According to the July 2020 report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 16.3 million Americans were unemployed amidst the covid-19 pandemic, so I wanted to talk about how to rebuild your career after a layoff. If you’ve been laid off for any reason, especially in such unprecedented times, it’s very easy to get discouraged and feel hopeless, however you can rebuild your career after a layoff. It just takes some time, effort, and motivation. As long as you take things day by day, you will get through this challenging time!
Take a minute
The first thing to do when you’re newly unemployed is to take a minute and process it. Given your new employment status as well as the current state of the world, you will likely feel a lot of different emotions, so it’s important to take some time to process it all.
If you find that you’re burnt out from your last role, give yourself a bit of time to relax. Depending on your financial situation and how much financial stability you have, it might be worth it to take some time for yourself to relax and rejuvenate. This could be a couple days, or a couple weeks depending on your situation, but regardless of how long it is, taking some time to focus on yourself will help you mentally and physically as you step into the job search.
Look over your finances and determine a game plan
If you have been laid off due to covid, one of the first things you should do is research unemployment benefits for your state and see how you need to go about filing for these services. Many people feel uncomfortable filing for assistance, however amidst a pandemic and economic downturn, you have a right to this financial assistance, so it’s important to see what you qualify for in order to properly assess your finances.
It’s important to look at the big picture to figure out the best way to move forward based on your unique situation. Do you have a nest egg saved up, or do you need to start working immediately?
Go over your monthly expenses to determine how much you have, and how long you can live off of it without being hugely detrimental to your financial stability. There are a lot of great finance apps to help you outline your expenses, or you can do it on your own, but the important part is that you are aware of exactly what you have and what you need to continue to live comfortably.
Once you determine your financial situation, you can figure out what the best option for your situation is. Do you need to find work as soon as possible, or can you get by on unemployment and take some time to rejuvenate, figure things out, and find the perfect job for you?
Update your resume
This is probably the last thing you want to do, but when you want to rebuild your career after a layoff, you need to update your resume. This is easily one of the most important things that needs to get done. If you already have a job lined up, you might want to skip over this, but don’t. Regardless of your situation, take advantage of free time to update your resume.
If you need to work ASAP, reach out to a temp agency
Research shows that the temporary employment industry employs more Americans than ever. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the temporary help services industry employs around 2.8 million Americans per week, an all-time high. While there seems to be a negative connotation with the words “temporary” and “contract,” these positions can open many doors for you. Contract and/or temporary work can help you in four main ways:
- It will give you current work to put on your resume
- It gives you immediate income while you’re searching for a long term position
- It lets you network with industry professionals
- It gives you the opportunity to show off your capabilities
If you excel at your temporary position, chances are that you will meet people who can a) point you in the right direction, b) know of a job that may interest you, or c) will work with you to keep you at the company but progress to an area that best suits your qualifications.
There is truly no downside to temporary work. When you’re newly unemployed, temporary work gives you the opportunity to explore various options and networking opportunities.
Learn something new or learn more about something that will further your career
When I talk about learning something new, this includes online courses, YouTube tutorials, or budget friendly platforms such as LinkedIn Learning or skillshare. Additionally, there are a lot of free courses and certifications you can get online which immensely help build your resume. For example, you can take some online tutorials and training sessions on QuickBooks or Adobe Photoshop via YouTube and list that as specialized training. As long as the training gives you an advantage and further educates you on a subject, you can list it on your resume. Here are 10 free online certifications you can get from home!
When you’re searching for a new job, be mindful of opportunities to further educate yourself in certain areas that could benefit your career. Could you get certified in a specific software or take a current certification to the next level? This will help an employer see how you align with the position you’re applying for. When hiring managers are comparing candidates, sometimes small details such as certifications and/or specialized training can make all the difference. If you’ve taken the time to further educate yourself in your field, this shows motivation and ambition which are important traits to highlight on your resume.
Reach out to your contacts
The ultimate way to get your resume into the right hands is to use your industry connections. If you have a contact who can direct your resume to the right person, use it. “Job search is about going beyond the resume to get noticed. Real relationships with colleagues and friends matter in getting a foot in the door,” says career coach Alyson Garrido.
Reach out to industry contacts to let them know you’re currently in a transition period and are looking for new opportunities. People are often willing to help, but they cannot do so if they aren’t aware that you’re interested and open to new opportunities.
Consider sending an email like this:
“Hope this note finds you well! We met [where/when you met] and I wanted to circle back with you and see how [Insert a question about how an event went or touch on something you spoke about when you met].
I’ve followed your journey and am extremely impressed with your work on [project]. This inspired me to shift my career towards [job] and I was wondering if you have any advice to share? [Company] is on my short list of dream companies, so I wanted to see if there might be any current or future openings I could look into. I’ve recently updated my resume and have attached it to this email for your convenience. Please let me know if you have any questions, and feel free to pass it along if you see fit.
Thanks in advance for your help! Please keep me posted on how things are going and if there’s anything I can do to return the favor.
Best,
[Your Name]”
Leveraging your network is one of the best ways to find and secure new job opportunities. Doing so enables you to get your resume in front of the right person and often helps you bypass large applicant pools, especially during a time when there are more applicants per job opening than ever.
Focus on the quality of applications, not the quantity
It can be tempting to just hit “apply” on every position that might seem like a potential fit, but instead of focusing on how many job applications you submit, try to create a couple of really strong applications with resumes that you have customized for each position based on the job description.
Often people employ the “spray and pray” tactic when applying for jobs. This term has become common among recruiters when describing a candidate that applies to tens or hundreds of positions in the hopes that someone will bite. On average, each corporate job opening attracts 250 resumes. This means that your resume has to be outstanding in order to stand out from the crowd. When using the spray and pray tactic, resumes usually don’t hold the specified requirements or keywords, causing them to get turned down immediately. When you don’t customize your resume to each job, it’s clear that you’re using the spray and pray tactic. This isn’t an effective job search strategy, and it also doesn’t bode well for your reputation among hiring managers or recruiters.
Remember that it takes time
Ultimately, finding a job that is a good fit for you takes time, and amidst a public health crisis and economic downturn, it will likely take longer, however you can rebuild your career after a layoff. There are so many factors that go into finding a job such as company culture, location, salary, scope of work, timing, etc. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed or get dejected because your job search isn’t going as well as you hoped, but it’s important to realize that it’s not personal. Finding a job is hard for everyone! Finding a job that meets your criteria and is a good fit for you and your potential employer is difficult whether you’re searching for your first job out of college or looking to make a lateral move as an executive.
If you’re someone who thrives with a busy schedule, (I’m part of that club) having extra free time can cause a lot of anxiety. While this is totally normal, it is important to put things in perspective and logic your way through it. Yes, extra free time can feel expansive and make you feel a little lost, but as long as you’re putting your best foot forward and doing everything in your power rebuild your career after a layoff, there’s not much else you can do. At some point you just have to trust that your hard work will pay off and enjoy the time that you have. You won’t always be able to take a mid-day exercise class online or read that book you’ve been meaning to finish. It can be difficult, but try to enjoy the time you have while you have it.