Play. Pause. Pivot.
After working for over 30 years and for the first time, I have had two career breaks within four short months. Both were involuntary, meaning I did not choose to leave those jobs. I was "let go" twice in a row. What is the worst part about this? Somehow, I felt betrayed, rejected, abandoned, de-valued, and ashamed. I cried, yelled at people who happened to be around me, and I could not sleep well for over a week.
For those of you who have the experience of being fired, can you relate to those sentiments?
Play. Pause. Pivot.
Though self-pity almost got the best of me, I am determined to get back in the game again because I detest involuntary retirement. I believe that I can contribute to society through meaningful and professional work. However, it is tricky to find the right fit and not take the first available job offer.
Spoiler alert. My recent job search resulted in multiple offers. I landed my ideal contract job as an Agile Coach and Project Consultant.
I have learned valuable lessons from my recent job losses. I want to share these lessons with you so that you can land a better job if you were, unfortunately, let go.
You need to know what jobs you are after.
You cannot be all things to all people; you want a job that you get excited about. Therefore, knowing your ideal role, and target market or sector will help you search in the right places.
You need to stay current with your skills and knowledge.
Develop strong characters through lifelong learning. Equip yourself with the relevant certificates and training courses. Companies are always looking for competent people with specific skill sets and experiences. There are plenty of competitions out there since remote work is a reality. People from all parts of the world are competing for the same jobs. Be the best candidate by letting your skills, knowledge, personality, attitudes, and experience speak for you.
You need to learn job search, resume writing, and interview skills.
Start with free training through LinkedIn Learning, read blogs, watch youtube videos, etc. It takes skills and effort to tailor resumes that stand out from machine screening. Companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to short-list candidates. Although you spend hours perfecting your resume, it may not get picked for the HR evaluation. Most resumes did not get read by human eyes.
Leverage the power of LinkedIn and social networking.
Spend time learning how to make your LinkedIn profile stand out. Follow the recent trends since search algorithms are constantly changing. We can help each other through referrals and recommendations. Look out to support a friend or past colleague. Be kind and compassionate always. You will feel better too.
If you are uncertain about which career path you are pursuing, seek help from a life coach or career coach.
A coach can set you up for success because they can support you on the journey of self-discovery. Knowing yourself and finding your passion can result in you picking a job or career that brings joy and fulfillment.
What was your experience after being let go?
How did you recover from the ordeal?
