Being laid off is never fun. Really, beyond the financial hit, it's quite demeaning to your mental health, emotional well-being, and it can even affect your physical health.
I've been told before by those in my life that I'm very tactful and efficient when it comes to landing interviews and attention from recruiters/hiring managers. Part of that stems from the innate survival instinct of fight or flight. My anxiety heightens my fight instinct and I begin to function in an almost over-efficient job-hunting strategist.
I, by no means, am a consultant for careers or employment resources. But, here are some tips on how I've diversified myself as a millennial in the job market:
Microsoft Templates are Yawn-Inducing: unless you have attention grabbing education and experience such as an Ivy League school or working for a Fortune 500 company, you should really switch up your game. Look for a template that's compatible with your word processor or the software through which you plan to format your resume.
Diversify your Skill Set in your Spare Time: of course, we all want to just relax or do fun things in our free time. Whether it's a couple hours between class and work or a weekend in bed to detox from a harsh week, while you binge the latest season of something on Netflix, open up a new tab and teach yourself some basic new-age career survival skills.
Organization- Digital, Mental, Emotional, Goals: Organization is everything! It really is. Before you even set up an Excel sheet to track your application process, organize your resume content - experience, education, notable wins, skills, references, job titles. Then you can move on to career mapping. What kind of job are you looking for? Part-Time, Full-Time, Contract....etc. What is the average pay in your area for your experience? Break that down into hourly and monthly net and gross. Benefits? Hours you're willing to work? Remote or in Office? Commute? What is your 5 year career goal? Look up what job titles or positions may help with that. Administrative Assistant and Customer Service Representative positions are tedious and notorious for driving people insane, but these positions are the foundation for any business management, marketing....really any job that involves working in an office environment of any kind.
Persistence and Diligence = Can't Stop Won't Stop:Persistence and Diligence = Can't Stop Won't Stop: Here is the factor that when I tell people about this they go "you do that?" and hiring managers have complimented me on repeatedly. I keep track of all my applications in an Excel spreadsheet - the contact info, title, pay, date submitted resume/app...etc. I also include follow-up methods and responses. A big key in business is follow up. Especially when you're starting at the bottom and working up. Employers want someone who is going to work their hardest and dedicate themselves. If you treat your job search like your job, it will show when you make contact and interview, trust me.
Self-Care will Save Your Sanity: I get it, this time is extremely scary, especially if you're like me and completely support yourself. You're worried about bills and surviving, but trust me, it will be okay. So you don't go insane and have a depressive breakdown, practicing self-care is hard and feels like a little waste of time, but it's going to save you in the end. Make sure you do something for yourself every day, whether it's exercising, taking a nap, cooking, reading a book, cleaning...do something to make yourself feel good and productive outside of submitting resumes and updating cover letters.
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