The coronavirus outbreak led to a wave of mass layoffs. Millions of Americans suddenly lost their jobs. If you were one of these, it can represent a traumatic experience. However, there are ways to quickly get back in the game after losing a job, even in difficult economic times.
First of all, remember: you’re not alone. As of mid-June, about 30 million people were still receiving unemployment benefits. (That’s compared to about 2 million who were receiving benefits in late February, prior to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.)
Psychologically, that means you have lots of people going through the same crisis you are. Economically, though, all those unemployed people represent your competition. You’ll have to take the right steps to gain the inside track to the available jobs.
With that in mind, here are five tips to get you back in the game after losing a job:
Don’t Dwell on the Past
Losing a job can cause serious mental trauma. Studies have shown a connection between layoffs and depression, as well as an increased frequency of other health problems. It’s completely normal for a career disruption to spark deep negative emotions, things like anxiety, regret, and anger.
It may be normal, but dwelling on those emotions can also be counterproductive. Don’t carry that baggage with you as you search for a new job. Use your support network (and a mental health professional, if needed) to help you get through the pain of your lost job. At the same time, do what you can to push ahead to the next opportunity.
Review Your Situation
Before you launch into a dedicated job search, assess your current situation. Review where you stand in your career and what position would be ideal for pushing your development forward.
At the same time, know where you stand in the market. Look at your skillset, and research your industry. If you haven’t conducted a job search in a while, you might be surprised by the current landscape. The information you gather during this process will help you target your search and will give you reasonable assumptions about things like compensation.
Target Your Search
Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to target your job search. After all, you only have limited resources to apply to the process of finding a new position. You don’t want to waste time.
Focus your attention on the most promising opportunities. Rank any open positions you find in terms of how much you want the job and how well suited you are to fill the position. Spend most of your resources on attractive positions that come with a high likelihood that you’ll get hired.
Engage Your Network
While you’re running down leads on your own, you should also reach out to the people in your network. This represents one of the best ways to secure a new job. Research shows that up to 85% of jobs are found through networking.
Let your friends and acquaintances know you are looking for a new job. Tap into any business connections you have. These people can help you get an “in” on open positions, as well as let you discover opportunities that haven’t been publicly advertised.
Keep at It
Job searches can become long, frustrating endeavors. Don’t get discouraged, even if your initial attempts don’t pay off immediately. Essentially, looking for a job is your new full-time employment. Even if you get some early rejections, maintain a positive attitude and keep pushing forward.
Want another way to land that perfect job? Try seeking out a staffing agency. At a top-notch recruiting firm, like Recruiting In Motion, can find you the ideal position quickly and efficiently.
Contact Recruiting In Motion today to find out how they can get you back to work soon.
