These tips can help you recover — and thrive — after layoff
Dear Sam: I worked for the same company for over eight years and was recently laid off. The experience was a big “aha” moment for me, and I realized I haven’t taken the time to grow my skill set or to build my resume like I should. I was comfortable in my role, so I didn’t find it necessary to think about how I stacked up against peers in the same industry. I’m also busy with kids and life, so I don’t have the time to go back to school. What can I do to make myself more marketable now? — Maria
Dear Maria: It’s never too late to learn new skills and grow professionally. In fact, it should become part of your regular routine. Taking part in professional-development opportunities will help you build a more robust skill set and an expanded professional network. Here are some easy ways to get more involved in your field and add to your resume.
Join a professional association.
Check out national-level organizations, industry-specific associations, neighborhood business associations or special focus groups such as women entrepreneurs. By joining a group of professionals dedicated to the industry you’re in or would like to be in, you can make valuable professional contacts and gain access to a wealth of information.
Many groups offer conferences (both regional and national), training seminars and even webinars that can help build your industry knowledge. Start by becoming a general member; then work your way up to a leadership role to make an even greater impact.
The website www.careeronestop.org, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, has a Professional Association Finder tool you can use to locate national associations by occupation or the industry served.
Take a class.
While beginning a new degree program may be time-prohibitive, consider taking a course or two through a local university or community center.
Many schools offer classes for adults and continuing-education students on evenings or weekends, or even online. You could take a course to learn technical skills, enhance your writing/communication skills, or to learn a second language. Most employers appreciate candidates who have an interest and dedication to lifelong learning.
Teach yourself a new skill.
Structured classes aren’t always necessary when learning new skills. There are many free tutorials, training programs and reading materials, both online and off, that you could take advantage of. Do research to find out what skills are desirable for your line of work; then try to find ways to practice those skills. For example, social-media skills are becoming increasingly popular and desirable in almost every industry.
After finding some free training materials online, you could volunteer to take on some social-media projects for your church, a group or activity your child is a part of, or a professional association you’ve recently joined. You can then add this skill to your resume and professional profile.
Read and write.
Books, articles, magazines, blogs — read as much as you can about your career field. There is no limit to how much knowledge you can gain. Focus on content that is recent so you’ll be up to date on the latest industry trends and opportunities. Having this updated knowledge will be especially important if you plan to interview soon.
If you feel like you have wisdom to contribute, you could also start your own blog. There are many free or inexpensive website builders available, including www.Wix.com,
www.WordPress.com and www.Blogger.
com. Reading and sharing professional resources is a great way to stay involved with your industry and to possibly make a name for yourself as an industry expert.
Being laid off can be a challenging experience, but hopefully, you can take this time to learn and grow before re-emerging as an even more qualified candidate. — Samantha Nolan is a certified professional resume writer and the owner of Nolan Branding, a full-service resume-writing firm. Email resume or job-search questions to dearsam@nolanbranding.com. To find out more about Nolan and her services, visit www.nolanbranding. com, or call 614-570-3442 or 888-952-3928.