What Direction Are You Heading?
If you're one of the over 35 million Americans who has lost their job due to Coronavirus, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and paralyzed - to let your fear, worry, and anxiety about the future take over. It's totally understandable! So if you're feeling this way, first know that you're not alone - there are literally millions of others going through this right now with you.
And second, be kind to yourself. Cut yourself a break. And then think about this quote from Oliver Wendell Holmes: "The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving." If you focus on where you stand today, what you see may not be great - especially if you're focusing on your career. But if you switch your focus instead to what direction you're moving, you have the opportunity to move in a direction that will help you find a new job.
At Willow Tree Training, we are working feverishly behind the scenes to develop and launch new online resources to help people who are out of work. So keep an eye out for communications from us announcing the launch of webinars and online courses on topics like resume and cover letter writing, LinkedIn profile optimization, behavioral interviewing, and more.
Until those are ready, though, here are some suggestions you can begin working on today to prepare you to find and land a new job:
Use this time to create or revamp your resume and cover letter: Make sure that your most recent jobs are listed, your key skills and accomplishments are up to date, and your summary of qualifications is full of keywords based on the job you're applying for.
Create or revise your LinkedIn profile: A staggering 90% of recruiters use LinkedIn, so if your profile isn't listed, you're missing out on opportunities. Set up a profile and make sure to reach out to people you know to connect and create a strong network for yourself.
Ask yourself how you can set yourself apart from other applicants: Do you have unique talents or experience? Is there training you could do now to improve your skill set? Look for ways to add value to your education or experience that will make your application stand out.
Develop your technical skills: If we've learned one thing from COVID, it's that companies in all industries need to learn how to run their businesses differently - and much of that will be in having a strong online presence. You will be highly sought after if you can develop skills that will help you support a future employer in creating that presence.
Reach out to people in your network: It can be hard to ask for help, but if you are willing to reach out to people you know, you will be surprised at how happy they would be to help you. So make a list of people you know who work in your industry and send them a text or email asking if they would look our for and share potential opportunities with you. Then reach out to people who aren't in your industry - you never know who they might know - and ask them if they would be willing to share any industry contacts they know with you.