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Hey Reader,
I’ve been laid off 3 times in my career.
The feeling of that waiting for that email from HR to find out if you’re safe …
That unexpected 1:1 with your boss randomly added to your calendar …
It’s all the worst.
There will always be things you can’t control in your life. This is precisely why you should be proactive, and doing everything can to create your own safety net now.
In other words, why wait for shit to hit the fan to get your shit together?
Here are 5 things you can do right now that will immensely help your job search later:
1️⃣ Know how your work fits into the company’s financial ecosystem
In other words, how do you make and/or save the company money? What was the ripple effect on your team, other departments, processes, and overall direction/growth, etc?
Including this on your LinkedIn and resume will also help you stand out – most people just list their responsibilities – which anyone can do. Having quantified data tells a more specific story about your value and demonstrates a level of self-awareness that is refreshing.
This is your entire justification for being hired and later, getting a raise.
2️⃣ Ask HR for your original job description
Chances are your role and responsibilities have evolved since you were hired. (If it’s changed by more than 20%, you have a strong case for a pay bump.) Reflecting on what you were originally hired to do and what you’ve done so far will help you identify accomplishments to include in your job search materials, as well as articulate the story of your growth.
As any hiring manager knows, the decision to bring someone on is an investment and so what better way to show that you’re a great investment than by having examples of your growth?
3️⃣ Get perspective on your signature strengths
We’re all too close to ourselves so asking people you work with what they see as your signature strengths can be helpful in directing you towards future roles that leverage them, as well as ways to weave them into the story you tell about yourself, especially on your LinkedIn and in the interview process.
Based on how people respond, you can then follow to see if they’d be willing to write a LinkedIn recommendation.
4️⃣ Go through your inbox for lovely emails
No doubt you’ve received positive feedback or compliments over the years, whether from clients, managers, or teammates. It’s important to keep a record of them in a separate place (I like to call it a “brag book” or “smile file”), so that you can a) look back at it on down days and b) integrate them into your LinkedIn, cover letter, and even interviews.
Think of them like reviews for a product – it’s more believable when you hear good things from other people.
5️⃣ Connect with all your co-workers on LinkedIn
While you’re at it, connect with anyone you’ve ever worked with! Since most jobs are filled through referrals, start the process now with a simple LinkedIn request. I’d also recommend organizing all your contacts in one place (Airtable has a good template), and carve out time to research where people work or used to work. This will help you start to develop a target list of places to network your way into, even if there isn’t a job posting currently listed. Based on how these companies describe their culture, will also be helpful determining what career move will be best aligned with your values.
Targeting companies you find interesting – rather than what open roles happen to be listed – allows you to cast a much wider net and thus, more opportunities.
(PS – don’t forget to connect with ME on LinkedIn if you want more job search tips :D)
If you found this advice helpful, I’m opening my calendar in March to coach 30 women for 90 days on how to navigate your job search land your dream job. The program has educational sessions, 1:1 coaching and accountability exercises, aka everything you need to master the job search with energy and ease.
Enrollment begins on February 12th and it will be first come, first serve. If you haven’t already, sign up for the waitlist to be the first to know when spots open up so you can snag one before we sell out.
Not sure if this program is the right fit for you? I’m offering FREE 20-minute calls for anyone who is interested in enrolling from now through February 9th. Book an exploratory call with me here.
I’m SO excited to kick off this cohort and help you find your next job, so make sure to sign up for the waitlist below.
| Sign up for the waitlist to secure 1 of 30 spots |