Bouncing back from job loss – A playbook on resiliency and finding way forward
Losing a job has become a common situation, many of people we know are going thru during the current crisis. In fact, the churn is business has been accelerating, even before the pandemic hit. If you are one of them, it is important to not take this to heart and/or consider this as a personal failure. In fact, it is best to accept and move on towards landing the next job, fast.
In this playbook, I have tried to distil my learnings along with suggested steps, templates, and tried best practices collated over the years, which can help you go through this journey of landing your next job faster & better.
What is happening around us?
According to Asia–Pacific Employment and Social Outlook 2020: Navigating the crisis towards a human-centered future of work estimates, the economic backlash of the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out some 81 million jobs in 2020, impacting all economies.
The impact of the crisis has been far-reaching, with underemployment surging as millions of workers are asked to work reduced hours or no hours at all. Overall, working hours in Asia and the Pacific decreased by an estimated 15.2 per cent in the second quarter and by 10.7 per cent in the third quarter of 2020, relative to pre-crisis levels.
According to the report, most countries in the region saw a larger decline in employment for women than men. Young people have also been especially affected by working-hour and job losses. The youth share in overall employment loss was 3 to 18 times higher than their share in total employment. The report shows a clear picture of young people and women being pushed out of work compared to other workers. With increased unemployment, young workers are likely to find it difficult to compete for new jobs.
Even before the crisis, we have been witnessing a huge churn in business for last many years now – everything around us has been changing significantly and often unpredictably due to evolution of new technologies, slowing down of economic growth, geopolitical confrontations, add to that health and financial crisis. Companies are struggling to stay afloat against new competition emerging from hitherto unknown niches. The fear of becoming irrelevant and business model dying is very real.
The average lifespan of a company listed in the S&P 500 index of leading US companies has decreased by more than 50 years in the last century, from 67 years in the 1920s to just 15 years today.
Against this backdrop, the jobs are in a huge flux as well – the models of business and job descriptions of the past may not be valuable qualification for future jobs e.g., traditional marketing experience relevance in Digital led Marketing now or Manager roles in increasing automation of processes and flattening of organizations. Corporate drive to hire more millennials and gender diversity candidates is reducing opportunities for mid-career male executives. More people are fighting to stay in their current jobs and get into a reduced pool of available jobs. This is also likely to give rise to an overall feeling of scarcity / fear leading to politicking and negative behaviors out of a sense of sheer self-preservation both from peers and superiors.
Important to accept the situation early and move on
Losing Job is quite commonly likely scenario these days – the reasons can be many: Workforce optimizations, organization flattening, company going out of business, shutting some divisions, outsourcing non-core functions, automation etc. In many ways, it is not a question of “if”, but “When”. It is quite a bit more likely to hit many of us over coming months/years than ever before.
Therefore, it is important to not take this to heart and/or consider this as a personal failure or something missing in oneself. It is just a stage in your journey and you need to continue moving forward.
The faster you accept/acknowledge the situation and move on to finding next opportunity, the better you are placed to find a new job.
Do take some down time to accept/digest the loss, reflect over the situation and begin to think how to deal with it and find your next job. This is likely to help you keep calm, more collected to handle it, and more importantly sustain over a period till you find your next job.
Keeping Positivity and faith is very important, as you are likely to project in your interactions how you feel. You need to create the right attitude to attract opportunities to you.
There is much less significance, if not totally zero judgement, attached to being without a job socially and professionally nowadays. Once you are in this stage, you will be amazed how many friends/colleagues you will find in a similar situation – who may share now with you more openly.
Action needed from you
Getting Started
List down all possible sources from where you could secure a job.
Personal and Professional Contacts
Make a list of every one you have ever got in touch with:
Go online and check their current Jobs + Career History. You will learn a lot and will be able to seek targeted help intelligently and also be aware how/where you can leverage them along your journey of job search.
Reach out to “ALL” of them with a short note sharing your current situation and seeking help without sounding desperate – be clear and succinct – avoid beating around the bush – people have short attention span in the age of social media – make it easy for them to understand and help you.
Request for further contacts and suggestions, in case they are not in a position to help directly. There is no point being conservative, holding back and being shy here – you don’t know what will come out of it, till you ask – some people you expected to help may not do so, but you will be surprised that there will be many whom you did not expect to, will step up and go out of their way to help & support you.
In any case the worse that can happen is a decline or lack of response even after reminder/follow-up, which is alright and can happen in any situation – nothing personal: they may be busy, attending to something personal or even dealing with a similar situation themselves, for all you know.
Ask your friends/people who are forthcoming to support you, to keep an eye out for suitable openings and ping you when they see one. Accept these and thank them, when they do so – avoid mentioning it, in case you already knew or do not see a great fit – please make sure to appreciate their intent, thank them for taking the effort and encourage to keep doing so on your behalf – use the multiplier force – we alone may miss something interesting on our own that another person may come across and notice for us – I have myself seen a number of relevant opportunities come to me this way and many times they also bring a relevant contact and suggestions with it.
2. Head-hunters
?Make a List of Head-hunters
Refresh any head hunters who may have gotten in touch with you in the past
Search for Top Placement Firms in your country/region/industry/function – check their websites to identify the right consultant handling your functional area & industry for the country you are in.
?Drop them a short note with your credentials via their website, direct email ID if available and through LinkedIn (All Head-hunters will be on LinkedIn – it is an occupational requirement today). Keep the tone friendly and ask for a short conversation to connect or meet over coffee, if in same location.
Track openings published on their website, enrol for their newsletters, and follow their company page on LinkedIn.
3. Company Recruiters
Make a list of all possible companies who could be your future employers:
?Research these companies online – Wiki, Company website, SlideShare, Latest News/Videos to get a basic understanding of financials, business growth areas and culture/values.
Stay on top of any opportunities through your connections and public listings
Find out key contacts in each company – HR Head, Recruiter(s), Functional Head in your area, CEO etc. See if you can reach out to them through someone on LinkedIn or otherwise in your network.
Start reaching out to them both for published opening and otherwise.
Try to read posts from relevant people in these companies on LinkedIn/Twitter and engage/make some comments – who knows, it may get you noticed and connected to a decision maker there.
4. Job Portals
?Register on other emerging social channels on Job news – Indeed, Experteer, Glassdoor and any others prominent local channels in your geography. There may be some duplication, but you are less likely to miss an opening and be in touch with latest updates on hiring front.
Turn on the settings on your LinkedIn profile to show recruiters that you are actively looking for opportunities and your availability to join / start off immediately.
Set a Job Alert on LinkedIn – Download the application(s) on your mobile for instant/easy access in addition to laptop.
5. Industry events / conferences / meet-up groups
Keep track of them and try to attend as many as possible – you can try to get complementary access through your contact network and even pay for some, that seem worth the investment – these will help you be in touch with latest developments, see demos, be aware of Industry Buzz and meet relevant people to expand your network.
You can do the same with online events/webinars. It may be helpful to have a business card as independent professional and have your email domain, as many events/webinars require Business cards or require a non-free email ID to register.
?Find out about your alumni activities and try to attend any get-togethers etc. – these are good places to refresh/revive connections with classmates – they are more likely to help you than others.
Building your personal digital brand
Refresh your profile online on professional social channels, mainly LinkedIn, Twitter, SlideShare – Update Picture, Headline, Summary, Job History, Courses.
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Do regular posts and blogs, if you can, to showcase your expertise/point of view among knowledgeable people/influencers/decision-makers in your industry/professional community.
At the very minimum, set aside 45 minutes every day to read posts on important topics/from visible thought leaders and comment on them.
Thinking through and presenting your personal value proposition
You should be clear and sharp in presenting your value proposition: It is also an opportunity to take a long, hard look at what you have to offer an employer, who would need you most and why should they hire you over everyone else.
Spend time to think and write down answers to the following questions:
What knowledge has your education imparted you, as your degrees are still your BIG credentials – Graduation Stream – what subjects you liked and did well in. Same for Post-Graduation – what was/were your institute particularly well known for, what projects/subjects you chose/did well in, any subsequent trainings/executive development programs etc. did you attend in your jobs
Jog your memory and rebuild your past assignments, what was the brief, how did you do it from the perspective of knowledge, skills, people – How was the success measured – quantitatively & qualitatively, what were the obstacles that you overcame during the assignment, were there any accolades/public appreciation that was given for the project.
Use all of the above to answer the questions below:
Note: These should together meet at least >60% of the requirements in the Job Description
Decide the boundaries around opportunities available
Depending on size of opportunity pool, re-think which of these you may need to relax to increase the overall size of options available to you
Craft the following
Thoughts on stage, when interviews start
Research the industry – Overall size estimates, CAGR, Driving Factors, how is it changing/dealing with current digital transformations, Top Players & their share of market/revenue/profits, how concentrated is the industry, Share of your country in the overall market, leaders/influencers in the Industry, Any disruptive changes in the past/present or in the offing for future
Read up on the company – Its origins, founding fathers, any specific stories/quirks associated with early stage- read Company page, Wikipedia, see company news/videos etc. to feel comfortable about the company and be clear what you like about them – Most companies tend to ask, “Why do you want to join us?” These can help you frame your answer around, how do they stand in their Industry? What is unique about them? How do your aspirations align with their roadmap etc.?
Follow them on LinkedIn, Twitter to track latest news on them – refer to these in days leading up the interview and on the day of the interview – you should be well informed, in case they announce their results, leadership changes, acquisitions, product launches etc.
Read up on company culture – Values, Key Tenets, Employee blogs/videos, Ranking in Great Place to Work, Company statements on Diversity/Sustainability/Women in leadership positions/Millennial Workforce etc. Companies are passionate about their culture and look for fit of employee with that. Think of examples, how you have demonstrated these values in your career in the past and your views on gender equality, age diversity and environmental sustainability etc.
Research your interviewers on LinkedIn, Twitter – read their blogs/posts. Know their professional history – education, institutes, companies, roles progression, where they lived and worked, any common contacts etc. Check news, images and videos they may have appeared in – you can get a fair idea of what they look like, their views on industry issues and their interaction style from the videos. These can prepare you well and adjust your approach in advance of the interview, especially in case of remote interviews by phone or video….and even for a face to face.
Make notes for digesting the amount of information you are devouring at this stage and be able to refer later as needed.
The interview process
For the interview
Dress in line with company culture – err a bit on the conservative side, but you do not want to be completely out of line or seem archaic e.g. while a formal suit may be best for an older enterprise company, a Khaki Trouser + nice Denim Shirt with or without blazer may work well for a new age digital company or start up. Make sure they are clean, ironed and do not get crumpled or sweaty on your way to the interview.
In any case, plan to arrive 30 minutes early to account for any delays on the way, time taken in security registration etc. and give you time to familiarise yourself with the place, refresh/use restroom / groom yourself before the actual meeting. If you reach too early, wait in the building lobby – best to enter their office/reception 15 minutes in advance.
Observe the office setting, any awards, mission/ values statements displayed in the reception, dressing/ interaction styles of employees passing through there. Make sure you are polite and make friends with the receptionist.
In the interview
Try to be yourself, while demonstrating genuine enthusiasm, curiosity and attentiveness – set yourself as a peer conversation and not Boss/employee conversation as much as possible.
Sit straight, keep your hands in your lap, slightly lean in, make Eye contact and have some casual chit chat on weather, current news, sports etc. to break the ice at the start of the interview, if possible.
Listen to the questions fully and observe the interviewer’s style carefully. Ask for time to think/gather your thoughts where you need to.
Keep track of the time – was it set for 60 min, 45 min or 30 min – you have to get your key selling points through in a concise manner and leave some time at the end to ask questions from interviewers.
Writing down your answers to the likely common questions and practicing in advance can give you a better sense of timing and ensure that all answers tie in with each other.
Thank the interviewer for their time and ask for next steps, depending on how your interview has gone, what is their style during the discussion and if they haven’t already indicated to you. You should try to get the interviewer’s business card for reference/ability to connect with them over email & phone if needed.
Once you get back, do make note of how your discussion went, questions they asked, responses you gave etc. – these will be very handy to refer, at next stage of your interview and in case you have a second discussion with the same person. This will also throw up areas where you need to prepare more for next stage of the process.
After the interview
Do write a short Thank you note thanking them for their time, re-capping any key points from the interview, stating strong points from your profile in support of your candidature and expressing enthusiasm for moving forward in the process with them. This should go out in 24 hours of your interview. You can also reach out and send them a request to connect on LinkedIn with a short note.
?Track and send a gentle follow up note if you do not hear for 2 weeks – better to check with HR recruiter or head-hunter first if they are interfacing with you. It is good to write a thank you note even if you receive a decline, thanking them and expressing enthusiasm re-connecting for future opportunities, while stating disappointment over not making through the process for the current position.
Connect with the recruiter/HR contact also through LinkedIn – they may be a helpful source, should they move to another company of your interest, in near term – you never know about these things.
All these will make you knowledgeable about many industries, organizations and people through this interview cycle – you may not have had time or reason to do so in your job tenure. These notes / learnings will be quite handy, whenever you next need them – try to stay in touch/keep working on new areas of learning even after you join a job.
Keeping yourself together through the job search
Patience & tenacity: “Finding a Job” is a “full time Job” in itself and can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years from account of feedback from various people who have gone through or are going through it. Therefore, it is important to sustain your morale and keep yourself in your best form through this phase.
Health: It is important to take care of your health – exercise, proper eating, adequate sleep: Make it a schedule and stick to it, now that you have luxury of time at your hand. Avoid any tendency to take it easy or laze too much. You will look good, appear energetic and be at your best during the interviews, with the help of a health regimen.
Time Schedule: Make a routine similar to office work – get ready every morning, start your day at 9.30-10 am, address your emails, check new openings, read on industry news, follow up on contacts and discussions. Take a regular lunch break (and a nap, if you like), use the afternoon to do some online learning etc. Finish your day at appropriate time like office to have time for family, personal interests etc.
Family: Support of family and especially your spouse is super critical during this period. Make sure you spend quality time with them and try not to pass stress of job hunting to them too much. This is a gift of time that you did not probably have during busy period in the job. They will enjoy it and you will feel rejuvenated – plan morning/evening walks, park visits, board games etc. – you may look back and cherish these, once you are back in the hectic work environment. Talk out, share and bounce off your thoughts with your spouse – you will feel lighter, have a second opinion on your thoughts and they will feel involved/aware of what you are going through.
Keep some personal time – to have fun, follow your hobbies, read fiction, watch any missed out movies/TV series etc. You will need some relaxation too.
Do not shun social events/gatherings – participate in these as you would do otherwise – there is no need to feel bad about not being in a job at present. You can share a pre-crafted succinct narrative and focus on socializing/enjoying the event. Do feel free to ask help/connections from any relevant people there.
Keep faith in God – seek divine guidance and support – articulate in a manner that you ask for what you want and not what you “Don’t want” – avoid feeling like a victim “why me” or feeling demotivated, if things are not turning out in your favour. It is just a matter of time- this phase will also pass and you will find your next opening – this is an experience that you/I are meant to go through, learn from it and move to the next better opportunity – there is always a light at the end of the tunnel – God opens a new door, when He closes the previous one – keep your trust and keep going (Although do review what is repeatedly not working and adjust your approach/pitch)
Thanks for reading. It was pleasing to bring this to you. If you know anyone who could benefit from this playbook, please share it with them.
CMO | Martech & Data-driven B2B Marketing Expert | Brand & Comms Strategist | Microsoft, Nokia & SAP Alumnus (views are personal)
1 年Well put Rajesh , I incidentally missed this when u posted it last but came on my timeline today and so relatable even today and especially in the current massive cuts in Tech industry. I am sure it gives immense resource for people in need today. Thnx for articulating it so beautifully!
Chief Commercial & FinTech Officer | Nation-building | Storytelling | IIMA
1 年Congratulations Rajesh Kumar for putting a very timely post when the world is so uncertain and volatile. I witnessed your inspiring resiliency and fast decision making during the time. You truly exemplified the saying “turn a crisis into opportunity”. Happy for you and thanks for sharing the wisdom.
Head IT, Buhler India CoC
3 年Rajesh - This is a very comprehensive and ready-to-use writeup with excellent templates. Well thought through! It provides a real good structure to come back fighting. Great job, Sir.
So true my friend. Perfectly said as always. This is a reality for so many. The onus is equally on companies to ensure that those transitioning out are dealt with gently. Sadly the urgent often overrides the important. In The fullness of time our ability to see people for all that they are and all that we impact when we must retrench will be what matters. And what will be remembered.
Sr Vice President, Global Sales & Marketing Operations @ GENPACT | B2B | Sales | Operations | Strategy | Marketing
3 年This is really well put together piece of work Rajesh Kumar. You’ve covered the emotional aspects of this really well. Thanks for taking the time to put this together and sharing.