Are you worried about losing your job due to the current pandemic? You are not alone.
It might seem a bit ‘glass half empty’ to write an article giving people advice on what you should do in the event you lose your job before you have even lost it.
I hope with every part of me that you do not need this article at all. I wish that no one did. But I’d also like to help you be prepared and ready to launch into a new role in the event that you do lose your job given the current environment we find ourselves in.
I’d like you to be in the best position possible to secure another job as quickly as possible.
I’d like to limit the downtime you have stressing about a lack of money coming in.
I’d like you to feel ready and not overwhelmed or paralysed with stress because you were already prepared that this day could come.
I’d like you to feel a sense of confidence knowing that your ducks are in a row should you find yourself let go.
Or, if you are someone that has just lost their job, then I hope this list moves you to action quickly and gives you a sense of direction on what to do next.
So, here are a list of 10 things that you can do right NOW to get you prepared in the event that you do lose your job,
[or in the event that you just have].
- Review your Linkedin profile and ensure it is up to date with your latest job roles and main responsibilities. If you do not have a LinkedIn profile, GET ONE NOW. If you would like more information on how to “Pimp your LinkedIn profile” click here for a blog I wrote a little while back that gives you a number of tips and tricks to have your profile looking it's best to attract recruiters.
- Update and review your resume. Ensure that your resume is also up to date, aligned with your LinkedIn profile, and looking professional with NO grammatical and spelling errors. Also ensure that you are selling yourself and your main achievements in the best light possible. If you need a place to start for resume templates, Canva is free and offers a couple of great options, as should your Microsoft Word account.
- Lock down your privacy settings on your social media accounts including Facebook and Instagram. Recruiters will often look for you on social platforms, and that picture of you doing the splits on a keg in your bikini (although an impressive skill) perhaps might not be quite what they are looking for. Additionally, if you have taken to socials to bag out your previous employer, I am thinking that your new potential new employer might see this as a bit of a red flag.
- Reflect on your key achievements in your current or most recent role NOW. What value have you added? What skills have you learnt? How are they transferable to other roles? WRITE THIS DOWN and continue to build on it as you think of things.
- Practice your answers to these interview questions that you will almost always get asked. CLICK HERE for your practice questions. Ensure you have examples of things you have done, scenarios you have been involved ready to talk about – you will be asked to talk about them.
- Make contact with old connections or professional networks NOW. Build the relationship back up now and invest time into it. There is nothing more insincere than not hearing from someone for years and then the first time you do is because they want a favour from you. You are far more likely to receive help from someone when they don’t just feel used for the moment.
- Review your current financial situation. Do you know all of your monthly expenses and are they captured in a budget? If not, do this now. It is critical you know what your non-negotiable expenses are in terms of monthly payments so that you can prepare for coverage of this in the event you do find yourself out of work for a period of time.
- Whilst we are looking at budgets, look at areas within your budget that you may be able to pause for now. Are there non-essentials that are chewing up a fair bit of your monthly expenses? E.g Do you need to be ordering Uber Eats 5 nights a week? Is it time to get rid of Foxtel? (side note – does anyone even have Foxtel anymore, anyway??)
- Keep your eyes on the job market NOW and know what vacancies are currently out there in your field. Do this daily. Save jobs that you like the look of to your profile on LinkedIn or Seek (if you are in Australia) and watch how long they stay up for. Look at the specifics of the advertisements and add these things to your resume and LinkedIn profile if they are skills you have/things you have done.
- Use this time to hone and cultivate your skills even further using the abundance of online resources. Could your Excel skills do with a bit of work? Perhaps you have skills that may not have been required in your last job, but with a bit of a dust off could see you in great stead for another job. Employers love pro-activity and initiative. Being able to demonstrate the work you have been doing to ensure you are an asset to their business will be looked upon favourably.
The above tips are all things you can do NOW. Although I hope you do not need them, if you have that feeling in your stomach that something might change for you, then now is the time to get on the front foot with it and help yourself.
If you have any questions, please feel free to hit me up at yo****@ea***************.com .
Or, if you still feel after reading through these posts that you need some extra help to nail your resume, LinkedIn profile, or your next job interview, I am here to help you. I am doing a number of pro-bono projects at the moment to assist people where I can, but I am also reducing my standard rates considerably in acknowledgement of the challenging times we are all in.
I look forward to hearing from you!