How to navigate your career during uncertain times

A lot of people are worried about their careers thanks to ongoing economic uncertainty. Headlines are popping up about hiring freezes and layoffs in some industries like tech and housing. Some people are talking about a possible recession. Then, we’re all feeling the pain of rising prices. How do you guard your career against an uncertain future? The key is to focus on what you can control and turn your anxiety into action. A couple of ways to do that are to build your professional network and be ready to look for work in case you lose your job.

You’re probably seeing a lot of headlines about inflation, layoffs, hiring freezes and the possibility of a recession. Many of these issues are showing up in your everyday life, such as higher prices at the store, longer job searches in some industries and an increase in anxiety levels.

If that last item — anxiety — hits close to home for you, you’re not alone. A poll that I ran on LinkedIn showed that nearly two-thirds of respondents were either worried or very worried about their careers due to the ongoing economic uncertainty. About a third said they weren’t concerned about it. The rest said they were unsure.

Whether or not inflation persists or we slip into a recession is unknown. Additionally, it’s impossible to predict where layoffs might hit. What are you supposed to do? The answer is to always focus on what you can control during times of uncertainty.

There are a few areas within the career space where you can focus your attention during this time. The hope is that these areas give you productive actions to work on instead of occupying your time with worry.

Networking and building relationships

Networking gets a very bad reputation because so many people think of it as an awkward interaction that takes place at mixers or formal events. The reality is that the most important networking takes place on your own terms as you try to build a professional relationship with another person.

Spending time building a strong and active network of professional connections can help a lot when times get tough. If you do get laid off, a strong network can spring into action to help connect you with another opportunity. The network can also help when times aren’t difficult by connecting you with jobs or hiring managers.?

The key to a strong network is to build it when you need it least because it allows the relationship to build naturally without pressure. For example, it can taint a budding relationship if one of the people knows the other person is simply looking to get something like a job or endorsement out of the conversation.

What do you need to know about networking? We’ve covered this topic in a previous edition of #GetHired, which is my newsletter focused on job searches. The key steps are:

• Start with people you know: Don’t worry about immediately networking with strangers. Ask your friends, former classmates, current colleagues and other people in your orbit for chats.?
• Build momentum: When you’re meeting with people you already know, ask if they know of anyone else you should talk to about your industry or area of interest. Then, see if they will make an introduction so you can schedule a chat with that person.
• Ask for information — not favors: Many networking conversations are ruined when one of the people asks for a big favor during the discussion. A good example is a person asking the other for a job referral after they’ve just met. The key is to focus on just asking for information and waiting to make a bigger request when the relationship is well-established.
• Make it a routine: Networking is not a one-and-done activity. In fact, it’s something that should be a normal part of your weekly routine. For example, set a goal to dedicate an hour to networking each week (30 minutes reaching out to someone and 30 minutes for the conversation). Regularly checking in with people is a foundational element of a strong and active network.

Be Prepared

No one likes to think that they are going to suddenly find themselves out of work, but it happens from time to time. After all, millions of people suddenly found themselves out of work when the first wave of COVID-19 brought the world to a near standstill. You can’t prevent yourself from being on the receiving end of a layoff or furlough, but you can be prepared.

How can you prepare yourself for a layoff that will hopefully never happen? Here are some pieces of advice:

• Create a tracker: One of the most important things you can do during your career is to keep some sort of journal where you track your performance. For example, write down any metrics you helped increase, any awards you got, any major praise you received and anything else that might interest a future employer.
• Download, print and/or save performance evaluations: You may lose access to your formal performance evaluations after a layoff. Save them for your own records. You can cite and refer to these evaluations (if they’re positive) during your job search to show the value you bring to an employer and organization.
• Check-in with yourself about your career: You should always be checking in with yourself about what you want out of your career and what type of relationship you want with work. If you are laid off, knowing the answers to those questions can set you up for early success in your job search.
• Regularly update your resume and cover letter: You should not send generic resumes or cover letters to potential employers, but you should have a central document to work from each time. It’s always a good idea to regularly update your main resume and cover letter template from time to time.
• Be more than your job and career: Too many people craft their identities based on their jobs or careers. When that falls away, it can be additional trauma on top of already losing your job. Make sure you’re regularly exploring other interests and passions to lean on. Your mental health will thank you.

Ben Franklin is credited with coining the phrase that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but — sometimes — you just can’t prepare for a layoff or furlough. If that’s you, we’ve actually covered what to do during the darkest days of the pandemic in a previous edition of #GetHired.

Regardless of where and when you find yourself in a difficult situation, the main advice to remember is to focus on what you can control. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. People can only help you if they know you need it.

Is being a digital nomad right for you? The allure of freedom and travel is tough to turn away. But being able to work where you want, when you want, takes home and job flexibility, plus proper financial planning. In the end, could you be on a beach during a Zoom call? Yes. Click here to learn more.

Seek companies with diverse leadership. (By Ciarra Maraj) It can be hard to tell whether a company is diverse. Diversity moves beyond skin tone and companies that want to check a box run the risk of tokenistic practices. As a company, the best way to foster an inclusive culture is by creating a space for those diverse individuals whether it is in thought, function or physicality. As a candidate, the best way to seek a company with diverse leadership is to do thorough research and not fall for marketing tactics. Click here to learn more.

What’s the Role of Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace? (By Timothy Mably) Emotional intelligence pertains to your emotional self-awareness, how you respond to your emotions, how you control your emotions, and how you engage with others. It informs how you function in a role, regardless of past work experience or industry. For that reason, it’s important to consistently seek growth in emotional intelligence. Click here to learn more.

One of the most prized skills in today’s workplace is the ability to work in a remote and hybrid environment. This LinkedIn Learning course gives you a crash course in working and collaborating online. You can watch the course below or by clicking here.