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You had it all planned. You figured out the right career
path for you and made a long list of target companies to work for and ideal roles. You applied to dozens of jobs
but heard nothing. You got a template “thank you, next” response despite having carefully customized your resume and cover letter; or maybe you even had a few phone or video job interviews but haven’t landed an offer yet.
You’re not alone. It’s normal for the job search
process to take time, but for some people, it’s taking longer now because many companies have implemented hiring
freezes or furloughs because of the pandemic. It’s likely that there will be more job opportunities as the country reopens, but in order to land the awesome new gig you might have to consider a different type of role or even a different industry. In other words, you might have to pivot to a Plan B job without ever really embarking on Plan A.
It can be disheartening when things don’t go the way you wanted, but you might find that pivoting in a new direction can open doors, expand your network, and offer you the skills that will help you find the right role after all. And in the meantime, you get a paycheck! So what do you do if you’ve plotted out Plan A, but to quote Phoebe Buffay from “Friends,” “I don’t even have a pla” when it comes to Plan B? Here are some tips.
Define your ideal job
Write down the qualities of your ideal job, such as company culture, compensation, work-life balance, and stress level. Don’t limit yourself to a particular title or company—think about what would make you happy. If it’s working with a large team, put that down. If it’s flexible hours, write that.
Now write down your top skills and strengths. Include hard skills like writing, math, editing, and anything else that is a teachable and measurable skill. Next, write down soft skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and other skills that are more intangible but are key to getting ahead in your career.
You could be good at anything if you try hard enough, but you’re likely to be happier and more successful if you find a role that requires more of your strengths than your weaknesses and a company that has the qualities you’re looking for.
Identify Plan A versus Plan B jobs
As you’re reading job postings, look for roles that will give you the skills and experience that you’ll need to land that Plan A job. For example, if you want to become a journalist but you can’t find the right gig, you would gain transferable skills and experience by working in public relations, content marketing, or advertising. Expand your search and set up job alerts for different positions to learn more about the responsibilities and requirements for each. At this point, you may find yourself spending a majority of your time applying to roles that fit Plan B, but continue to apply to jobs
that fit Plan A. Read the postings for Plan A jobs
that range from entry-level to exec so you can see the most common qualifications and experience that is required for your ideal career
path. Then see if you can gain some of that experience in your Plan B jobs.
Be proactive and start gaining the skills and experiences you’ll need now. Read industry publications and take online courses and certification programs. If you have a passion project you’ve always wanted to pursue, start. It could make you more marketable when you apply to jobs
or, if you start earning income, it could become your full-time role.
Expand your professional network
When it comes to job searching it’s both what you know and who you know. You might learn about a type of role you hadn’t considered, a company to check out, or simply gain insights into the industry that has become your Plan B through friends, family, professors, or former co-workers. Be sure to tell them about the industries and roles you’re seeking—both Plan A and Plan B to cover your bases. Ask if they have any advice, recommendations of companies to consider, or if they can connect you to someone at your target companies or people in the industry.
Expand your network further by making those recommended connections online and looking for new people through organizations such as your college alumni group. Ask everyone you speak with if they could recommend one or two other people you need to know and if they’ll make an intro.
Go on virtual informational interviews
The goal of an informational interview isn’t to get a job, it’s to meet with people in your new ideal industry who can offer valuable insights into their role, company, and industry. When you reach out to people, ask if they have time for a 15-minute call or video chat. Don’t be discouraged if they can’t accommodate you right away. Acknowledge that you know that these are difficult times and offer to follow up in a few weeks if they don’t have the bandwidth now.
Make the most of each informational interview by researching the person and the company so you ask questions that you couldn’t find through a quick Google search. , and always send a thank you email afterward. Since the purpose of an informational interview is to gather insights and information, write down questions in advance so you don’t forget to ask them. Smart questions about your interviewer and their company will demonstrate that you did your research and were prepared. And remember that although it isn’t a job interview, it could lead to one if you make a good impression by asking smart questions and speaking clearly about your experiences and goals. If you see a job opening at their company, apply and then reach out and ask if they would mind sending your resume and cover letter to the hiring
manager directly.
Optimize your job search
If your number one goal right now is to earn an income, expand your job search
further by looking for temp work, freelance, or part-time jobs
that could lead to full-time positions.
Article Provided By: Monster
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As of May 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the current U.S. unemployment rate as 13.3%. While slightly down from April, unemployment is the highest it’s been since the 1930s. For many working Americans, this is the first— and hopefully last — time that we have seen anything like this. With millions of Americans now looking for work, employers need to rapidly adjust their workplace policies to remain competitive with top candidates. How Workplaces Have Changed In just a few months, the face of the American workplace has changed dramatically. March saw employees divided into groups labeled “essential” and “nonessential,” while stay-at-home orders forced teams to adapt to remote work. While some are returning to offices, job sites and other places of work, many employers are planning to permanently close some, if not all, physical locations. On May 12, Twitter made headlines as CEO Jack Dorsey announced that employees could work from home forever. 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Many office space designers are considering how the change will impact future plans. For years, open office environments have been the trend. Cubicles have been replaced with standing desks, portable partitions and lots of room to roam. While closed offices and cubicles likely won’t return, it’s possible office buildings could transform from daily use facilities to places where meetings and conferences take place. National organizations may also begin opening regional hubs to provide coworking spaces for remote employees to use sporadically instead of congregating regularly in one central location. How Employers Need To Approach Hiring 1. Advertising And Follow-Through Once your team has reviewed which positions will be mission-critical for the remainder of 2020, actively advertise these jobs . A small investment combined with regular candidate follow-through will help eliminate concerns some job seekers have about the longevity of a new position. The first few emails and calls to a candidate help to set the stage for the relationship and establish your company’s culture in their mind. 2. Be Mindful Of Social Media How your organization is responding to the pandemic says a lot about your company’s culture and leadership. Candidates interested in working for your business are often actively following your posts, and their decision to join may be swayed by this content. Work with your social media manager to ensure posts come from a position of strength and positivity. 3. ‘What Have You Been Doing During This Time?’ While it may seem like an unusual question for an interview, the answer can tell volumes about the candidate’s work ethic and how serious they are about advancing their career . Many candidates are using this time to expand their knowledge and boost their skills. As you begin accepting résumés, keep an eye out for any new certifications awarded in 2020. 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The coronavirus pandemic has forced great change on professionals and organizations. Companies are evaluating how they get work done and the resources they need to do it. Professionals also are evaluating how they work best and whether they are satisfied with their work. There are questions, concerns and unknowns. Uncertainty can create stress, but stress and uncertainty are a normal part of one’s career . Successful people know how to continue to advance in their career amidst uncertainty. Here are five ways successful people manage the unknown and continue to progress: 1. Talk about your concerns with trusted resources. If you have concerns about your role and where your career is headed, consider speaking to trusted colleagues or friends. Talking out loud can help you think through the issues you are facing and invite another person to help you. Be careful not to complain. Try to focus on the facts at issue and be forward thinking. While you may not know the solution to your situation at the moment, you know there can be a solution. People are more willing to help someone who is hopeful rather than a complainer. 2. Write down a few career plans or options, but embrace flexibility. There will be things outside of your control that will impact your career trajectory. Try not to focus on what is out of your control but rather what is in your control, which is how you respond to uncertainty. Think about alternate career paths you may want to take. Write down the steps you need to take to get a promotion, move laterally within your organization, secure a role at another company, move to a different industry or go back to school. Seeing the steps on paper can help transform an abstract idea into a concrete path that you can start following. Have a few plans in mind because none of the ones you foresee may pan out. That is okay. Plans are not set in stone. Plans exist to motivate you to start moving forward and get closer to your goal. If the plan you write down is no longer realistic, update it. Edit it. Change it. 3. Continue networking, and engage in social media. The benefits of networking take time. It is unrealistic and unwise to think that you can get a golden ticket to your dreams out of one conversation with a person. Networking is not transactional. Networking is relationship-based, and relationships take time. Use this time of uncertainty to create and cultivate professional relationships that may help you down the road. Talk with specific individuals. Also, use social media to connect with other professionals. Not all networking has to be done one-on-one. Not all networking has to be done privately. You can start digital conversations by commenting on a colleague’s post, for example. Networking on social media engages everyone who has been attracted to the post. 4. Write and publish to showcase your expertise and skills. Sharing your thoughts publicly through writing is a great way to display your expertise and skills. This will invite people to engage with you and, in turn, opportunities may come your way. An easy way to start writing and publicly sharing your thoughts is to publish on LinkedIn. 5. Keep your resume up-to-date so you are always ready for an opportunity. The unknowns of your career also include unknown opportunities that may present themselves to you. Make sure your resume is current so that you are ready to share it and be considered for opportunities that may surprise you. When you are prepared, you will better be able to seize unseen opportunities. Uncertainty is part of a normal career progression. Be prepared for it. Accept it. Try to embrace it so you feel more comfortable where you are in your journey. Share your concerns with others, think of some career options, be flexible, continue networking, write and keep your resume current. Article Provided By: Forbes