How to make career lemonade from lemons if you’ve just lost your job?

This is a stressful time and particularly so if you’ve just lost your job. It’s uncertain how long lockdowns are going to last and how long it’s going to take the economy to recover. While this is a difficult time for so many and it can be hard to stay optimistic, there are some simple things you can start doing to begin your search for work. 

Find out who’s hiring 

Some industries are shutting down due to COVID-19, while others can’t keep up with the demand. Spend time researching who is hiring and where your skills could be a good fit. This will save you hours of wasted time and drastically increase your chances of finding a job. 

Bring your resume and LinkedIn up-to-date

Is your resume still stuck in the late 90’s, alongside the Spice Girls and Nokia 3310’s? If this is you, now is probably the moment to spend time bringing your resume into the present. Any role is going to require you to demonstrate your current skills, education and experience, so it is worth spending some serious time updating the first thing a potential employer is going to learn about you. We also recommend that you spend a similar amount of time and energy updating your LinkedIn so that it reflects where you are at right now and the opportunities you are looking for. 

Once you feel like they are both perfect, we recommend that you reach out to at least 2-3 people you trust to look over your updated resume and LinkedIn to provide feedback on what’s not clear and what could be improved. 

Rethink your industry preferences

Are you only willing to work in a certain role or industry? It is good to have strong preferences in your job search, but at this time it might also be worth widening the net to other industries and roles you might not have previously considered. Since you will have most likely already started looking into which industries are currently hiring amidst the crisis, this might help you to consider some industries or companies you might not have previously. An open mind to new experiences or roles and the creativity to see where you could be a good fit might be what lands you in a surprising new job.

If you want some help in opening up your mind up to new job opportunities a great place to start is with the CareerHQ Compass. This is our 6-module, interactive, online tool that can help you to match your interests and skills to career options you might not have considered before. This tool is linked to over 900 different jobs and job descriptions to help you to expand your understanding of what jobs and careers exist.

Click here to learn more about the CareerHQ Compass

Reach out to your network to ask for help

Do your close and extended network know what type of opportunities you are looking for and what skills you have? This is a really important time to connect or even reconnect with close and extended friends and colleagues to see how they are going and to see if they could be looking for someone like you in their organisation. They might even have some tips on  where else you might find new opportunities.

Upskill yourself

There has never been a better time than the present to learn something new that will make you more employable. With so many great and affordable online learning platforms, this is an easy way to improve your chances of landing your next job. Click here to read an article on some of our favourite online learning platforms.

Develop your side-hustles 

Having some extra time in the week might give you just enough time to develop that side-hustle you’ve been thinking about for years. If you are looking for ways to unleash your inner entrepreneur here are some simple strategies: https://blog.careerhq.com.au/time-unleash-inner-entrepreneur/ 

Rethink your spending 

You only need to earn what you spend. This might be a practical time to sit back and look at some of your spending patterns, as this could impact on what jobs you are open to exploring. If you could lower your spending, could you be ok earning less during this time? Maybe this will open your mind to new part-time or contract opportunities that you might not otherwise have considered. If you’re only willing to accept $100k+ opportunities this could make your job search a more difficult one. 

Reach out for help and support 

This is one of the greatest periods of mass uncertainty many of us will ever have experienced. It is natural and ok to mourn the loss of your job, missing out on the 2020 you dreamed of and to feel overwhelmed by the amount of change taking place. 

We encourage you to check in with friends and family and to voice how you’re feeling and please don’t be afraid to reach out for help. The below picture shares a link to a range of mental health hotlines that are there to support you if you are feeling overwhelmed by this period. You can also go to visit your GP to seek advice. 

One other thing worth considering during this period is whether you are eligible for support from the government, in particular if you are having serious financial difficulty. One of their newly announced support programs could be a fit for you and could make a big difference to you and your family during this period. Here is a link to a range of information on some of the financial support being offered by the Australian Government right now. 

Click here to learn more about payments for job seekers.

The antidote to anxiety and uncertainty is getting proactive 

Thank you for taking the time to read this article and we hope it’s given you at least one proactive step you can take today. During times like this, while it can feel hard, just taking one step in the right direction is a great place to start. What can you do today that will put you in a better position to find work? We wish you and your families a safe and healthy journey as you find your way successfully into your next job.