If anyone believes that incorporating play into the workplace culture is a waste of time, the research shows us differently. Child's play in the workplace actually enhances the culture of the work environment. It creates greater camaraderie, builds trust, opens up conversations that may not be broached due to fear of retribution, and develops a workplace where transparency is the norm. 

From the employer's perspective, they can expect higher productivity levels, greater concern and care for the business's success, better engagement with customers, increased employee referrals (one of the highest compliments a brand can get), and overall feelings of goodwill from employees. 

For most people, searching for a new job has never been easy. Add to this, the difficulties the current pandemic brings and now job seekers have to double up their efforts to find work. Some of the practices that have always been a part of the job search process haven't changed though. 

Conducting proper research and doing your due diligence to vet companies that are a good match for your skill sets and personality type is still true. The difference here is that many organizations are not hiring, and further, they are reducing the number of people working in their business. This is where the roadblock begins for some job seekers. Also, the preparation and execution of how you present yourself during an interview are complicated by the fact that most interviews are being conducted via virtual platforms powered by technology. Some people don't feel comfortable speaking in front of a computer screen. This adds another dimension to the preparation. Job seekers now need to practice how to get comfortable with a virtual interview. 

And the use of social media has become even more important. It has now become a major networking vehicle for most people. Ensuring your social profiles present you in the best light is essential in these times. 

It may seem like a herculean task to find a new job during the pandemic or in times when one is unemployed. The fact is companies are still hiring and unemployed people are hirable. The advent of remote work is a fact of life for most companies. In the past, some companies, though desirable, may not have been considered because of geography, but this has now changed. The world of work has opened up many more opportunities for job seekers, so finding work in places not previously considered is no longer a job search factor. 

Additionally, the rules and customs of looking for work are still in place. Job seekers need to be organized and use their network to help them identify opportunities. Resumes need to be targeted to the job you want and easy to read by recruiters and hiring managers. 

Ultimately, there are pros and cons, so tenacity and a strong desire for your dream job still count. 

The job candidate experience is a topic gaining momentum as younger generations enter the workforce. In modern times and with the advent of advanced technologies, people have access to more information than ever before in our history. This ability to access information has led people to seek out potential employers' inner workings and delve into what comprises their culture, how they follow the company mission if they live up to the values, and how they aspire to the vision. These self-purported statements made by brands are under scrutiny by the public and most certainly by job seekers. Today's job seekers are not just looking for a source of income. They seek out employers whose approach to conducting business and views on human interaction are well aligned with their own approach. Many also consider how well an organization co-exists in society and if what they give back is equal to what they take. Research has produced mounds of information to support these actions by job seekers which has led companies to revisit their interviewing techniques and subsequent interactions with job candidates.