Share
The COVID-19 pandemic certainly started a period of employment volatility for many in the workforce. Some changes such as mandatory remote work went into effect immediately, but over 3 years later we are still having conversations around remote and hybrid work models. Being told you must work from home is one thing, and a change many of us adapted to. The change that is still rocking our world to this day is the instability in employment caused by companies closing, downsizing, and layoffs happening everywhere on a scale from 10 people to 5,000 people in a day.
This change may not sit well with many of us, and just like remote versus onsite, we are still dealing with job volatility today.
So, how do you stay prepared in a volatile job market? This article explores ways you can help yourself be better prepared for these more intricate and dispiriting changes.
Networking & Media Presence
LinkedIn is the most well-known platform for professional networking, with over 900 million members across the globe. You can use the LinkedIn Jobs Page to search and apply for jobs if you’re actively looking.
Join Groups that are industry specific, allowing you access to people with similar interests or professional backgrounds. Many times, these groups have industry highlights, career tips, and sometimes members post opportunities.
There are many Groups on LinkedIn, start by searching on your homepage and filtering by Groups. If you’re not sure what Group to search for, start with the school you attended. Connecting with alumni can open your professional world more than you think. Next, search for any associations you are a part of, or even as general as your job title!
Follow the companies you may want to work for and connect with recruiters from those companies. When sending the connection request, include a small note stating your interest in connecting to expand your network and build mutually beneficial, professional relationships. If you are accepted, send the recruiter a thank you note and your resume with a brief description of your skillsets. If there is ever an opening that fits, that recruiter may remember you and reach out to you. On the other hand, if you apply to a position with the company in the future, you can refer to that conversation with the recruiter and potentially increase your chances!
Connect with people in similar positions, or in the position you strive to be in one day. Every connection will be different, but making connections is the point. Remember to be mindful and respectful of the recipient’s time.
All these actions give you more of an active presence on LinkedIn, but LinkedIn is not the only tool out there. Some other professional networking platforms you can explore are Jobcase, Xing, Meetup, and Slack Communities.
Update Resume Consistently
Every time you accomplish a project, meet a goal, exceed expectations, or learn a new skill, jot it down. As time passes, we often forget these things. These notes can serve as anecdotes when interviewing, such as answering behavioral questions that require you to reflect on past experiences.
Many jobs have Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) – keep track of your own KPIs and performance and store it somewhere personal. In the unfortunate event that you lose your job unexpectedly, you may lose access to internal systems carrying these reports. You can use these metrics to illustrate your success rate on your resume.
It is vital to keep your resume up to date, showcasing all your responsibilities. When you gain additional responsibilities at work, add it to your resume right away, you’ll have less work to do when you need it. It’s easy to forget all that we do on a day-to-day basis. By updating your resume regularly, you ensure all your accomplishments will not be missed.
Consider Contract/Temp Jobs
Even if it’s not the long-term plan, consider contract (a.k.a. temp) jobs as a way to keep working if affected by unemployment.
According to LinkedIn Statistics, contract positions rose by 26% from May-Nov 2021 compared to May-Nov 2022. In that same time period fulltime/permanent positions only rose by 6%.
You can learn more about contract jobs in this article, that highlights the FAQs of contracting.
Sources:
Staffing Agencies Common Questions Candidates Ask
Photo by Tracy Le Blanc
