How To Get Ready For An Unexpected Job Search: When Jeff Bezos Says "Batten Down the Hatches" What Does That Mean For YOU + Your Job + Career? #gogo

I talk to EVERYONE. I think you all probably can guess that about me. On Friday night I was going home on the train about 6 PM and I was chatting with a young gentleman who was in his first year of working at an investment bank in NYC. He grew up in my town.

I asked him what he thought of the economy and he said it's really bad. I said do you think we're going into a depression, and his response without missing a beat was "100%."

Agreeing with him - I nodded my head yes! It scares the hell out of me even though I've been preparing for this for over 5 years. I'm concerned about everyone who thinks this economy is great or for those who don't get what's about to hit.

In 2001 my naive and foolish attitude caught up with me. I'd ignored the signs of interviews being cancelled and layoffs. Ignoring the signs of a tornado coming towards you isn't mature or responsible. I had a job full time job at a staffing agency (a job I was lucky to land) with a very low base and a part time job at night and the weekends at Williams-Sonoma. There was no hiring so no commissions and I was petrified. I put myself in that position but not being ahead of the 8 ball. That would never happen again. I learned my lessons.

As I look back 21 years later I know retrospect is 20/20. Please learn from my mistakes and get prepared now. When the recession of 2008 hit - I had an incredible few years that followed because I learned from my mistakes. This is cyclical, and we've been printing money for way too long. When this hits you want to be able to be ready to pivot ASAP.

What To Do NOW To Prepare For An Unexpected Job Search:

GET ORGANIZED.

YOUR RESUME (I can hear the UGHHHHHHHS right now!) No one wants to even talk about their resumes (but me, right?)

This is going to sound BASIC but most people don't update their resume until they're forced to do it. Your resume needs to move and move swiftly. (NOTE: if you go to my website I have a guide on how to update your resume (www.laurenmcdonaldgogogo.com) You'll sign up for a self-care guide and then receive emails - in those emails you'll receive tips on what to do with your resume. You don't need to spend money on a resume writer or a career coach. You need to sit down at a library or in your home and GET IT DONE.

Make sure you have my phone number in your phone. If you get laid off we can get back to you in 48 hours. If it's on the weekend we can get back to you early the next week. My phone number is 917-540-8867 (write Lauren McDonald GOGOGO). You can text me and I can tell you what the next step will be if you want help. My recs? Be in my texts and my emails now and you can get more tips to avoid all of this and the information I don't share here on LI.         

Your LinkedIn profile should ONLY be updated if you're NOT employed or if you're consulting. Be VERY wary about updating your LinkedIn profile if you're currently employed. If HR sees activity or updating they might think you're looking for a new job, marketing yourself, or interviewing. YOU DON'T WANT HR AT YOUR CURRENT COMPANY TO THINK YOU'RE INTERVIEWING! They're paranoid and will freak out. They watch this stuff and if you think they don't - you're lying to yourself. BE VERY GUARDED. Update your resume on a computer that is a personal computer (your company doesn't own it) and make sure that if you have software on your computer from your current employer you borrow a friend's computer. When you email your resume to yourself maybe use an email address that you've never used before - I have stories that would blow your minds about companies going into people's emails, or reading their text messages. You can NEVER be too safe. For years people fought me on this on LinkedIn (I started sharing daily here in 2016.) Now people write me and tell me everything I said wasn't kooky - it was truth.

REFERENCES: Way too many people wait to contact references until it's too late. Getting people to call back for references is a nightmare. Please have a list of folks you trust will give you a GLOWING recommendation and have their phone numbers and email addresses updated in your notes section on your phone. Reach out to them when things are great and talk to them about them. Don't be transactional when it comes to asking folks to help you. Warm it up long before you need something. Also don't forget to prep them for these references. Making a cheat sheet to send them on what you want them to focus on if you ask them to be a reference is appreciated as people like to make these as quick as possible. You don't want them to rush them and most people say things like "I loved working with them." or "They were great to work for" - we need them to give details elevator pitch descriptions not be Victor Vague.

Don't tell everyone and their mother. Just like dating people don't love people who are like PICK ME LOVE ME HOLD ME. :) Sounding needy or pushy with your job search regardless of how bad it is - well that's NEVER a strategy. Keep your wits about you, and know you didn't do anything wrong (even if you did don't share that). Stay focused - make sure you're receiving my emails - and know that if you're prepared you're ready to roll. You'll save time on the front end of this when you have the admin pieces set up and ready to go.

The worst thing? You have an updated resume, and references ready to go and you stay with your current job. If it's not this - I'm here and ready for you, and a text, pm, or email away.

Thank you for reading and subscribing to my email. I appreciate you listening to my rally cry - one that keeps you employed and if you're not - I'd love to be a part of seeing you on the other side of this with a new job and a new sense of self and accomplishment.

HAPPY ALMOST WEEKEND AND GO YANKEES! #GOGOGO #youvegotthis

Lauren