Few things rock a sense of self more than getting laid off.
I should know, I’ve had 4 employers in the past 18 months. You may immediately think, “What is she doing wrong?” Sometimes I think that myself.
But I work in the garment industry. Unfortunately, like publishing, the music industry, and analog media, my industry is shrinking. And paradigms of these businesses are changing. There is now a permanent freelance and intern class of workers. In shrinking industries such as these, creative job searching is key.
Inevitably, after losing a job, there is a period of grieving. I’ve found the best cure to the bruised ego is to get back into the saddle as soon as possible. Here are my 6 tips for bouncing back, and landing a new position.
I know the word “branding” is overused, but this is the digital age, so we all must package ourselves like a Godiva ballotin. Here are some personal branding tips:
- Polish your resume: There are a ton of websites dedicated to helping you write a great resume. Explore and use them. Here’s one on my faves: http://resume-help.org/resume_writing_tips.htm
- Don’t forget the cover letter: Even with e-mail or online applications, a killer cover letter helps get you noticed.
- Update your LinkedIn profile: Those resume tips above work great here too. Consider investing in a professional profile photo. Repost interesting articles to get your profile noticed, or better yet, write an article showing your writing skills and creativity.
- Scrub your social media presence: Hide all those pics with the red plastic cups.
- Assess your skill set: Be humble enough to admit there is always more to learn. Stay relevant and take classes where needed. Some excellent free choices are: Coursera, MIT Open CourseWare, and even Lynda, LinkedIn’s online learning arm, which offers 10 day free trails.
- Write your elevator pitch: That 30-60 second narrative that tells who you are and why you are perfect for the job. Practice it in front of a mirror till you have it down.
- Network: You never know where a job lead can come, it could be from a friend of a friend. So tell everyone you know that you are looking for a job. Do not be ashamed!
- Practice mock-interviews: Enlist the help of a good friend and role play some interviews. Become comfortable with talking about your accomplishments. Gather quantifiable data about why you are the right choice for the job. “At my previous position, I was able to grow sales by 10% by improving our social media presence.” Our own Career Services here at SPS can provide valuable insights on this step as well as the entire job hunting process.
- Remember to follow up: Don’t forget the thank you notes, the follow-up phone calls, and keep recrafting your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn Profile.
Finding a new job is a full-time job. But with diligence, creativity, and a spirit of adventure, you will land a new post in no time.
Designer, single mom, and ongoing student, Lisa Sheridan is busy juggling life, work, and academics as an undergraduate in the Communication and Media department.
