WE ARE COMING OUT OF THIS.
No doubt about it we will all re-emerge from quarantine rested, rejuvenated, grateful but with an extra dash of cautiousness as we navigate life forever changed by this crisis.
But for most of us life looks a lot different than it did months ago. Whether your job was eliminated or were laid off due to the tanked economy. Or you are self-employed and are faced with the task to pick up the pieces and readjust. Or maybe you were fortunate and remained gainfully employed through the luxury to work from home or worked as an essential employee, but re-evaluating your career moving forward.
Whatever the cause, our new normal is now loading and as often referenced the “season of reset” is now upon on us. So..what’s next?
Check out these 5 ways to prepare for the journey ahead:
- Create a vision: If you didn’t create a vision/goal plan at the beginning for the New Year, let this be your 2nd chance to do so. Strategize your goals and plans you want to either accomplish or set in motion for the rest of the year regardless of any uncertainty. Create contingency plans but don’t focus too much on how many months, weeks, days are left in the calendar. Be intentional.
- Polish up that resume’: Per the latest report 22 Million people are now unemployed in this country. If you are one of the millions in that number, this was no doubt an unexpected burden. Consumed with anxiety on what’s next, there is no easy remedy to soothe fears. However the goal is to come out this stronger. Take the time to place your best foot forward. Update your resume’ to best reflect your skill set. Have a robust skill set and work experience? Create multiple resumes and to have readily available that emphasize different sectors and niches. For example: you have 10 years of administrative experience but your last few positions were in sales? Create both a sales focused and administrative focused resume’ that will showcase your expertise as applicable to the new position you are applying for.
- Start Personal Branding: Been needing to update your headshot for your LinkedIn profile? Take the remaining of this quarantine as time to really build your personal brand. Don’t have the funds for or access to professional photographer for a headshot right now? No worries. A smartphone device, a neutral background, adequate lighting and a good filter (if necessary) will do just the trick. Throw on some professional attire (from the waist up) and snap some amazing professional photos from home. Need a logo or graphic created for your business but don’t have the cash to spend on a graphic designer? Download the Canva app for free and design your own through your smartphone. Self promotion is key to success.
- Get Virtually Active: As the remote workforce becomes our new norm, if you work in the service industry take this opportunity to offer your skills or services remotely too. For example if you are in the beauty industry offer ways to provide support and service to your clients (6ft away of course) through tutorials, product reviews, product creation, merchandising and distribution to stay connected. Have a unique skill such as book-keeping, consulting, grant-writing, administrative support, payroll,etc that you can offer to others virtually? Now be the time to research what a career of freelance can do for you
- Stay Connected: Every single one of us is impacted this. However through the support of others, every single one of us will climb out of this. Community is essential to our survival. Networking sites such as LinkedIn, Slack, Meetup and even Facebook can provide avenues of support for job postings, services, announcements, local and virtual events, etc. Put that scrolling to good use and get connected!