Are you one of more than 26.5 million (and counting) U.S. citizens who are recently unemployed?
While having your work rug pulled out from underneath you can feel deeply unsettling and uncomfortable, losing your job is also a unique opportunity to pivot your career and get clear on what you want out of your professional life.
Before you jump straight into your job hunt, be sure to apply for unemployment (where relevant) and get organized to take control of your job search during the Coronavirus. Here are 10 things you can do to lower your anxiety and increase control of your job search.
1. Set Up a Daily + Weekly Schedule
While having a flexible schedule can improve morale, boost productivity and increase overall life satisfaction, it is important to have the autonomy and motivation to set up a daily and weekly schedule for yourself as you take control of your job search during the coronavirus.
By creating an outline of your week ahead and setting goals for your day-to-day routine, you will have a plan in place to reduce the ups and downs of unemployment, and also bring a sense of accomplishment to your job hunt. Set 1-2 larger goals for your week ahead, as well as smaller, achievable SMART goals and tasks to keep you motivated Monday-Friday. We’ve even got a few templates on how to map your day, for every type of worker!
2. Take Care of Yourself
It’s likely that after losing a job you’ll jump right into your job search—but make sure to take care of yourself, first! One of the most important Power Moves you can make for your career long-term is to address your physical, mental, emotional and financial health.
While many circumstances (such as the Coronavirus) are out of your control, taking the time to put yourself first is not. Using tips from my upcoming book, Power Moves, consider a few helpful ideas to get started:
- Get grounded! Practice changing your mindset, as well as your energy levels. Schedule in a proper amount of sleep, eat your vegetables and complete the full stress cycle.
- Cut the self-loathing. Learn to love and accept your inner-critic and observe when you feel self-loathing. Invite these thoughts to look at objectively, vs. reacting to the angst they cause. Try to become just a little bit kinder to yourself.
- Take care of your mental health. Work can bring out your best and worst qualities, especially if you’re questioning why you’re on the job hunt to begin with. Take a mental health day if needed, and lean into your resilience—you’ve got this job search!
- Create a Circle of Champions. Remember that at all times, but especially during your job search, your relationships matter. While we always hear “you’re the average of the five people you spend time with,” kick this up a notch and surround yourself with people who are optimistic, will challenge you and check you during your career realignment
3. Play to Your Strengths
Now is the time to pause and reflect on what strengths you can bring to the table. Think candidly of your experience at your last job—what parts of your role did you like, or wish you did less of? Where did you find flow and energy at work, and when were you most successful? Keep a list of these qualities and compare them to job descriptions and postings you may find during your search. Just because it’s a global pandemic doesn’t mean you should settle for a job (if you can afford it) that doesn’t highlight your best qualities in the workplace.
4. Identify Your Wants, Needs, and Nice-to-Haves
Are you sensing the running theme of organization to help you take control of your job search? Just like creating your schedule and list of strengths, now is the time to reflect on your deal-breakers for your career search. If you can, instead of playing it safe and applying to every job that pops up as open in your inbox, you will clearly identify your wants, needs, and nice-to-haves for your future.
What things are requirements for your future gig? More and more (and especially after extensive exposure to remote work), employees are requiring flexible work-from-home days in their weekly schedule. Do you need comprehensive maternity leave? Is it nice to have paid parking? Make your lists and apply accordingly using this free worksheet.
5. Match Your Career Ideals to Your Target Companies
Do you want to know the real secret to land a job you love? Matching your career ideals to your target companies. Instead of mindlessly searching for open positions on job boards (though we’ve got some great companies hiring!), develop a list of your favorite companies, and match them up with what work goals and skills you already have.
Have you always valued innovation and moving quickly? Target a startup or tech company. Is it a value of yours to support the community? See what nonprofits and civic government organizations are hiring. You’ll find true contentment by narrowing your search to companies that align with your values. Candice Morgan, Head of Inclusion and Diversity of Pinterest, echoed the importance of value-fit over culture-fit, too.
Determining your target companies and matching them to your career ideals is a concept I explain in-depth with worksheets and helpful graphics in my upcoming book, Power Moves.
6. Ask for Help
Now, more than ever is the best time to ask for help. The silver lining of the Coronavirus is that many friends, family, organizations and even the government are willing to support you during your job search. With the addition of supplemental income via the CARES Act for COVID-19-related layoffs, you can take a bit more time to be intentional and target your asks:
- Test your network. Your personal and especially professional networks are the best place to start when asking for help and starting your job search. Updated your LinkedIn (with help from our course, The LinkedIn Lab) to notify others that you’re looking to make a career change, and let them know what you’re looking for! Send personalized messages to closer contacts and set up informational interviews, video dates and calls. Reach out—you never know what opportunities lie in your loose connections. We even have templates to help you with your reach outs.
- Find a coach. What are coaches for? Helping you push the ball forward. Just like our sports metaphor, finding a career coach is a great way to elevate your self-esteem, as well as your offering, as a future employee. Being laid off can take a real hit to your self-worth, and working with a career or personal coach allows you to set targeted goals to accelerate your future professional goals.
- Get an accountability buddy. Most of us need a little extra kick in the pants to get started on tough projects. The best way to make sure you stay on-task with getting in control of your job search during Corona? Enlist an accountability buddy! If you don’t have a friend in mind, find a contact through our many Career Contessa webinars, social media accounts and more—there are always other great professionals looking for support, just like you.
7. Polish Your Materials
With dedicated extra time on your hands during the Coronavirus, there’s no excuse not to polish up your professional marketing materials to be in tip-top shape. In addition to freshening up your existing resume, cover letter template and references, dive deeper into your offering by aligning messaging on your LinkedIn profile as well as your online or printed portfolio. Different industries will have varied preferences on what these materials look like, but do your research, look into helpful resources and spend careful time editing, writing and proofreading your work so you have the most kick-ass resume and materials possible!
8. Follow the (Job) Demand
We’re big fans of taking the time and effort needed to find the career you love, but sometimes, you just need to do what needs to be done. If you’re in the position of needing a job like right now, please make the effort to pivot your job search to do just that! During the Coronavirus, there are plenty of opportunities to follow a new wave of job demand. Here are a few things you can do to get started:
- If you lost a job, make sure you applied for whatever benefits you qualify for
- Update your resume and materials, and leverage your options
- Explore online remote companies and play up your work-from-home experience
- Take a look at virtual companies that are actively hiring
- Use your free time to learn something new and prepare yourself for any longer-term unemployment
- Continue your job search until you find a career that excites you!
9. Keep the Momentum
I know—hunting for a job, especially while unemployed, can be a real slog. You’ll feel your best (and interview as your best self) if you keep up the momentum of your search and continue staying active! In addition to tracking your progress with a work journal, applications and ideal companies, also keep a contact list of helpful networking contacts that you can reach out to for future informational interviews.
Are some of the open jobs you’re looking at online listing specialized skills and experience? Build energy in your search by applying to many of the (sometimes currently free or discounted) online courses available via sites like Career Contessa, Skillshare, Harvard Online and more to fill in skills and knowledge gaps.
10. Schedule Non-Job-Search Fun
After all of your focus and list-making, last but not least, be sure to set aside time for non-job-search fun. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Take a tech-free day from your phone
- Read that book that’s been on your nightstand since before COVID-19
- Take a walk around your block (with a mask, please!)
- Host “Chopped Kitchen,” using your very own pantry
- Celebrate FOND—actively enjoy your free time as you combat the Fear Of Not Doing
Looking for more tips to get control of your job search during Coronavirus? Pre-order my book, Power Moves, that comes out May 19, 2020 and learn how to pivot, reboot, and build your career of purpose!
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