No matter who you are or what industry you are currently working in, losing your job can be a worrisome experience. This can make you wonder what the future has in store for you and if you will be able to recover. Take solace in the fact that millions have been left out of work due to this pandemic. You aren’t alone in these troubling times, and there is no doubt that you will recover better than ever in the future.
Taking action now after losing your job and building the skills needed to tackle the future of work is the best way to overcome a job loss. Technology is a driving force of disruption in the job market and is only set to continue to change the way work is performed. Getting ahead of this future disruption and adapting your skills and knowledge to this future is one of the best paths to take after losing your job due to COVID-19.
Six Actionable Steps You Should Take after Losing Your Job Due to COVID-19:
1. Look Into a Bootcamp
Obtaining additional education is one of the best things you can do after losing your job. However, you may not have the time or money to attend a graduate program at a university. If this is the case, attending a tech-related Bootcamp may be in your best interest. Popular bootcamps are ranging from those centered around coding to Data Science Bootcamps.
Regardless of the specific tech field that interests you, it’s more than likely that there is a Bootcamp you can attend that will teach you the skills needed to enter a new career. With this in mind, Bootcamps are often completely online and a fraction of the cost of some forms of traditional education.
Course Report covers some of the impressive jobs you could land after a Data Science Bootcamp, and the same goes for any Tech Bootcamp. Companies respect these educational programs as much as some graduate programs and recognize the impressive skills graduates bring. Take the next step of furthering your career and consider pursuing a Bootcamp near you to gain new knowledge.
2. Research New Tech Trends
Preparing yourself to reenter the workforce in a field that will last a long time can only be done by researching which fields are up and coming. Many tech jobs show promising potential and can be pursued via online degree programs.
For example, many are beginning to pursue full-stack development as a career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field shows an 8 percent growth rate over the next decade, which is an impressive figure considering the number of layoffs that just occurred in industries all over the world.
Entering a career such as this could provide you with a lucrative salary and work for years to come. There are numerous fields exactly like full-stack development that show high growth potential, but they can only be discovered by intensive research into modern tech trends. Take the time you now have on your hands to research what fields are showing promising potential.
Recommended: What Businesses are in High Demand Right Now?
3. Identify a Skill
Now that you have identified the trends that will define the future of work, it’s time to pick a skill to develop. Try to choose one that will apply to the workforce in 10 years. Focus on obtaining skills within tech that will allow you to go into the fields of the future. To do this, focus on a prominent tech trend today and look at the skills needed to work within that trend.
For example, coding was a trend that emerged within the last decade and led to entirely new work fields. Nearly midway through the decade in 2014, there were already an estimated 20 million coders, 11 million of whom were doing it simply as a hobby. Trends such as this can evolve into career opportunities, so keep an eye out for these patterns.
Think about what you do best and how it could be applied to something in tech. For example, analytical skills are likely to be valuable to an employer or help pursue a rising tech trend. This is because a large number of tech companies require analytical workers.
Also Read: MaaS: The Future Of Mobility
4. Improve Your Resume
You must learn how to write a “modern” resume. Unless you’re a younger employee, your skills are probably outdated, as much as that hurts to hear. A study from HR Dive found that recruiters look at a resume about seven seconds on average. If you cannot capture their attention within that small time frame, your resume may be buried… forever.
First, take a look at your resume and decide if it reflects where you want your career path to lead. Update it with the latest experience you had and think about what new skills you have learned during the past few months. Many companies are now looking for employees that possess soft skills such as emotional intelligence and resilience. Adding these skills to your resume could make it stand out.
Besides, part of learning how to write a modern resume is developing modern skills and emphasizing them. It should be noted that the abilities that are worth pursuing the most are tech skills. Technology is radically changing the workforce and any modern resume must-have tech skills somewhere.
5. Build an Impressive LinkedIn Profile
Many hiring managers and employers rely on LinkedIn to find recruits. To increase your chances of landing the right job, make sure to build an impressive LinkedIn profile. The first step is to select a good profile photo that looks professional. This will help you gain employers’ trust.
Secondly, write an eye-catching headline. Most people use the headline field to write their job title. However, you can use this space to say a bit more. For example, you can write about what you actually do as a professional. The third and last step is to write a summary. Make a list of your most relevant abilities, including soft and hard skills. This way, employers will know if you’re prepared for the job.
Related: Glassdoor Alternatives to Find Jobs
6. Learn How to Pitch Yourself
After gaining all the new skills and education you could ever hope to need to launch a new career, you will need to learn how to go through the interview process from start to finish. This means preparing a resume and cover letter and doing research into what the interview process looks like for the specific career you hope to enter.
With that in mind, prepare yourself using mock interviews. Research the common questions you may be asked and any technical questions that may occur as well. Prepare answers to interview questions such as what are your strengths and weaknesses? Structure your answers in a way that shows your unique skills and interests. Making an impact on your interviewers is the best way to stand out from other candidates, and they may be impressed that you took the time after a job loss to update your skills and knowledge for a new field.
Conclusion
As mentioned, millions of people have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and are trying to recover as you are reading this. Don’t be too hasty and dive into the workforce immediately after losing your job. Treat this as an opportunity to brush up on your skills and change the knowledge you bring to the table. Diving back into the workforce right away may result in you entering an industry that is about to be heavily disrupted by technology, which may cause another job loss down the line. Instead, take the time now to set yourself up for a better career that will last far into the future.
