We all like predictability because it makes life easier. From knowing the sun is going to rise in the morning to the regularly scheduled time of our favorite show, the predictable elements of life give us a sense of calm. It’s one less thing we have to worry about. On the flip side, uncertainty in our lives can be stressful. Not knowing what’s around the corner often leads to fear. This fear can be psychologically paralyzing, particularly when it comes to the job search. 
The loss of a job or the experience of career transition is a big shock to the brain. The loss of your daily routine, commute, work space, and social contacts is nerve wracking. Your first order of business should be to restore these elements in your life as best you can and then start thinking about how to get yourself out there in a deliberate and focused way. Creating certainty in these uncertain economic times requires establishing structure, knowing yourself, and creating a plan.
Establish a Simple Structure
Your job is now getting a job, so you need to treat it that way. Take the time to create some basic guiderails to help keep you on track. Revisit the core elements of your former routine and consider which ones you can recreate. You may want to replace your commute to the office and morning planning with a drive to your local coffee shop where you read the paper and make your list of job search activities for the day. The idea is to get yourself into a structured routine to keep you active and productive. It’s very easy to fall prey to having too much time on your hands and spiraling into the psychological trap of self-doubt and procrastination.
Get to Know Yourself
It may sound a bit cliché, but only you have the capacity to really know yourself. The challenge is actually making the time and committing the energy to do so. Famous psychologist Carl Jung once said, “who looks outside dreams, who looks inside awakens.” Creating certainty starts with developing a keen sense of who you are, what you need, and where you want to go. We all have our internal drivers that manifest themselves through our daily actions. Understanding those internal drives will help you harness the essence of who you are and direct that energy in a positive way. Take the time to ask yourself the following questions and be sure to articulate the answers in a way a stranger would understand:
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What are my personal values or guiding principles?
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What are my intrinsic assets and natural strengths?
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What are my true passions?
From recent graduates to corporate executives, everyone I have ever worked with struggled with answering these questions because they never took the time to really think about them. Consider this an opportunity to take a step back and engage in the kind of introspection that your hectic work schedule never allowed before.
Create a YOU Plan
Just as every NFL coach has a game plan for Sundays, you should have a “you” plan for your career. Nobody can predict the future, but you can certainly plan for it. Planning is the single greatest way to build certainty into an uncertain life, yet most of us don’t spend enough time doing it. Ask yourself the following questions:
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What is my long-term career and life vision?
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What are the necessary interim accomplishments required to get there?
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What short and long-term goals do I need to set?
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What kind of time frame do I need to commit to?
Once you have answered these questions, the next step is to put it in writing and commit to taking action. Draw a map, make a list, create a graph, or do whatever you are comfortable with. The idea is to have a destination and a basic roadmap for getting there. Make sure to put it in a prominent place where you can check it every day. Having a plan to fall back on as a reference point is a great way to restore a sense of certainty when the anxiety of uncertainty starts creeping up.
Michael “Dr. Woody” Woodward, PhD is an Organizational Psychologist and author of the Amazon.com top selling job hunting book The YOU Plan and newly released online course YOU Plan for Career Change. Dr. Woody writes a weekly column for FoxBusiness.com called The Career Hot Seat and appears regularly on the Fox Business show Career Accelerator. He has also appeared on LIVE w/ Regis & Kelly, Fox & Friends, CNN International, Dr. Steve, and Daytime. Dr. Woody serves a coach and faculty member with the Florida International University Center for Leadership.
If layoffs are on the horizon, take the necessary steps to operate at your best and prepare for the worst.
Operate at Your Best
1. Kick it up a notch. When layoffs are on the horizon, it can be difficult to feel positive or motivated in the workplace. However, this is exactly when you need to shine! Take a deep breath each morning and mentally prepare for the day. I don’t believe in “face time,” but I think it’s important to not cut corners. Show up on time and stay until you’ve handled the work that needs to be done. Consider postponing your vacation, if you had one planned. If you’ve been putting off certain tasks or projects, revisit them and add the important ones back on to your to-do list. Don’t give management a reason to put you on the pink slip list.
2. Get noticed for the right reasons. Now is the time to ramp up your personal brand strategy. Take initiative and find opportunities to market your value. Volunteer to present to other groups in the company and actively participate in department or companywide meetings when you can add value. Also, take credit for your achievements. While it’s important to be a team player, don’t be afraid to let others know how you played a role in the company’s success.
3. Continue developing your expertise. Seek out professional development opportunities in the form of webinars, networking events, online group discussions and so forth that are focused on your line of work and specialty. You want to remain on the cutting edge of your field. Not only will this elevate your brand, should you need to find another job, but you’ll also be able to bring this knowledge back to your organization, which makes you even more valuable. It’s hard to lay off someone who’s considered the “go-to” person in your industry or line of work.
Prepare for the Worst
If you’re concerned that layoffs may be in your company’s future, it’s in your best interest to prepare for the job search ahead of time – not after you’ve received the pink slip and you’re suddenly in a panic mode. Here are four tips to get you started:
1. Update your resume so it includes your most recent work and accomplishments, and is positioned to support your current career goals. You probably shouldn’t post it on websites yet, but you want to have it ready to go at a moment’s notice. Consider a professional resume rewrite to bolster your efforts.
2. Clean up your online presence. Make sure your personal profiles (like Facebook) are secure so recruiters (and frankly your current manager) can’t see them. I recommend changing your name to “FirstName MiddleName” or something to that effect to keep your personal profiles private.
Identify which social media channels you want to use for your job search and make sure they are current and in alignment with your resume and career goals. If you’re planning to update your profile on LinkedIn, first change your account settings so the changes you make won’t show up in your activity feed (this will prevent any red flags getting raised at your current employment).
3. Build (or reconnect) with your network. If you haven’t been in touch with your contacts lately, now’s the time to reach out and catch up over coffee. This helps you from feeling like you’re asking for a job – you’re not, you’re just reconnecting with those who were once a bigger part of your social or professional life. That way, should you want to conduct an informational interview with them in the future, your request will not be coming out of left field.
4. Check out the prospects. Go to websites such as TheLadders, LinkedIn or Indeed to see what opportunities are currently available. If you’ve worked with recruiters in the past that have been helpful, this is be a good time to reach out to them to see if they have any open positions that would be a good fit.
As a rule of thumb, don’t do any of your job-search activities in the office or on company equipment. Don’t post your company phone number or email address for your contact information on your resume or public profiles. It’s essential to prepare for a potential job search without jeopardizing your current position—especially during a time when your employer may be looking for a reason to let people go!
Follow the steps mentioned above to help you take control of your destiny and prepare for whatever may come your way. If you want to know more, learn about searching while employed or preparing for layoffs.
Amanda Augustine is the Job Search Expert for TheLadders, the online job-matching service for career-driven professionals. She is a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) who provides job search and career guidance for professionals looking to make their next career move. Have a question for Amanda? Submit your question here for a chance to have it answered in her weekly column, and be sure to follow @JobSearchAmanda on Twitter and "Like” her on Facebook for up-to-the-minute job-search advice.
Want to ask me your job-search questions face-to-face? Come join me at Job Central, Presented by TheLadders, on January 10th from 9am-3pm EST. See you there!
Bounce back from a layoff with a targeted job-search strategy.
As with any loss in your life, a layoff – especially if it’s unexpected – is bound to bring up a sea of different emotions in its wake. The key is to acknowledge these feelings and then move on. Dwelling on the layoff and what you could have done differently is counterproductive – it won’t change the past and will inevitably make it more difficult to move forward with your search.
Here are five tips to help you bounce back from an unexpected layoff:
Take a deep breath … then dive in!
It’s healthy to give yourself a few days to come to terms with your current situation. Then it’s time to take a deep breath and jump into your job search. The sooner you can begin the process, the sooner you can get your career back on track!
Set your strategy
Begin by taking stock of your career to date. What are you great at and passionate about? Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years? By going through this exercise you’ll have a clearer picture of what role you need to pursue now to put you on the path to meeting your longer-term career goals.
Build your brand – off and online
As a job seeker, you need market your skill sets and experience on and offline to support your job goals. Update your resume – or seek out the services of a professional resume writer – to highlight your relevant work experience and accomplishments, and upload it to relevant job board. Build an online professional profile on sites such as LinkedIn to align with your resume, and increase the security settings on personal profiles that you don’t want recruiters or prospective employers to see.
Nurture your network
You are 10 times more likely to land an interview when you have an employee referral with your application. However, to get these coveted referrals, you need to grow your network of contacts. Reconnect with former colleagues, vendors, and clients, and seek out industry-specific events to attend. Don’t discount your personal network, especially the social butterflies who are more likely to introduce you to valuable contacts. Don’t go in asking for a job – seek information and introductions. Look for opportunities to pay it forward to your connections.
Opt for optimism
A successful job search requires a positive state of mind. No one wants to hire someone who appears desperate or negative. Whether you’re attending a networking event or interviewing with a prospective employer, it’s important to exude confidence and optimism. If asked about your former employer, be tactful when discussing the situation, and then bring the conversation back to how you can provide value to your next employer.
Click on the following links for more information on handling a layoff and staying positive during the job search.
Amanda Augustine is the Job Search Expert for TheLadders, the online job-matching service for career-driven professionals. She is a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC) and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) who provides job search and career guidance for professionals looking to make their next career move. Have a question for Amanda? Submit your question here for a chance to have it answered in her weekly column, and be sure to follow @JobSearchAmanda on Twitter and "Like” her on Facebook for up-to-the-minute job-search advice.
Want to ask me your job-search questions face-to-face? Come join me at Job Central, Presented by TheLadders, on January 10th from 9am-3pm EST. See you there!
Utilize your volunteer experience to boost your resume and expand your network during the job search.
Question
I haven't worked outside the home except to volunteer for many years and can't even get an interview. I know I can do the job but how do you get that across? – Doreen M.
Answer
It can be so frustrating when you know you have value to add to a company but can’t get your foot in the door. Your story is very common with full-time parents who left the corporate world to raise their families and now want (or need) to reenter the workforce, and with those who were laid off and were forced to take on a string of lower-paying jobs to pay the bills. In these situations, I recommend doing two things:
Update your brand
It’s so important to have a resume and online profile that showcase your relevant skill sets and accomplishments, while also showing that you haven’t been twiddling your thumbs since you left the corporate world. Here’s the deal:
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If your volunteer work (or other recent work experience) can be directly tied back to your targeted job goals, then use a traditional chronological resume format. I don’t care if they didn’t pay you for the work – I care if the experience helped you gain relevant industry experience or build skills that are important to the roles you’re targeting today. Make sure you frame the job description and selected accomplishments with your job goals in mind – the name of the game is relevancy.
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If your recent work experience doesn’t support your job goals or you have an employment gap due to educational pursuits, sabbaticals, etc., then your best bet is to switch to what we call a “functional” (also known as “hybrid” or “results-oriented”) resume format. In a functional resume, the focus is placed on your relevant experience and the results or accomplishments of that work. You include chronological information and other roles, but those take a back seat so the attention stays on the skill sets and expertise that’s directly related to your targeted job. Here’s an example I did for a client of mine who wants to return to work in human resources and recruitment after considering a very different career track while she pursued advanced degrees.
I’ll be honest: I’m not the biggest fan of functional resumes, mostly because recruiters seem to prefer the chronological format. However, in this type of situation a functional format will do a much better job at positioning your skills and experience as they relate to your job goals. Click on the following link to learn more about different resume formats.
Invest in your network
Whenever you’re facing challenges in the job search – due to unemployment, career changes, and so forth – networking becomes even more important to your strategy.
The more people you can meet within your desired line of work, the more information you will gain about the marketplace, its main players, and the potential opportunities that are out there. It will help you fine-tune your search to target companies that have the most potential and would be the best fit for you.
You’ll learn how the market has changed since you last worked in it, and if there are any skill gaps you need to fill in order to be more attractive to potential employers. For instance, I worked with a client who was a senior marketing professional in the 90s. When she began looking for work again, it became apparent that she’d need to gain a better understanding of online marketing and ecommerce to compete with other job seekers in her space.
Your contacts can advocate on your behalf and help you by-pass any gatekeepers in the application process. The 2012 CareerXroads Source of Hire Survey found that you are 10 times more likely to land an interview if your application includes an employee referral. The more networking you do, the more likely you are to find people who are willing to pass your application along or allow you to include their name in the application process. And don't discount the people you've met while volunteering! While they may not work in your targeted line of work, who's to say they don't have friends or family members who do?
Apply these two strategies to your job search and you’ll be set up for great success in the market. Click on the following links to learn more about resumes and networking.
Amanda Augustine is the Job Search Expert for TheLadders. She provides job search and career guidance for professionals looking to make their next career move. Have a question for Amanda? Submit your question here for a chance to have it answered in her weekly column, and be sure to follow @JobSearchAmanda on Twitter and “Like” her on Facebook for up-to-the-minute job-search advice.
Your suit is pressed. Your resume is perfect. You’ve done your research on the company and your skills are ideal. But in the minutes leading up to your interview, all you can think is, “What will I say when they ask about my termination?” And they will ask. How you answer can either make or break your chances at landing that new position.
You’re not the weakest link
Job interviews are nerve-wracking enough without the added anxiety that often comes with explaining a termination. You may fear that being let go from a previous job is a kind of scarlet letter that brands you as a failure or a bad employee, but employers rarely do.
All careers have ebbs and flows, and terminations are a normal part of the cycle. The reasons vary: companies expand and contract, industries boom and bust, and professionals often find themselves in situations where they aren’t the best fit. Besides, in a turbulent economy with a national unemployment rate of 8.2%, it’s unlikely that you’ll be the only interviewee with a termination of some sort on your resume.
The truth will set you free
So how should you handle a termination in a job interview? Amanda Augustine, TheLadders’ resident job search expert, recently shared these tips with The New Jersey Star-Ledger:
• Be truthful. If an interviewer directly asks you why you were let go from an organization, be honest. You don’t want to get caught in a lie during a background check. If you were laid off, say that.
• Be positive. No matter why you and your former employer parted ways, be tactful when discussing the situation. Never bad-mouth the organization to the interviewer. No one wants to hire an employee with a negative attitude. If things did not end well, you can say that you and the organization had differing opinions about the department’s direction, or something to that effect.
• Be forward-thinking. After you’ve discussed your reason for leaving your last position, bring the conversation back to your core skill set and how you can provide value to the prospective employer. “I was recently laid off from my previous role at Company XYZ, but I am most interested in learning more about the director position, as it seems that my extensive program management experience within the telecom industry would be valuable to your client.”
Remember, getting fired doesn’t define you. It shouldn’t embarrass you. The hiring manager hasn’t circled it on your resume in red ink and the recruiter didn’t label you as “that guy who got let go.” Instead of seeing your termination as a handicap, try viewing it as one more thing you have in common with your competition. How you frame it in an interview will make all the difference.