Navigating the COVID-19 Detour on Your Career Path

Over the past couple of weeks months, I’ve seen many of my colleagues and friends impacted by job loss and layoffs. Finding a job is hard enough, so I wanted to offer some suggestions on how to navigate this ‘new normal’. Below, are some of my favorite job seeker resources and some tips I’ve picked up along the way.

Indeed.com Indeed offers more than just a place to find your next job. As a job seeker, you can post your resume. If you already have your resume on Indeed, it’s a good idea to update it, making sure your roles and skills are current.

If you need inspiration for your resume and cover letter, take a look at the Resume Samples and Templates and Cover Letter Samples and Templates located in the Indeed Career Guide. Indeed recently launched COVID-19 Resources as part of their Career Guide, to help those whose job was affected by COVID-19.

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Canva.com I’ve used Canva for a few years and it’s one of my favorite marketing resources. It’s also a really great resource for design inspiration and it offers so many templates.

The free version offers access to more than 8,000 free templates. Their resume templates are beautiful, offering design inspiration and give you the ability to create something unique without spending a fortune. I’d also suggest checking out their LinkedIn Banner templates. Now is a great time to update your digital footprint.

Canva also offers paid tiers, last year, I decided to upgrade to Canva Pro since I use it for work – at about $10 a month it’s one of the most affordable marketing tools in my arsenal.

Your Network; Your Tribe If you need to take a few days to gather your thoughts about your current situation, then take those days. After you’ve collected your thoughts, reach out to your network, and let them know what’s going on. Remember, the impact COVID-19 has on your job isn’t a reflection on you, unfortunately, it’s a side effect of the ‘new normal’ we’re living in.

Remember, the impact COVID-19 has on your job isn’t a reflection on you, unfortunately, it’s a side effect of the ‘new normal’ we’re living in.

Leverage your network when you start looking for your next role. According to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Yale University, 70% of jobs are found through networking.

With that said, don’t solely focus on reaching out for the sole purpose of getting a new job. Use this as a time to expand your tribe!

Maybe you want to pick up a new hobby or get back into an old one. Reconnecting and meeting new people around your interests is healthy, especially in this strange time.

Pay It Forward Use this time to pay it forward. Reach out to your network and see how you can help someone out. It’ll give you a chance to flex your skill muscle and help someone out while keeping your skills up-to-date.

Looking to expand your tribe? Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn, send me a message – I’d be happy to help chat and help any way I can!