You just lost your job. How can you use this as an opportunity to grow professionally?

1 Assess your situation

The first step after losing your job is to assess your situation and identify your immediate needs and priorities. This may include applying for unemployment benefits, updating your resume, contacting your network, and creating a budget. You may also need to take care of your mental and emotional health and seek support from your family, friends, or a counselor. Assessing your situation will help you cope with the shock and stress of losing your job and give you a sense of direction and control.

2 Evaluate your skills

The next step is to evaluate your skills and identify your strengths and weaknesses as a program coordinator. You can use online tools, such as SkillScan or O*NET, to assess your skills and match them with potential occupations. You can also ask for feedback from your former colleagues, managers, or clients and review your past performance reviews and projects. Evaluating your skills will help you highlight your achievements and areas of improvement and showcase your value to potential employers.

3 Explore your options

The third step is to explore your options and decide what kind of career path you want to pursue. You may want to continue working as a program coordinator in a similar or different industry, sector, or organization. You may also want to switch to a related or new field, such as project management, event planning, or consulting. You may even want to start your own business or freelance as a program coordinator. Exploring your options will help you discover new opportunities and align your career goals with your interests and values.

4 Update your portfolio

The fourth step is to update your portfolio and demonstrate your skills and experience as a program coordinator. Your portfolio may include documents, such as proposals, reports, budgets, timelines, and evaluations, that showcase your work on various programs and projects. You may also include testimonials, references, or letters of recommendation from your former employers, partners, or beneficiaries. Updating your portfolio will help you create a compelling and evidence-based narrative of your professional journey and achievements.

6 Seek new opportunities

The final step is to seek new opportunities and apply for jobs that match your skills, goals, and preferences. You can use online job boards, such as Indeed, Glassdoor, or LinkedIn, to search for program coordinator positions in various sectors and locations. You can also use your network, such as your former colleagues, mentors, or contacts, to get referrals, recommendations, or introductions. Seeking new opportunities will help you find and land your next job as a program coordinator and start a new chapter of your professional growth.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?