Laid Off? Do This To Get Back On Track

“I just got furloughed because of corona virus. But truthfully, I’m not terribly excited about going back. I’d rather use this time to explore something I’m more aligned with. But how do I even start that?”

Corona virus is changing many aspects of life every day. It’s impacting our health, our jobs, our money, and how we socialize (translation: we’re not socializing.) It would seem normal and natural to look forward to the day when everything will get back to normal. But what if you don’t want to return to the way things were? The job wasn’t ideal anyway. The environment wasn’t really for you. There were no opportunities for growth. If that’s the case, now is the time to lay the ground work so you can take the steps to move on.

Decide What Industry Is Right For You

I know I said a big, bad word there. But yes, “decide,” is important. You know what can turn an employer off super-fast? It’s when they ask you a question about virtually anything and you respond with, “I’m open.” The type of position you’re looking for – you’re open. The salary range you’re interested in – you’re open. The part of the country where you’d like to live – you’re open.

That’s an answer that throws the ball back in their court. Right off the bat, you look like a person incapable of making a decision. It’s not up to another adult to decide for you. It’s up to you to act in your own best interest. That starts with planning out your own life.

Consumer durables is a place to look – think Procter & Gamble or Johnson & Johnson, because they produce the things we all need to take care of our physical bodies. Information Technology is only on the up and up, because the most prevalent way we’re all communicating is through the computer, Internet, conferencing, video, and livestream – think Zoom or DocuSign. We adults (and our kids) all need to be entertained – think Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV.

Small industry sectors that are thriving include cleaning services, grocery stores, home delivery / meal delivery services, and drive-in movie theaters (what a blast from the past!).

Decide What Role Is Right For You

The key to success is to zero in on selling the story of you that the employers are most likely to buy. It’s not that you can’t try for other roles, but it’s in your best interest to begin the journey from your greatest position of strength. For example, if your most recent 2 positions were Sales Manager, what makes the most sense are titles such as Director of Sales, VP of Sales, VP of Business Development. Avoid the temptation to cast a wide net by also factoring CEO and CFO into your targets.

If you want to change careers, self-reflection needs to be your 1st course of action. Look within before you look on the Internet. Ask yourself what aspects of your career do you enjoy, and what do you wish you could change or stop entirely? Then evaluate what skills you have that will add value to an employer in another industry.

Be careful when it comes to your skills. Avoid faux skills like being detail-oriented, motivated, and getting the job done – the employer is not handing you a paycheck every 2 weeks for those things. Center on hard-core skills that are central to the job – sales team leadership, marketing campaign management, or operational efficiency improvement.

Decide What Numbers Will Tell Your Story

What’s easy is to begin by saying, “Dynamic, results-oriented self-starter with 27 years of international experience, offering excellent oral and written communication skills.” However, the number of years of experience doesn’t necessarily carry the weight you intend. The numbers that matter are the ones that illustrate your specific achievements, accomplishments, and value.

If you’re in sales, what amount of revenue did you deliver in a quarter, 6 months, or a year? In customer service, what was the dollar value of that major customer you retained, even though they were upset? In construction, what was the budget of the project you worked on? Plus, describe the scope of the project: square footage, time frame, and number of team members. All of those are merely examples. Think of the numbers applicable to you.

Make these decisions now, during the corona virus slowdown, so that you can come back strong. You may just surprise yourself by getting hired right now – yes, that’s happening week in and week out for jobseekers in multiple industries. For a career plan customizing specifically for you, send your resume to me in a private message or to [email protected]