Second Sunday Series — Editor’s Note: This is the fifth of 12 columns focused on reader questions, appearing over 12 months — one on each second Sunday, from September through August. Previous column questions followed these themes: Stay or leave a difficult job situation during COVID-19; navigating age issues during job search; how much to reveal in an interview; and COVID-19 résumé strategies. Amy Lindgren
As a response to the confusing and upended job market, I’m devoting a year of “second Sundays” to job seeker questions. This month, I’m combining my reader questions on long-term unemployment with my January series on starting fresh in 2021 — because those who’ve been out of work for months, or years, need a fresh start as much as anyone. Following are three actual situations posed by readers and clients, and an “aggregate” answer. See what you think.
1. The situation: This laid-off worker lost her nonprofit communications job last April when her organization shut down amid COVID-19 restrictions. She didn’t seek new work initially, partly because she couldn’t predict when the economy would rebound. Now it’s been nine months since her last paycheck and she’s concerned about how employers will regard her as a candidate.
2. The situation: Nine months out of work is something this next worker would envy. He’s been unemployed for nearly three years, following an initial exit that was meant to be short-term. When he left his management role during a mental health crisis, he expected to return to his desk at the end of his disability coverage. One thing followed another in his recovery process and he’s only now feeling ready to work again. Unfortunately, the timing for the job market isn’t great and he’s second-guessing his capabilities besides.
3. The situation: When this mother of two left a janitorial job to be a full-time homemaker, it was the obvious choice in her household. Her partner earned much more, and her own wages wouldn’t cover the cost of daycare. That was 10 years ago and now she’s at a loss about how to approach the job market, and what to tell employers about her time away from the workforce.
Advice: Although these three individuals have very different backgrounds, their stories have a common thread. In addition to the usual tasks of job search — identify potential employers, make outreach, follow up, etc. — each must also manage issues related to their absence from the job.
For example, employers will want to know what a long-term unemployed candidate has been doing since their last employment, and whether that individual is up to speed for the workplace. Concerns about stamina and skill level also are likely; employers might even wonder if the applicant is serious about wanting to work again.
Ugh. In this situation, it can be difficult enough convincing oneself that reemployment is possible; having to convince an employer as well can feel overwhelming. The solution for each of these job seekers will be some version of the same strategy: Baby steps.
Even in a boom economy, a slo-mo return to work after a long absence can be the most effective process. It’s often the best way to build confidence and networking contacts at a natural pace while taking the time to look for opportunities that fit best. Truthfully, in today’s recession-tinged pandemic market, slow motion might be the only option available. That is, even if a job seeker moves quickly, it’s not a guarantee that employers will respond in kind.
To clarify, slo-mo doesn’t mean glacial-mo. It’s a euphemism to indicate slow-and-steady wins the race. Here are some of the processes these candidates can undertake as they initiate or renew their job search for a fresh start in this new year.
• Clarify the type of work desired, using online research, vocational assessments, career coaching or any other method.
• Make the best résumé possible with the information on hand, targeted to the desired category of work.
• Presuming some needed skills are missing or perhaps outdated, look for online classes or other ways to strengthen those skills.
• As a way of building current contacts in the field, look for professional associations to join, then participate in related activities.
• Add the new classes and association activities to the résumé; share the résumé with the new contacts.
• Look for ways to create or rebuild hands-on experience, including volunteer opportunities.
• Add the volunteer commitments to the résumé.
• If possible, take a part-time or contract position, even if it’s not directly related to the job goal; experiment with schedules and workloads to confirm stamina and current capabilities.
• Add the interim work to the résumé; begin sending the résumé to potential employers.
You’ve probably noticed the pattern by now: Do something, add it to the résumé, repeat. The more each person can discuss recent, work-relevant activities, the easier it will be to project confidence about this transition.
More importantly, these baby steps, when taken in succession, will lead to the end goal as surely as long strides would do — it’s just a matter of staying in motion.
Amy Lindgren owns a career consulting firm in St. Paul. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com.
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