How to Transition Your Career After a Layoff
Furlough. Layoff. Severance. These are not the buzz words I expected for 2020. Many skilled and top-talent professionals now find themselves in a job market that they weren't looking to join. So, now what? How do you start the career transition process? If you’re asking yourself these questions, then keep reading and take note. But before you get started, let me say – my heart is with you, friend. It's going to be ok. You are going to figure this out because you always do!
STEP #1) BREATHE, FOCUS & RECALIBRATE
Yes, in that order. Having your career path make an unexpected detour can feel like getting pushed into cold water. It feels shocking, overwhelming. But remember that it’s hard to make decisions in a panicked state, so make sure you are finding ways to calm your breath and relax those tensed shoulders as you process your current situation and focus on the next tasks at hand. Maybe try that right now – deeeep breath in lifting your shoulders up, hold it for 3 seconds, now slooowly let it out and relax your shoulders. Great job! You’re going to need a new game plan. This will require that you be in the right frame of mind (calm, focused) so you can organize your thoughts and prepare your next steps.
Also, consider your career path thus far. Do you want to continue in the same industry/role? Or do you want to make a move into a different field/position? Many professionals are reconsidering the next chapter of their career journey after spending an extended period of time away from the office. Some have been reminded of passions and interests that they’ve always wanted to pursue, and now is a good time to recalibrate.
STEP #2) REVAMP YOUR RESUME
The job market is going to be competitive, so make sure you are putting your best foot forward with your resume. Generic vocabulary and a generic overview of your work history is NOT going to cut it right now. I offer some free Resume resources on my website, but here are my top favorite tips:
Use Their Words: Ensure that you are tailoring to the specific role/company for which you are applying. It would be best to choose key words and descriptors from the job/company that you are targeting.
1 Page vs 2 Pages: For goodness sake, please don’t shy away from a two-page resume. Many of you are seasoned professionals, so you have some amazing experience to highlight. My nightmare is seeing people cram all their information onto one-paged resumes with non-existent margins and wall-to-wall words. Do not sacrifice a clean, open format for the sake of submitting a one-paged (congested) resume.
Relevant Content: Often, I see people list general descriptions for their work history. Your next employer is most interested in learning how your previous experience and background has equipped you to help them. Focus on highlighting duties, examples and accomplishments that demonstrate qualities or skills that will make you a top candidate for their open position. Oh, and don’t forget to include metrics (ie: percentages, revenue amounts, volume). Why? Because a quantified resume looks like a qualified resume!
“a quantified resume looks like a qualified resume”
STEP #3) LIGHTS, ANGLE, ACTION!: VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS
Chances are you haven’t answered interview questions in a while. You may be surprised to learn that the majority of interviews are now being conducted virtually. This means that you are either having to speak to a recruiter over a live web meeting or you are being asked to submit a video of yourself answering questions (with no live recruiter).
If this sounds scary and you need to pause and review step #1 again, I totally get it! This is new territory for most. The good news is - there are steps you can take in advance to feel confident and prepared:
Storytelling: Practice summarizing your resume out loud. When a recruiter or hiring manager asks, “so walk me through your resume” – that’s not the time to start figuring out what you’re going to say. Have a prepared response that connects the dots of your educational journey and the career path that has led you to present day.
Practice on Camera! Record yourself answering interview questions…then watch the footage! You want to present a version of yourself that is confident, prepared and engaging. Watching the video will help you self-critique before you have to demonstrate those traits in real-time!
Lights-Angle-Action!: If you will be participating in a virtual interview, it’s important that you record with good, natural light and a neutral, non-distracting background. The previous bulletpoint will help you prepare for this as well!
STEP #4) R.O.P.I: RETURN ON YOUR (PEOPLE) INVESTMENT
This is the moment when all those networking events, LinkedIn conversations, and association memberships pay off! You likely have connections who either work directly in an industry you would like to pursue, or they know someone who does. Post a conversational and strategic message on your social media accounts explaining what you are looking for and a brief description of key qualities you will bring to the table. Think about this as a casual elevator pitch. I would advise against simply posting a copy of your resume, but if you receive any leads you can send them an attachment privately.
STEP #5) TRUST THE PROCESS
Honestly, this might be the most challenging step. I want to say “don’t take your unexpected furlough/layoff personal”…but it is so much easier said than done. Instead I will simply say this – trust the process. Change is tough, especially when it is outside of our control.
Take a moment to reflect on your career path so far. I’m sure you’ve had more than one challenging decision, times where you’ve found yourself at a crossroads, or have taken a leap of faith. During those times did you feel stressed? Did it cause sleepless nights? Most likely yes to both. And you still made it through, didn’t you? Sometimes our path is so much clearer when we see it in hindsight. Consider this a new chapter and part of your journey. And if you need some encouragement, drop me a note. I would love to cheer you on.
Jess
