How to Successfully Manage Your Time During Unemployment
Speaking from personal experience, being laid off during the middle of a pandemic is probably one of the least fun things that can happen to a person in their career. A victim of a COVID-19 layoff in June of 2020, I was forced to go into full-on career coach mode, but this time for myself. In that time I did a few things that were key to my success in finding full-time work again, and I’d like to share them in the hopes that they may help anyone else out there suffering from unemployment.
Begin networking immediately
When I was laid off, I was truly surprised. I had just had a conversation with my boss a few weeks prior where I had been reassured that my job was not on the chopping block, but business is business and circumstances change. I was completely stunned, and it was an emotional blow for sure. One of my first feelings was panic—what was I going do without a job in the middle of a pandemic where thousands of companies were trimming down their staff? I arrived home later that day in a puddle of tears, quickly realizing that nobody was going to feel sorry for me but myself. After taking a minute to gather myself, I quickly logged onto LinkedIn and Facebook and shared a post immediately about the circumstances of my layoff, and announcing that I was looking for contract or full-time work. The very next day, my inbox was full of messages, inquiries, and people reaching out to help or interview me.
Make a schedule, and stick to it
The day after I was laid off, I woke up at 7am, got a workout in, and sat down at the kitchen counter to begin digging into my messages and emails and updating my resume. I remember my husband asking me, “Why don’t you take a few days off and just relax?” But I knew that wouldn’t work for me. Instead, I kept a regular sleeping/waking schedule and formed the best routine I could while giving myself afternoons to relax and enjoy other activities like reading, biking, and painting. Each morning I would wake up and work out, followed by time at my laptop all morning until lunch applying to jobs, reporting to Texas Workforce Commission for my unemployment, and networking. This schedule kept me accountable, and didn’t allow me to let days slide by without any job applications or efforts to get that much closer to full-time employment again.
Set realistic goals
This one seems obvious, but it’s incredibly important. I often hear my clients tell me they’ve applied to “hundreds” of jobs without hearing back, which is an enormous red flag. Realistic goals are important, and the effort put in will often match the outcome. If you’re applying to “hundreds” of jobs, that means you’re not taking the time to customize your resume or cover letters to truly show your interest in the position. If you set realistic goals (mine was 3-5 applications a day), you’ll be able to spend more time researching jobs and companies you’re truly interested in, and curating your application materials to maximize your chances at landing an interview. The added benefit is that you’ll feel more accomplished after completing them each day, which will build confidence and momentum in your search and overall success.
Market yourself
Make sure you’re spending time to refresh any of your employer-facing materials. If you have an online portfolio, take this chance to go post to your blog or update your case studies and work samples. If you have a LinkedIn profile, have a friend help you take a new headshot and make sure your job descriptions, headlines, and skills all make you more easily found by recruiters and employers who are looking for your skillset.
Grow your skills
Use your downtime to help make yourself more employable. If there’s a course you’ve been wanting to take, or a certification you’ve been trying to complete, now’s your chance! Many services have been offering steep discounts to help unemployed individuals come back into full-time employment, so take advantage of your time to research what’s free or within the realm of your budget.
Use your support system
You’re not alone. Unemployment can be a bleak, scary time, especially if you don’t have a healthy emergency fund, or if your unemployment doesn’t come through immediately. It’s hard, but reaching out to connect with others and utilizing your support system can make all the difference. Whether it’s your spouse, a sibling, a parent, or a best friend, lean on those around you and voice your struggles. Talking through them will help you stay grounded and overcome those challenges and push through to success on the other side.
Ask for help
As the saying goes, you won’t know until you ask. Don’t be afraid to leverage your network, which hopefully you’ve invested in, and ask for help. Whether it’s for an introduction, or a resume review, a mock interview, anything. Everyone is stretched pretty thin these days with the state of the world, but many of us are eager to help when we see so many around us hurting. And ask yourself the same question—how can I help? Maybe you have something valuable to offer in exchange for the help that you need.
All in all, I was incredibly lucky that I had the motivation and a good support system to help me take my own advice, and my own employment only lasted a mere six weeks. These are some of the steps I found helpful, but I’d love to know what you’ve found to be helpful as well. Drop a comment below and share what helped you get through your period of unemployment, or what you’re struggling with right now so that we can try to help!
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Need some career coaching help? Drop me a line and let’s chat about your needs. Worried that you need help but can’t afford it right now? Send me an email and let’s see if I might be able to help.