7 Ways to Stay Productive If You Lost Your Job Due to COVID-19
Being out of work is rough. But if you lost your job due to the COVID-19 crisis, it may seem even more challenging than it would under normal circumstances. You don’t have the benefit of being able to go out and hit the pavement to look for work. If you need a way to support your family, sitting at home waiting for things to improve may feel like more work than a job.
While it may seem like there isn’t anything you can do until things go back to normal, there are plenty of options you may not have considered. These seven ways to stay productive can help keep your career on track if you don’t have a job right now.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up
Even if you know there was nothing you could do to stop it, losing your job can still be a blow to your self-esteem. Millions of people are in the same boat as you right now. Beating yourself up can use valuable energy that could be better spent on more productive activities.
Consider Your Goals
It’s hard to chart a course if you don’t know where you want to go! Once the COVID-19 crisis is over, your old job may become available again. Do you hope to get your old job back? Are you considering other positions in the same field? Would you rather change careers? Knowing what you want can help you decide how to proceed.
Revamp Your Resume
If you’ve been working in the same position for a while, your resume probably isn’t up-to-date anymore. Revamping it to include your most pertinent skills and experiences will ensure you have it ready to go if you spot a job opening you’re interested in.
Learn a New Skill
One of the few benefits of being out of work and trapped at home is that you may have more time to develop your skills. Regardless of your line of work, you’ve probably noticed some skills that would make your job easier. Now would be a great time to pick up those skills.
If you’re hoping to continue in the same field, you might develop skills that you think could help you land a promotion. If you want to change fields, you might cultivate new skills to help you break into your new profession.
Reach Out to Contacts
Since a lot of your work associates are also probably stuck at home, you might want to reach out and touch base. People you know through work may have leads for other jobs in your industry. Plus, commiserating can be nice. Just be sure not to badmouth your former employer since they may be your employer again someday.
Network Remotely
Remote networking can be just as effective as in-person networking. In fact, you might be able to connect with people you wouldn’t otherwise meet in real life. LinkedIn is built for networking, but you can also find industry-specific Facebook groups.
Apply for Jobs
While a lot of workers have been laid off or furloughed, some employers are still actively hiring during COVID-19. Many of these jobs will start out as home-based and transition to in-person work once the crisis is over.
What are you doing to advance your career during quarantine? Let us know in the comments section below!