be prepared for the unexpected

I was just talking with a client about her job search. She worked for her company for about eight years, and everything seemed to be going perfectly. She had been promoted once, and her reviews were good.

And then the axe fell: She got called into the conference room and told her position was being eliminated. Profits were down. Business just wasn’t as good anymore.

For a week or so, she was in shock. She has a teenaged daughter. What would happen to them?

Fortunately, she contacted me, and we are working on her plan. But I offer this story as a cautionary tale. In today’s climate, you never know when you will find yourself unemployed. You may have great credentials and you may even have helped the company earn money. But you can’t take that job for granted.
This is why you must always be prepared so that you if you lose your job, you can hit the ground running.

Here is a checklist you can implement immediately:

1. Keep track of your accomplishments on the job. These will be very valuable if you have to look again. Include dates and descriptions of what you did for the company.
2. Save copies of your great reviews, of emails complimenting your work, and any other collateral that comments on your effectiveness. These will be useful if you need to create a job-search campaign.
3. Get a refreshed résumé that reflects where you are to date. You will have to tweak it later if you apply for specific jobs, but if you have all your accomplishments in order, it will take less time.
4. Keep networking. Join professional organizations in your field. Go to their meetings. Reach out on LinkedIn to peers in your industry and make new professional friendships. Attend conferences. Make connections. You will need them if you find yourself looking for work.
5. Update your LinkedIn profile – or create one if you don’t have one. Employers and recruiters will look at your profile!
6. Keep current on industry trends. Read newsletters. Talk to professional contacts. This will help you greatly to know how you fit into business needs.
7. Get new skills or certifications if you need to. Take a course on Lynda.com, Udemy, LinkedIn, or other platforms. Your employer might pay for relevant training.

Do all of these things and you will prepare yourself to conduct a well-reasoned and confident job search. Because you truly never know what’s going to happen!

Call me at 614-746-4587 for a free assessment, and let’s see what you need to be prepared.