Even some of the most talented IT professionals find themselves victims of layoffs or restructurings. No matter how stable the environment may seem, you won't feel too safe. If you find yourself in the worst-case scenario, these tips will help you get out of it.
If you're lucky enough to never lose your job, you probably won't understand how painful and devastated this experience can be. Losing your job is probably the most emotional event you've experienced in your career.
Most people would agree that losing financial stability is the worst-case scenario. Whether you're single, raising a family on your own, or married with children, the thought of suddenly losing your job can keep you up at night. However, we often don't think about how much our identity has to do with our professional work, beyond the financial implications.
Unemployment is an understandably emotional time. It's understandable that many people use this time to feel upset or lash out, but you still need to think about the next steps you need to take to move forward," said Stephen Van Vleed, career strategist and resume writer. Experts agree that the only way to get out of this situation is to develop a plan and then implement it.
To help you get back on track as quickly as possible, we spoke with Modis, a CIO, career strategist, and IT staffing company, about what they recommend for people in your network to do if they encounter such a situation.
Step 1: Accept your situation.
Modis deputy Matt Ripardi said the first step was to accept it. "The most common thing I see is that it's hard for people to take it right away. Some people waste their time thinking 'maybe I can save this, or this really happened,' but you just have to accept it," Ripardi said.
Step 2: Take a moment to reflect.
It's important to keep things moving, but you want to know what you're heading towards," Van Vleed said. Unless you have a good severance package, you can't always have enough time to take a break and check in on what you want to do, and then re-educate yourself accordingly. However, anyone in this situation should at least take some time to take a step back and evaluate their career goals.
Are you not interested in your previous job? In this case, although it is unfortunate that you lost your job, you can use this as an opportunity to turn in a different direction. A lot of times you just have to take a deep breath and ask yourself, 'Is this really a blessing in disguise?' Ripardi said.
Step 3: Close the gap.
If you're not already doing something you're passionate about, maybe it's time to make a plan to make it happen. "Unemployment often forces people to evaluate their career direction. It could even be an opportunity to change careers and find a career that is more fulfilling or more aligned with your skills and aspirations," says Caitlin Sampson of Regal Resumes. From a certification perspective, there are many different** options depending on your area of expertise. Local state and county colleges are also great places to increase your IT skills and certifications.
Step 4: Clean up your social profiles.
We always advise clients to update their social** profiles like LinkedIn immediately before updating their resumes. The first thing most recruiters and hiring managers look at is your LinkedIn profile. Ripaldi said.
Make sure your LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google+ profiles are up-to-date and focused on the position you want to get. Update your personal brand with your social profiles and update your resume by articulating the value you add to the company for your future employer. Try looking at the social profiles of the people you're applying for to find common ground, such as keywords, highlighted skills, etc.
Step 5: Avoid surprises.
You also want to google your name, Ripardi says. "You want to know what's going to happen because a lot of times you need to know about your personal brand. You don't want to be caught off guard by some idea or a ** that needs to be explained in an interview, released two years ago.
Step 6: Update your resume.
When it comes to your resume, Ripardi says, "You want it to be no more than two pages, almost like a basic template, and then when you respond to different open positions, you decide which skills to highlight in your resume." If you've been in the IT field for a long time, your skills are likely to take up more than two pages. You do need to address any stance you're responding to. ”
Sampson says your resume should contain all of your latest work experience, education, training, and career highlights. "Review your performance evaluations, including applicable achievements, training, courses, and/or related responsibilities.
It may be a good idea to ask for help writing a new resume, especially if you haven't updated your resume in a while. Statistics show that professionally written resumes tend to get better responses, so it might be a good idea to help write a new resume, Ripardi said. This may be especially true if you haven't updated in a while.
There are also plenty of materials available for you to buy or read on your own. For example, books, articles, and tips will walk you through the resume writing and branding process.
Step 7: Contact your network.
Be proactive, communicate and talk to your network. Try to keep your message positive. "Some people are reluctant to talk about it, but we advise our clients and candidates, that it can happen in your career and that you can talk about it. If your company is in the process of restructuring or layoffs, and you're affected, that's okay," Ripardi said.
Ripardi says that when it comes to social networks, you should act now. "Reach out to your network and let them know you're looking for a change or new opportunity. If people ask what caused the change, just explain that the company is restructuring and you're looking for the next contract position, the next full-time position, or the next opportunity. ”
Depending on the contact, you can know or not know more details. Just make sure you focus on where you're going next. That said, focus on the next opportunity and which of your skills can help that connection.
How you structure it is very important. You don't want to look like a charity," Van Vleed said. "You don't want to put too much pressure on people and make them feel like you're counting on them to get you a job. ”
You don't want to ruin any bridges here, so once again keep your message upbeat and be prepared to give a solid answer when people ask. "People see unemployment as something personal, so they have a bad opinion of past employers, managers, and/or colleagues. Professionalism throughout the process is crucial. If you maintain a neutral relationship with your previous employer, this can provide a potential reference opportunity for the future," Sampson said.
Step 8: Network with exhibitions, groups, projects, and user groups.
IT professionals can also reach out to the LinkedIn groups they participate in and any relevant developer groups they belong to. If possible, attend any relevant ** exhibitions in your area.
Step 9: Create an elevator pitch.
According to Ripardi, another thing you want to do is your elevator lobby – a short, clear story that highlights how you are different from others who do the same job. "When you tell people the story, they should know what you're doing, and if you do it right, they should remember you," Ripardi said.
Step 10: Consider contract work.
As an IT professional, taking on a contract position can be a way to build new skills or fill a financial gap caused by job loss. "You have to pay the bills, but experts warn that the expedient of letting the money roll in often turns into a situation where a year later you ask yourself, "How did I get here?"
You have to ask yourself, what do I want to do next? Van Vleed said. Keep in mind that unless you plan to remain independent indefinitely, taking a contract position is only a stopgap measure; You still need to invest the right amount of time to find a new position that matches your skills and needs.
Step 11: Use the correct email address.
Many job searches are done online, so make sure you use the appropriate email address for your job search. "Always use a personal email address when applying for a job. Make sure the address is professional - for example, [email protected]。Another affordable option is to purchase a personalized domain name from a domain registrar, such as wwwgodaddy.com, for just $6 per year. This ensures privacy, provides customization and separates work from personal email," Sampson said.
Step 12: Talk to HR.
Be sure to take the time to find out how to apply for Cobra health benefits from Human Resources. Alternatively, if you have a spouse, you can also enroll in his or her policy.
Depending on the number of people who have been laid off, reemployment services such as job search and resume help may be offered.
Step 13: Don't be too yourself.
Losing your job is difficult, but it's important to stay positive and focus on the task at hand. If you just sit back and listen to your own voice, then you will develop doubts, which will make your transition more difficult. Try not to listen to yourself; You'll focus too much on the challenge. This can put you in a negative state of mind. Try to give yourself words of encouragement and double-check your plans. Tell yourself, "That's what I'm going to do, these are the companies I'm going to be aiming for, these are the companies that I might be worthy, and that's my plan for this week." Give yourself a chance to get through this transition period.
This article is from *** CIO Information (non-profit organization; Information Officer Information; Convey the value of IT practitioners in the enterprise; Information Officer Recruitment Part-time Information; Assist IT practitioners in finding jobs on a pro bono basis; Assist IT practitioners to better engage in career development).