First Aid Kit for the Newly Unemployed
Becoming suddenly unemployed – no matter how it happens – is traumatic. We’re thrust from a comfortable routine into the unknown. Financial uncertainty compounds the stress. And we don’t always realize, until we’re in this situation, just how much of our self-identity is wrapped up in the job we hold. If you’re in this situation right now, I am very truly sorry. You’re grieving a loss, and there will be some tough days yet to come.
The best possible way to overcome (or at least lessen) what you’re feeling now is to start doing things that will shorten the time to full recovery: the first day of your next job. And that’s what I’d like to share with you here: a four-step ‘first aid’ plan that will get you back on your feet sooner.
Step 1: Reflection and self-awareness
If today is your first day after becoming suddenly unemployed, you might want to start responding to job posts right away. This is like doing wind-sprints the day after surgery: not the best idea. If at all possible, I strongly recommend taking a bit of time to absorb the news and decompress, and to prepare yourself for the task ahead. Depending on the length of time you were in your last job, this could be a day or two, or (again, if possible) a few weeks. Reflecting on what happened will help you come to terms with the change, making it much easier to discuss (professionally and without too much emotion) when you begin interviewing. On a related note, think about where you really want to go in your next move. Your choice in jobs may ultimately be decided more by necessity, but identifying the things you really want in your next job will give you a better chance of getting more of them. During this time, completing personality assessments of some kind can also give you helpful information about you, and about the kinds of jobs and companies you should be looking at. And finally, a thorough skills and strengths inventory will arm you with the information you need for the next step.
Step 2: Document update: your resume and cover letter
Building on the work you’ve done in the first step, now’s the time to take a critical look at the documents that will represent you in your job search. Learn how and then take the time you need to make yours great, and consider enlisting the help of trusted friends and family members (ideally people who’ve been in hiring positions) to give you objective feedback. Finally, although these won’t appear on your resume or cover letter, this is also the right time to start building your bank of stories to tell in the interviews ahead.
Step 3: Market research, networking and applications
Now that your documents are in good shape, it’s time to build a list of prospects. Start with job postings, of course, and put the time and effort in to target these as directly as possible. Don’t stop there. Research your market, building prospect lists of potential employers. Grow your network by getting back in touch with former colleagues and references to let them know you’re on the market, and by making introductory calls to companies on your prospect list. Get in the habit of asking for additional referrals (either companies to consider, or people to speak with) during every conversation.
Step 4: Interview preparation and practice
Ideally, you should begin this step at the same time as the previous step. You can’t do too much preparation and practice for interviews; there’s no such thing. Work with your stories and practice telling them out loud. If you’ve got challenging parts of your career to talk about (long gaps in employment, for example, or if you’ve been fired), practice speaking about those on your own so you can be less anxious in interviews. If your interviews are going to be virtual, make sure you’ve got everything set up for that. And when you start getting invitations to interview, put the time and effort in to research those companies in depth so you go into every one of those interviews prepared and ready to knock it out of the park.
If you’ve found yourself unexpectedly and suddenly unemployed, there’s difficulty and pain ahead on the road to healing. I don’t intend to minimize the grief, anger, or any of the other emotions you may be feeling. But I can promise you that if you put these four steps into practice, keeping busy with productive and constructive work that keeps your eyes on the future, your road to recovery will be easier … and shorter, too.