Career Disruptions
Find your footing
Update your footprint
Start Networking
Apply, Apply, Apply
You are not alone
Unexpected Career Disruptions
Unexpected career disruptions can come in many forms and how the affected career professional handles it is unique to their situation. Since a very small percentage will have the opportunity and means to conveniently retire during these times, the most important reaction to unemployment is to map out a path forward. This is difficult for anyone, but especially for those who believed they’d retire in their sector and find themselves needing to get back into the job pool. Most will likely need to apply for Unemployment Benefits (more here: VA & MD), identify relevant resources, update their resume, and tap into both new and existing networks.
So, where to start?
While the first few weeks of unemployment may feel like vertigo (that’s quite normal), our hope is that this list will help you find your true North, where you can then forge your new career path forward.
Aligning your online footprint with a tailored version of your career experience, capabilities, and goals is key. Below is a list of questions and calls-to-action but do keep in mind there is no one-size-fits-all regarding the advice job seekers require or might find useful.
Find your footing: Collect your resources and construct your resume
Review the last version of your resume (or start from scratch) by documenting all of your experience. Some things to consider:
- Review the way you’ve documented your experience and ask yourself a few questions: What’s transferable? What do you never want to do again? What have you been aching to learn or expand on? What jobs are you qualified for right now?
- Have you been documenting your successes over the years? If you’ve just lost access to your work metrics, do attempt to recall the most quantifiable achievements. Using numbers or percentages is a great way to quickly demonstrate the impact of your work.
- Consider the terminology and language used. Is it accessible to those in the private sector? Do the action verbs you’re using imply you owned or only supported a task?
- Don’t get caught up in constructing the perfect resume. Keep it straightforward, do not include personal information like a photo or a street address. Do include dates of employment and all relevant achievements.
- Using those notes, recreate/update your resume so that it aligns with the goals you have set for yourself. It is okay to have more than one version of your resume, but it is not necessary.
Update your footprint: Cast the net
- Update your LinkedIn profile and presence to align with your resume and be sure to have 3-5 bullet points for each position.
- Start building your community and connecting with peers. This is not a small task; it’s an ongoing one and will be necessary in your job search. For most, LinkedIn will serve as a jobseeker hub.
- Check your LinkedIn settings to be sure that you are able to be found by hiring organizations and recruiters when your specific skills and experiences are sought out.
- You may consider a free trial of LinkedIn Premium to help aid your search. -Create a profile and upload your resume to the popular job sites (Indeed, LinkedIn, Dice, Cleared Jobs, etc.). This is an important step because Recruiters may source from these sites or harvest resumes, which is then added to their internal databases.
Put yourself out there: Start networking
- Do you already have a network, community, or club that you may have overlooked in the past? Reach out to those organizations and check their job boards.
- Seek out career fairs and hiring events in your region and/or industry. You can’t plan for happenstance. Show up and be open to unexpected networking opportunities!
- Be intentional and present yourself as such. If you appear too generalized, you may get passed on for the perfect job. Take aim.
- Reach out to your unemployed peers. Find much needed community, opportunity, and support during this time. This is networking at its heart.
- Connect with employed peers that are on a similar trajectory and ask that they send you any leads that come their way if they are not interested. This is an often overlooked, but very fruitful step.
Apply, Apply, Apply
- Set daily goals for yourself. Job searching is a full-time job. Set sustainable goals and adjust them as you get a tighter grasp on your situation.
- Set up notifications for job alerts (Indeed & LinkedIn), and when your target positions are posted you can apply with haste. Fold this into your new routine and be mindful that there is some luck involved, but response time will increase that luck. Timing is important because positions can be closed in as little as 12 hours or when enough applications are received.
- It is perfectly okay to apply to positions when you do not satisfy all pre-requisites. Similarly, it is okay to apply even if you believe you are overqualified. Do not disqualify yourself.
- Track or collect your efforts. There are many ways to stay organized. You can do this using rules in your inbox, by using extensions like Google Keep, and countless other resources, depending on your needs and what OS or browser you prefer.
- Don’t be afraid to follow-up with a recruiter or to apply at a company that previously rejected you. Be an unstoppable self-advocate.
- This is an employers’ market and because of this, you should expect more rejection than you may have experienced in previous years. As previously mentioned, everyone has their own path. See rejection as redirection!
- Be ready when you get the call. Clear your voicemail, check your emails and missed calls. Answer your phone in a professional way.
- Above all, be intentional.
You are not alone
Every person will have a different path and varying emergent needs. Some may choose to upskill while others may take some distance through a much-needed break or a just-for-now job. Do whatever is right for you and/or your family.
Most importantly, remember you are not alone. There are a staggering number of people in your situation right now and as a result, your support system may be much larger than you think. However, if you are struggling with mental health and emotional distress, there are helpful resources for that, too. Click here.
If you found this article helpful, consider sharing it with someone else who might find it useful in this challenging time.
A note from Fortreum’s Recruiting Team:
Currently, we have no open positions on our staff. As opportunities become available, they will be published on our Careers Page.
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Fortreum is an independent firm specializing in audit, advisory, and technical testing services, delivering cybersecurity expertise in highly regulated industries. Our mission is to simplify cloud and cybersecurity challenges for our clients. With nearly 25 years of combined experience in both the public and private sectors, Fortreum is dedicated to addressing our customers’ complex cloud and cybersecurity needs.
For more information, visit the Fortreum website or follow the company on LinkedIn at LinkedIn.com/company/fortreum.
