Career Survival Tips During the COVID-19 Crisis
In our recent communications with clients, we have noticed that while facing the COVID-19 crisis head on, people are still seeking something positive during these most serious of times. Some have told us they are busier than they ever have been, trying to be creative and find ways to save jobs, businesses and lives. Others have already experienced job loss, or fear that will soon be their reality. We all are dealing with the reality of a remote existence, social distancing and the loss of interpersonal interaction with a team.
Helping people cope with challenging situations is what we do best at Transition Strategies, LLC. We do not see the work situation normalizing any time soon, and want to see all of you remain relevant and moving forward with your careers during the worst economy this nation has ever experienced. Here are our 10 tips of what you need to do now to survive these difficult times and still keep your career trajectory on course:
Refresh your resume. Write SOAR stories (“Situation you encountered – Opportunity it presented for your company and you – Actions you took – Results of your actions”). Include current, objective, measurable achievements with your success stories.
Refresh and update your LinkedIn profile. Look at your network of contacts, outstanding invitations and messages, and follow-up with those who were willing to write endorsements about their experiences with you. Reach out to make some new connections. Search for opportunities under the “Jobs” tab. Reach out to recruiters with whom you’ve worked in the past.
Reach out to former work colleagues and friends to say hi, touch base and see how they are doing. Ask if you can make any connections to help them. They likely will return the favor.
Be a thought leader. Write an article or blog post on a topic about which you are knowledgeable. If you are really ambitious, start writing the book you always said you wanted to write. Look for upcoming conferences where you can submit a speaking proposal, and write a summary of the programs you have to offer. Many conferences have been pushed back into the fall or beyond, and may still be looking for speakers for break-out sessions or mentoring circles.
Learn the do’s and dont’s of working remotely. This merits a separate post, as it is likely our new normal for the near future. Set your office up in a quiet place, and follow your employer’s rules. It is important to keep your team colleagues in the loop and that can be more challenging when working remotely. More to come on this.
Job Interviews are likely to be via video for the near future. Yet we don’t present the same on video as we do in person. Learn how to operate video technology on your computer, and polish your image and how you present, including the background the camera will capture. Practice interview questions, particularly those involving situational interviews and leadership, and start pulling together talking points for responses.
Consider a short engagement with a career coach/advisor, someone who can look at where you are, and help you identify an action plan for next steps to get to where you’d like to be.
Take online classes to expand your knowledge. Many are free. Consider courses relevant to remote work software and/or technology, industries where future growth is expected, or other skills relevant to your career path. Or, if you are a subject-matter expert, offer to teach a class online to expand your personal brand awareness.
Speaking of personal brand, if you haven’t developed one yet, this is a great time to start. Consider creating your personal website – you need time for this, as writing web content is a big job. Do self-study on personal branding, or seek help from a career coach/advisor.
Brainstorm ideas you can offer to help your company/employer now and in the days ahead, in light of all the challenges it is or soon will be facing. Being part of the solution reflects an “owner’s mindset” that most employers will appreciate.
We are resilient people and history has show that we can, and will, innovate our way out of a crisis. When these dark days are over, your future can be brighter than ever before. We are here to help. Please reach out if you want a more personalized solution to help you cope with the challenging situation facing you now.