No returns
The wrong job won’t be right, even after a furlough
When you get the call to return to work, don’t go running back if you weren’t necessarily crazy about it in the first place. If you can afford to—and if you haven’t already—look for an opportunity that lines up with what you do best. “Try to find positions that really align with your skillset. In these times of instability, employers are looking for people who can come in, hit the ground running and contribute value right away,” says Matt Bentley, the founder and CEO of CanIRank, a digital marketing consulting firm based in San Francisco, California. “Instead of approaching your job search with the ‘I’ll do anything if they pay me’ mindset, pursue job opportunities where you will have the opportunity to excel.
Bentley says be cautious about using salary as the only criteria if you’re looking for a new opportunity. “If the pay is a bit lower than you’d like but the job aligns with your skills and values, go for it. In time, you will show your abilities and the promotions will come,” he says. “If you accept a job that pays a bit more but is outside your wheelhouse, your transition might be slower, results may bring less value and the possibility you’ll be back where you started in a few months is much higher. I usually recommend experimenting with new skills and shooting¬¬ for the stars but right now, get your foot in the door with your top skills and build from there.”
Shannon Tsonis, the HR director and director of marketing for Barcelona Nut Company and Popcorn Alley Inc., advises against revisiting your pre-pandemic habits. “Don’t go back to your old routine. The world has been disrupted. If you’re fortunate enough to have a position to return to, take this time to get ahead. Make the phone calls you’ve been putting off, ask for the promotion, share your ideas for growth within the organization,” she says. “It shows your employer stability and dependability in a time when everything is changing and nothing is constant.”
Seek assistance
If you don’t have a job to go back to, let others know. “Don’t be afraid to broadcast that you’re out of work. Not only should you post to your network on LinkedIn that you’re looking for work, you should also ask your former boss to reach out to their networks on your behalf,” says Patrick Mullane, executive director of Harvard Business School Online. “According to recruiting experts, the majority of jobs are not found through networking so it’s perhaps the most important step you should take.”
If your financial situation demands that you go back to a job you were hoping to leave, you may have to bite the bullet and keep your current job until you find something new. If you’re not looking forward to going back, make sure