Planning a Post-Lockdown Career Transition? Here Are a Few Steps to Take Now

As if the health crisis weren’t frightening enough, the economic downturn that has accompanied Covid-19 has been swift and scary. It’s hard to know yet what the job landscape will look like in the coming months. But it’s clear that many businesses / organizations will reopen in some way, and some hiring activity will resume, especially in the more stable sectors. If you’re actively or tentatively pursuing a career move, or if you have lost your job during this pandemic and are actively looking, here are a few suggestions for steps you can take now to smooth your experience and boost your odds.

Get clear: what are you looking for and why?  I’ve met numerous clients recently who want to change jobs or careers, but are not really sure what they want. They know what they don’t want, which is helpful… but it’s not enough. Think ahead to networking conversations you’re likely to have. The first question will probably be: what do you want to do? Or what are you looking for? It’s critical to be ready with a succinct and energetic answer.

Refresh your LinkedIn profile: What story does it tell about you right now? Does it reflect who you want to be, what skills/expertise you have, and how you want others to see you? Many of us let our profiles languish until they’re out-of-date and misaligned with our current goals. Take some time to polish it, a little at a time. Adjust your settings so that your changes don’t trigger notifications.

Network from the comfort of home: No need to go to networking events, conferences, happy hours, or even coffee right now! (All the introverts among us say: phew!) But you can reach out to former colleagues, friends, and contacts. Use a little bit of the time you would have spent commuting to catch up with folks. Even a couple of conversations a week are a great start.

Follow #NowHiring: Companies are using this hashtag on LinkedIn and other platforms. It’s a helpful way to see who’s hiring and to remember that the economy is still moving in some places. Add your state or city to filter the search to a more targeted set of posts.

Use this time to “up” your skills: Remote learning opportunities abound right now. Examine what skills your target roles are looking for, and then see what courses may be available. Explore LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, Coursera, and so on. Check your alma mater too – many universities are offering courses for their alumni.

Prep for remote interviews: Anticipating that the hiring process will be different for a while to come, be sure to prepare and practice for remote interviews via Zoom, Webex, and other platforms. Body language, eye contact, and “selling” yourself can all be challenging on a device. This link is jam-packed with tips for fully-automated video interviews, and many points are also relevant for interactive interviews: https://cultivatedculture.com/video-interviews/ 

This is not an exhaustive list of steps you can take, of course, but most of these are pretty do-able even while you try to work, home school, do household chores, take care of yourself, and take care of others. Take advantage of this time if you can.

This article was co-written with Jeanne Knight, Career Coach and Resume Expert, with whom I frequently collaborate on career strategies and challenges.