Navigating Your Next Move
Since March millions of Canadians have lost their job due to the economic effects of COVID-19, the same folks are relying on financial aid from the government to help pay for rent and groceries. Carrying a financial burden is stressful enough, add the blow of a lay off and navigating through a global pandemic and managing emotions and knowing how to navigate can be overwhelming in the least. Here are a few tips I’ve found to be helpful since being laid off myself recently; ways to keep me busy, focused and motivated during the job hunt;
Close the Loop. When I received the news that I was being let go, it took a full 24-hours for the reality to sink in. Regardless of the fact that the decision was not based on performance, it didn’t feel good to be left without work and an income. The first thing I made sure to do was complete all the appropriate paper work with my former employer. If you have been packaged out and are content with their offer, make sure to read through the agreement, sign and return it promptly. Next email HR or your Manager and request a reference letter. This is something that will be helpful to have once you begin your job search.
Coordinate Financial Aid. As much as finding a new job is a priority and the best case scenario, coordinating financial aid is an important step. Unemployment Insurance is available when folks find themselves in-between employment, having financial aid available during the job hunt can help alleviate stress. Make sure to complete the online registration at your earliest convenience as it can take a few weeks to process and begin paying out.
Take a Pause. Not having employment is not ideal but there is a silver lining, it’s a time to reflect and decide what direction to go in next. Ask yourself; “Do I want to apply for the same role I just had?” “ Do I want to pivot into a new role?” “Are my skills transferable?” “What would make me excited to get out of bed in the morning and really motivated in my next opportunity?” Write your questions down and talk with your most trusted friends. Organize your thoughts and find the answers before beginning your job search.
It’s Time for a Tune Up. The next thing I did was update my LinkedIn profile. First I updated my profile picture to a current, professional, friendly photo with a simple background. Second, I edited my “about section” to include career highlights and my email address, and I enabled the #opentowork feature from my LinkedIn profile, to do the same;
Click the Me icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
Click View profile.
Click the Add profile section button to the right of your profile photo.
Click Intro.
Click Looking for job opportunities.
Provide the requested information in the pop-up window that appears.
You can choose whether all LinkedIn members or only recruiters can see that you’re open to job opportunities. If you choose to share with all LinkedIn members, LinkedIn will add an #OpenToWork photo frame to your profile photo.
Click Add to Profile.
Research. Once I had a clear idea in my mind of the roles I was interested in applying for, I began to research companies and found out who was hiring. I Googled “Best Canadian Companies to work for,” “Top Start Ups of 2020” and “Best Companies to work for.” From there I made a short list of the companies I am interested in working for.
Create Role Specific Resumes. When applying for specific roles, it helps to tailor your resume. I created three different resumes myself. For the roles I applied for that were not the same title as the resumes I created, I sent them the resume with the transferable skills the aligned with their requirements and made sure to mention the same in the cover letter.
Connect. Throwing a resume into a pile of others, in a competitive market can feel pointless. Make sure to connect with all of your personal and professional contacts and alert them of the fact you are actively searching for a new opportunity. Reach out to recruiters, old managers, and post a note on LinkedIn letting your connections know you are available for hire, share your CV highlights and the roles you are interested in.
Apply, Apply, Apply. Looking for a job is a full-time job, don’t burn yourself out in the process. Make sure to take breaks, eat well, and check-in with yourself. One new element of job hunting that I had never experienced before and have found really exciting is applying for roles in other cities. With companies offices closed and employees working remote, I decided now would be the perfect time to try and get employment at companies I have always had an interest in but never applied to due to geographical restrictions.
Stay Positive. Stress is real, do your best not to perpetuate it. A new opportunity will come along! For now focus on the task at hand. When you land an interview, focus on researching the role and company, write down your hard and soft skills, as well as a list of reasons why you believe to be the ideal candidate. Being confident and prepared is ideal. When you are positive you bring positivity into your conversations and interviews and that makes you a highly attractive candidate.
