How To Bounce Back From Losing Your Job in 2020!

The job market is in a fragile state. Between the growth of COVID-19 cases and business closures, many people have been affected by the pandemic. Your career or the career of someone close to you may have suffered because of this. If you have been laid off/furloughed, you may be asking yourself some difficult and stressful questions: “What am I going to do now? How am I going to find a job? How am I going to pay my bills?” I could tell you to take comfort in knowing that many organizations are racing to develop a vaccine to combat the virus. I could say that you are not alone, as displayed by the 6.9% unemployment rate. While true, those statements don’t change the fact that you may be without a job or a source of income. Therefore, as a recruiter/career coach, I have organized some strategies to support you in recovering from the setbacks you have experienced and assist you in finding the next step in your career.

Tip #1 - Take Care of Your Emotions 

Being laid off/furloughed can be incredibly emotional and even traumatizing. Feelings of rejection and insecurity can plague your mind, undermining your confidence, and depleting your energy. To bounce back from this the first step is to take care of yourself. Addressing your emotions is critical because it is the only way to clear the thunder clouds looming over you. Here are some ways to start this process:

• Talk to people you trust 
• Exercise/pick up a hobby
• Allocate time to let everything sink in
• Do things that bring you joy 
• Connect with friends & family 

This list is not comprehensive; find ways that work for you! Only time will allow you to fully work through your emotions but taking active steps towards addressing them is crucial to your job-seeking success.  

Tip #2 - Get Back On The Horse 

The hardest thing about getting knocked down is getting back up. You may feel like circumstances are out of your control, but there are concrete steps you can take to foster opportunities for yourself. Here are some ways to “get back on the horse”:

• Update your resume 
• Update your LinkedIn 
• Talk with people who know the job market
• Do research on the types of roles open 

These are a few starting points for getting yourself back in the job search. Seeing your resume and LinkedIn come together will build your confidence. Afterward, you will want to reach out to people that know the job market (e.g., recruiters, career coaches, alumni services). Their expertise can provide valuable information on how to approach your specific job search, allowing you to get a running start towards finding your next role. 

#3 Take Control Of Your Search 

Now that you have updated your professional platforms, the next step is to actively take control of your job search. You may have some questions right now. What do you mean take control of my job search? How is that even possible? Isn’t the interview process out of my control? These questions are very valid and partially true. However, I am a person that believes having a plan will drive results. In order to do that, here are a couple of ways for you to take control:

• Let people know you are looking (status on LinkedIn)
• Reach out to your immediate network (e.g., friends, family, former co-workers)
• Apply to roles across multiple job platforms (LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, Speciality Job Boards)
• Grow your network by connecting to others on LinkedIn and conducting networking calls
• Find mentors and relevant groups that can help grow your knowledge

All these tips require you to put yourself out there, this is the most important component of taking control of your job search. Candidates who are active in their job search process are more successful. Every person’s career path is different; these are just some ways that have worked for me as well as others. 

Conclusion:

As I mentioned above, no person’s job search is the same, and in no way am I guaranteeing employment. However, these fundamentals will allow you to deal with your emotions, get back on the horse, and take control of your search. If you are able to accomplish these three things, it will put you in a strong position to take advantage of every possible open door! Best of luck and happy job hunting!