Many people handle job losses badly. Quite often, some are not prepared when it happens. The best way is to have an exit plan from the first day you start work. The best employee can be fired anytime. Have that at the back of your mind always.
So, what can you do when you’re faced with this precarious situation? I’ll continue from where I left off in Part 1 of this series.
3. Take stock of your contacts
Searching for a job can be very tasking. In the midst of serious competition and with few jobs available, getting a desired job role often requires more than your skill set.
It often requires the ability to leverage existing relationships that you have built over time. Your ability to connect with others and maximize relationships often makes the difference in quickly securing a job, getting interview appointments, or even obtaining startup capital for a business.
Lost your job? Don’t panic. Start by leveraging the relationships you’ve built over the years. Your network is more powerful than you think. Share on XI once worked with a younger colleague who was given a very handsome sum of money to start up a business by a client when he told the client he was leaving the job. Another colleague had the privilege of working with his client for six months, receiving salaries, until he secured a job. This is one of the reasons relationships are very important. Be careful how you treat your customers.
I usually tell people that when you serve others well, you’re actually building a bank of goodwill for yourself. You may need to draw from that bank later.
Take stock of your contacts. Who do you know? Connect with your network. If you belong to social clubs and associations, leverage on them. This is why I subscribe to folks belonging to and being actively involved with clubs like Rotary, Lions, and others. Get involved with your alumni association and your social connections. Never underestimate the power of your network.
4. Revamp your CV
Since you’re now in the job market, your CV has to be reviewed. Update your CV with your skills. Match your qualifications with the jobs you’re applying for. Check your CV to ensure all the necessary information is captured appropriately.
Curriculum Vitae has its root meaning from a Latin word that means ‘course of life’. Your CV is a snapshot of who you are and what you have done—a summary of your background, experience, education, achievements, awards, and other activities that may be taken into consideration when looking for a job.
Your CV is the first thing a prospective employer sees before seeing you. Oftentimes, many employers have formed their impression about the candidate based on their CV even before the in-person interview.
Therefore, it is crucial to ensure your CV is well-structured, free from typos, errors, and spelling mistakes. I have interviewed candidates with errors in the way their names were written on their CV.
Ensure that you review your CV for correctness and accuracy, as all errors therein are strictly yours even if a third party produced it for you. When you give out such a CV as a candidate, you create the impression of not paying attention to details and being disorganized.
5. Update your LinkedIn Profile and Clean Up Your Social Media
You’re most likely to be checked out on LinkedIn first before any other social media platform. Spend time connecting on LinkedIn. Use a good professional picture. Update your contact information. List your relevant skills. Get endorsed by others. Most importantly, engage on LinkedIn. Be active on LinkedIn. Follow relevant influencers.
Before a recruiter meets you, they will meet your CV and your social media profile. Make sure both speak well of you. Share on XYou should use your social media to build bridges, especially now that you may need a bridge to cross over to the next phase of your life. This is why I often pity toxic people on social media. What if you come to an interview with someone you have trolled?
Clean up your social media because many employers now conduct background checks.
6. Get references
I once got a job because a colleague at work referred me to his former boss. He had given me a note on his call card and asked me to take it to his former boss. I did and the former boss interviewed me on the spot. I was hired after going through the process
Think of those who can give you references. Select good names in your network and approach them for their consent. A good reference can open the door. Good references work especially in situations where the referee knows key contacts in the organization you’re interested in.
Many get jobs because someone put in a word for them. Sometimes, it can even be a former boss. Or a colleague.
Can someone put in a word for you?
I’ll continue next week.