Steps to take if you’ve been laid off or furloughed
We are in unprecedented times and many have lost their jobs permanently or temporarily. While it isn’t an easy time to search for a new job, companies are still hiring.
I have called out furloughed employees for a few reasons. Some companies who have furloughed employees will need to make the difficult decision to make further cuts. Now is the time to make time to sharpen your job search tools, just in case.
Consider the industries and jobs to target
Before you start your job search, you should know what direction you’re going in. Is your entire industry struggling or was your employer more vulnerable for another reason, such as the customer-base? Analyze your industry carefully and without emotion.
If your industry is struggling in this environment, it might be time to search for a job in a new industry. The best direction to go is to industries that thrive in a recession. That could include healthcare, freight and logistics, discount retailers, and utility companies. In a nutshell, look for businesses that save people money or address a basic need.
Or, you might try for a different role within your current industry. Target healthy companies with a good reputation and opportunities for growth as we climb out of the recession.
Update your resume
If you know where to focus your job search, it will be easier to write a resume targeted for that industry and job. As you write your resume, consider:
Transferable skills that will support your move to a new role, company or industry
Key achievements, quantified to showcase the value you deliver
Demonstrate flexibility, creativity and skills growth
If you’re open to more than one career path, it makes sense to have multiple versions of your resume, targeted for different roles or industries. And when you do find a job to apply for, review your resume again before you hit submit. Make sure that the keywords you’ve used in your resume match the keywords in the job description. It might take you 15-20 minutes to do that. Trust me, it could be the difference between getting the interview or getting passed over.
But I still have a job…
Yes, if you’ve been furloughed, you should update your resume if it hasn’t been updated in the last year. This is my advice to everyone, even if they have a job. Updating your resume frequently makes it easier to capture your accomplishments.
Reach out to your network
Reach out to former colleagues and managers, and friends in the industry. Let them know you’re looking—or might be in the future.
Always, but especially now, be compassionate when you reach out to people. Be truly interested first in their well-being. Many people are dealing with challenges right now.
Build your online profile
While this could include different social media platforms, LinkedIn is the best-known platform for career networking and job searching. Now is the time to fully update your profile. Start with these 10 tips and then take these steps:
Connect with former and current colleagues.
Write recommendations for colleagues who have been laid off. Many will return the favor.
If you’ve been laid off, let people in your network know. Demonstrate a positive attitude about your company, understanding the difficult decisions that needed to be made. Ask your connections to share job opportunities with you.
If you’ve been furloughed and others have been laid off, proactively support them through recommendations and leveraging your network.
Join groups and follow influencers.
Start sharing articles relevant to your targeted industry.
Determine how frequently you want to post (once a week, twice a month, etc) and aim for consistency.
Comment on articles shared by people in your network. Make sure your comments are thoughtful and positive. This is not the time to be argumentative.
Watch out for the blurred lines between work and personal postings. While many of us are working from home, those lines have already become unclear. When searching for a new job, it is better to keep everything professional.
Beyond LinkedIn, consider online platforms specific to your industry or special interest group. I have a profile on FairyGodBoss, a networking site for women.
Clean up your social media profile
If you haven’t done it a while, check your social media profile and consider what other people see when they search for you. You might be amazed at what comes up in a search, including postings that you believe are for friends only.
What is and isn’t offensive is highly subjective. Some postings are obvious—postings that show excessive drinking or illegal behaviors, for example. However, there are other postings that might not represent your personal brand well. I recently searched for a client on Facebook and found a review he had posted about a farmer’s market from years earlier. It was not a flattering review and he came across as lacking compassion for small businesses.
Update your skills
You should spend significant time daily and weekly searching for jobs and updating your job search tools. However, you probably can’t do that for 10 hours a day. Consider how you can add skills and dimensions while you are unemployed or furloughed.
A few ideas:
Complete online free courses, with or without a certification.
Use your professional skills to support a nonprofit or a local small business.
Teach an online session for a teacher or professor.
Volunteer your time to help others in need.
I know that job searching right now is not easy. The more you can focus and stay positive, the better you will be as you navigate this difficult time.
