employed, should you still should start looking for what your next job may need to be now? Even if your skills are a good fit for the current position and your employer and supervisor both see you as an excellent long-term fit, it would be wise to look, especially since the effects of the pandemic are still unclear. Of course, if you are still employed, and your job seems secure, it is an excellent time to put in some extra hours and do more than you are required to. Make yourself the last one they would want to lose.

Most of those looking for jobs traditionally have been passive job seekers who can take their time to research and reach out to their networking contacts. It would help if you had as much time as possible to be selective, find the best match for your job skills and strengths and learn about the jobs that aren't listed yet.

Potential employers, for the same reasons as you, want to find strong candidates whose experience, strengths, and skills match up with the job description, and often, they take their time passively looking. Good companies know that suitable matches result in motivated, happy employees who help build the company, so it pays to take some time with this decision. Use the time that your employed to look at yourself and be honest about your strengths, abilities, and what you enjoy, and the dividend you will gain is better job satisfaction and perhaps a better fit in the job you find. 

According to LinkedIn, 70% of the global workforce is passive talent, with the remaining 30% actively seeking jobs. Potential employers often see the passive skill, candidates that are employed, as a more vital potential employee, still valued by their past employer, not someone who was pushed out and considered weaker. As unfair as this is, being in a position where you don’t have to make an offer is an advantage.

Employers will generally bend to reach out for someone with the best job skills, experience, and knowledge, so find the best matches and be sure your resume shows skills and strengths that match those asked for on the job listing. 

Unemployed candidates can easily seem too eager just to try to sell their experience and skills, even in some cases when they aren't the best match. Passion and excitement displayed for the new job can be misinterpreted as just needing a career rather than a genuine belief that a real contribution can be made.

Being actively employed puts you in regular contact with your network, and information about changes in the marketplace is often more timely and easier to get. 

A poor hiring decision is a costly mistake for both the employer and employee, so both sides will likely take some time to do their research.