You've heard it, "we are in unprecedented times." What does that mean? It means that something unexpected and unfamiliar is happening—and what's happening now, is COVID. COVID is impacting the medical community, the economy, and the job market.
But when you think about it, unexpected and unfamiliar things happen all the time—especially in the job market. There are mergers and acquisitions, department restructuring or downsizing, jobs become obsolete thanks to automation, entire divisions are dissolved, and a few or many people end up out of a job.
These things happen on a much smaller scale than COVID, but scale doesn't really matter when they happen to you.
Once the shock has worn off, you think about your next move—that next job. Your goal is to find a company that will pay you more than your last company--after all, you were totally underpaid. You want a company that offers a full benefits package, great culture, ample time off, work-life balance, flexible schedule, upward mobility, professional development, and more.
WOW! Those are some high expectations.
While it might be possible to find everything you want in a job, that takes TIME. When you're unemployed or looking at becoming unemployed soon, time is one thing you don't have.
So, what am I saying??
Make a list of your MUST HAVES for the next 6-12 months. List 1 might look like this:
LIST 1: WHAT I ABSOLUTELY NEED NOW:
· Keep the money coming. Determine what cuts you can make in your living expenses and start there. What's the least I can make and still get by.
· Health insurance
Then make List 2 for your longer-term career goal, which can include everything you want. Break your list into three sections. Here's how your List 2 might look:
LIST 2: IDEAL JOB:
· Must Haves—competitive salary, medical insurance, ample time off, 401k, great culture.
· Nice to Haves—professional development, upward mobility, flexible working hours, or telecommute option.
· Deal breakers—commute longer than an hour, no time off allowed over Christmas, no cell-phone use during the workday…
You can conduct your job search based on list two but be realistic. If you're in an economic downturn where the job market is highly competitive and flooded with qualified applicants—BE FLEXIBLE.
Your next move doesn't have to be your last. If you're offered a good job, seriously consider taking it. Look at it as a life raft, a bridge, a passage that will keep you going until you can find a great job.
While I don't promote job-hopping as a strategy, taking a step like this may be necessary—a short term job might look better on your resume than a large gap and it will help you keep the bills paid. Bottom line: be realistic and flexible and don't hold out for perfect when temporarily accepting good-enough will keep you from becoming a casualty of the times.
For assistance with your job search:
Or Call 515-314-2901