Massive layoffs abound. You can’t go a day without scrolling, reading, or hearing about a round of layoffs, many times affecting employees from different departments. While it is disheartening and I won’t give advice like, “Just get a job anywhere”, I will say you may have to switch careers and/or industries. But how do you switch careers? Or what should you do while you look for a new job? Here are the actions and courses I took that prepped me for a job while I was waiting.
Professional Help
If you can, have your resume and LinkedIn redone professionally. I had both done by Melba Tellez of Mujers on the Rise. You want to focus on your skills, but make sure to point out your accomplishments at each job. Did you meet tight deadlines, hit XYZ number of client expectations, lead a team, or even interns? Please brag about your accomplishments on the resume. Keywords are also important, yes that means tailoring your resume to each job description. But that doesn’t mean to change your resume completely, but recognizing what might be important to mention in your resume, if it seems important in the job description.
Once you get your interview date, it’s time to study like if you’re trying to get into Harvard. Think about it, you should know that if you were blessed to get the interview, there are at least two other people they may be interviewing as well. So why not give yourself a leg up? What are you studying for? How to introduce yourself while mentioning your accomplishments and why you’re a good fit.
Summarize your previous jobs or experience and how you can transfer those skills to the new position. And be prepared to answer questions, general and specific to your industry. And PLEASE have questions prepared to ask. Even if you’re asking the wrong person, your questions should cover the day-to-day, environment, the managing style of your boss, company culture, your team, and of course follow-up info after the interview.
These are all things I learned from Melba! She will teach you so much more through her services and help with your confidence in networking, interviewing, and more with all the knowledge she shares. Check her out and tell her Tabitha’s blog sent you, I’ve referred people to her in the past and highly recommend her!
Get Agents
Yes, AGENTS, not an AGENT. Give your resume to all the job agencies that pertain to your industry, and if you are willing, and I dare say you will have to, outside your industry, I have had more than one and dealt with many job agencies both in the creative fields and beyond. Your skills 9 times out of 10 are transferable to different industries. And talk to the agents about your resume and LinkedIn profile! Ask for their professional opinion. If they offer to help you practice for an interview or give you tips on what to ask and expect, why not take the help?
IF you can, get agents in different states. Most agencies have offices in more than one state, so ask if your resume can be shared with neighboring states. Make it clear that you appreciate the agent you’re working with, but perhaps another state has your job. My agents were always in New York and then New Jersey but I was willing to look elsewhere. Talk to them, and be in regular contact with them. If the agent is not burnt out, and you create a good rapport with them, this should be your new BFF.
Courses to Help You Switch Careers
I mentioned transferable skills earlier, which should help you transition industries. But you might have to take a new course or class to get a job. I know, because I took some, added them to my resume and LinkedIn, and received interviews where the person mentioned or asked me about them. Courses tell potential employers this person was trying to educate or better themselves while they were looking for jobs. You might have to pay, but look out for free courses as well.
Yellowbrick– I highly recommend Yellowbrick if you are in a creative field. They have partnerships with FIT, Parsons, and FIDM via their courses.
Harvard Business School Online: Leadership and Management
Rutgers University; Cyber Security Bootcamp
Google: Google Analytics Academy
FREE Courses:
And so many more colleges, universities, and websites offer legit online learning and certifications. Please do your research and take the one/s you think can help further your prospects and of course, the ones you can afford.
Courses I Took
The New School: Media Writing Essentials Certificate Course via Yellowbrick
This is a course usually for people with some background in media who want to add to their careers. Although I believe you can apply as a newbie as well. At the time they also had a scholarship that you could apply for. I won a partial scholarship which cut down the cost. There were no physical books or locations and everything was online. Although I already knew a lot, this course did teach me new things and reinforced my knowledge at the time. I knew the course was legit because The New School is a reputable college for creatives. The course took me a year to finish, as the lessons had projects, tests, videos, and articles you had to complete, and you’re expected to evaluate peers. A year is the normal timeline, but if you need to extend it, you can for a fee.
Glamour Presents: How to Tell Your Story via Udemy
This course covered how to be a good journalist and work in media. Staff from Glamour magazine taught the basics of putting together stories and how they can gain traction and make an impact on society. While this course was less involved, it was a good way to understand the journalism field. It consisted of watching videos, and Udemy has an app so you can watch them on the go. This course should take you a few days to a few weeks depending on how fast you’re watching the videos.
You may well be thinking “I have to go back to school!?” “Have to study?” “Do projects and take tests?” I know it can be tedious, especially if you already have a degree or multiple. But unfortunately, in today’s economy that might be what it takes! When I was taking the courses mentioned, it cost me money and time, I wasn’t sure would help me in the future. But I looked at it as an investment in myself, and hopefully a step forward in my career. Which I believe is the best way to look at it. So try not to be discouraged when taking these courses, look at them as possible ways to open doors in the future.
Wishing you the best! The economy can’t stay this way forever and jobs will get back to hiring. Your time will come! Let me know if you’ve taken courses and how they helped you in the comments and on social.- T.S.
What do you think?