Reinventing Yourself After a Job Loss

More than 45 million people have filed initial unemployment claims in the 13 weeks since the coronavirus really started impacting the United States. I have heard from many people who have been impacted personally, and most of them are justifiably nervous about the chances of getting hired again anytime soon. 

I empathize with their fear and anxiety, but I have seen people get hired, and quickly, following a job loss. I also see that hiring is currently on the upswing in most states. In this post, I want to share some of my favorite reinvention tips to help you slow down, plan your next steps, and find a fulfilling career that will make you feel like the whole thing was meant to be.

See Which Resources are Available to You

The very first thing you should do after a job loss is look into the options that are available in your state for unemployment insurance. These benefits are generally available to those who become unemployed through no fault of their own. You will have to meet some eligibility requirements, and those will vary state-to-state. 

Do a quick search online to see what the steps to file for unemployment are in your state. Your best bet is to file online. While claims have slowed over the past couple of weeks, some experts say it’s still best to submit your claim either early or later in the day when the system isn’t as overloaded with requests.

Take Time for Self Care & Seek Counseling

If the job loss feels especially traumatic, you might not be quite ready to jump into the job search process. Give yourself time to grieve the loss and seek counseling from a mental health professional if needed. This article from Help Guide has some great steps to take if you’re feeling grief, stress, anxiety, or other mental and emotional health concerns.

If you’re feeling positive about starting a new job search, I urge you to consider seeking the help of a professional career counselor. This person can help you assess your options and create a plan of action for your job search, which will save you time and energy and hopefully get you hired much, much faster.

Create a Vision Board

Before you hire a career counselor, it’s important to know where you want to go. They can’t do that for you. They can help you refine your vision and inform you of labor market trends that might work to your advantage, but ultimately you have to know where you want to go first.

So, sit down and map out your short- and long-term goals with a vision board. Whether or not you believe that visualization tools can actually help you achieve results, putting it together will force you to zero in on your concrete goals. When you’re done, display it in a place you will see it often.

Update Your Resume and Cover Letter

Anytime you leave a job or prepare to leave a job, you need to update your resume and cover letter. However, don’t just update your employment history. Go through your entire resume and make sure it positions you in the best possible light. Are all of your skills represented? Have you received any new awards or certifications that need to be added?

Additionally, your cover letter probably needs to be updated. Although you will tweak it to suit each job you apply for, you want to have a strong base to build upon. You know those career goals you came up with? Your cover letter is a great place to share them so your future employer can see what you plan to bring to the table.

Audit Your Social Media Presence

Google yourself. Seriously! You will probably be surprised at what comes up. View your LinkedIn and Facebook pages through the eyes of someone visiting it for the first time. Clean up any photos or status updates that might make a negative first impression.

This is also a good time to update your job information and post on LinkedIn to let people know you’re actively searching for a new role. If you’ve built up a strong network of connections, you might be able to get a lot of potential job leads this way!

Invest in Interview Coaching

It can be difficult to address a recent job loss in an interview. Booking sessions with an interview coach can help you craft and roleplay a response to the questions that will inevitably arise. Getting an interview is not always easy, so if you make it that far, you want to make sure you really nail all their questions.

An interview coach can also give you the steps to follow before, during, and after your job interview so you won’t just get the offer, you’ll get the offer you deserve. A job loss doesn’t have to mean a step backward. With the right coach, you might even be able to negotiate a better salary, more benefits, or more work/life balance than you had in your previous role!