If You’re Unemployed, Focus On This : Latest Job Hacks You Need To Know About
Certain things are responsible for stability in life: your family, friends, house, job…But what happens if you suddenly lose one of those? Getting laid off from work can be a devastating experience, and the initial shock is usually followed by panic and uncertainty.
Since the appearance of Covid-19 at the beginning of 2020, Americans have had to deal with strong job insecurity and a challenging economic situation for the country. During these times, it’s important to remember to stay cool-headed and make wise decisions to remain stable during turbulent times. Whether you’ve recently lost your job, or want to be prepared in case it happens, here’s some advice to put into practice.
Make a Plan…Quickly
The sooner you start doing what you need to do, the sooner you’ll get back on track. While dealing with negative feelings is natural, you can’t let them overrun you. The best way to fight it is to get working on your new goal.
Accept what happened. That’s the first thing. Don’t dwell on it, don’t obsessively think about what you could have done differently. The past is the past. You are in front of new opportunities, new challenges, so you need to focus on those instead.
If you don’t have a clear plan, you won’t know where to start working. And too much free time means wasted time, lost opportunities, and room for negative thoughts. That can be truly detrimental to your mental health.
Think Logistics
Right away, there’s a group of logistical matters you need to take care of. Most importantly, consider your finances. Figure out how much money you have to sustain yourself while you find new employment, and how long it will last. Consider what benefits you can apply to, and do so right away.
Determine your monthly budget, and cut back on discretionary expenses. Try to minimize your spending as much as possible. Consider moving in with family or friends, as this will allow you to stretch your savings a lot.
In times of uncertainty, you must organize what you can. This will not only benefit your finances but also ease your mind a little bit. When so many things don’t depend on you, taking control of what you can is wonderful for your mental state.
Establish a Routine
When you don’t have the structure of a job, your daily routine can quickly get out of hand. Don’t allow this to happen. As you will see, your days slip by and you won’t get anything done. Now, more than ever, concentrate on your mission.
Prioritize things that get you closer to your goal. Establish specific times to work on your resume, apply for jobs, or learn new skills that will make you more attractive to potential employers. Structure your time so that your daily activities serve your needs and get you closer to your new job.
Improve Your Work Search
Besides having a routine in your work search, approach the process strategically. Do your research to find out the latest about your target industry, and use that knowledge to guide you in your quest for opportunities.
Find what roles are most in-demand right now, and what skills are wanted. Lately, remote work has become the norm for many companies, so it’s a good idea to improve your tech abilities; nowadays, it’s a very big plus and will make you stand out from your competition.
Focus on quality, not quantity. Avoid sending resumes left and right, indiscriminately. Instead, customize your CV and cover letter for each position you apply for. Understand the importance of keywords, and use them to your advantage. You don’t need to make a whole new resume for each application, obviously, but small, targeted tweaks will make a difference. It will make the application process slower, but will also guarantee some call-backs. Generic proposals will not catch recruiters’ eyes, and you will end up burnt out and unmotivated.
Conclusion:
The US job market is now tougher than ever, so you have to step up your game. You will eventually find a new position, no doubt about that. However, how long it takes you to do it will depend on how you handle the whole process. Be consistent, and results will come.