What to Do If You Lost Your Job During the Coronavirus Crisis

What to Do If You Lost Your Job During the Coronavirus Crisis

 

The spread of COVID-19 has affected people from all over the world in different ways, from the closure of businesses, forced relocation, reduced contracts, job losses, and more. For those of you who have been unfortunate enough to lose your job during this difficult time, although it’s a particularly hard time to experience unemployment, we are here to help you. We will help to guide you through your coronavirus job search. Remember, it’s completely understandable if you are feeling unmotivated right now but please don’t worry - some jobs are actually in demand despite all that is going on right now... so keep going!

 

Here are 5 steps to help those of you who have lost your jobs due to coronavirus crisis:

 

  • Step 1: Gather your references 

 

If you have just lost your job due to coronavirus, then one of the first steps you can take is to gather your employment references. Although you may have just been fired, don’t be afraid to ask for a reference from your most recent employer. The reason for your job loss may have been completely out of your control (like coronavirus) and gathering any relevant references from past employers will help to support this when you start looking for your next opportunity.

Depending on your performance in your previous positions, your references can help you to secure a new job. Especially during a time like this, companies are likely to be more cautious with hiring decisions, so anything that supports you and your worth is welcome in your job search! 


 

  • Step 2: Sign up to relevant job boards and recruitment agencies

 

As we expressed, there are a lot of companies out there who are still hiring and searching for people like you to join their team. With some industries even booming during the coronavirus crisis, it’s important to stay active in your job search. It's time to give your CV that much needed update and to keep working on other skills to become a superstar candidate

Job boards and recruiters are perfect resources during the coronavirus crisis, not only do they know the job market trends and how you can adapt to the current situation, they offer help and guidance, helping you to find the ideal job based on your professional skills. So, sign up to relevant job boards today, see what is available and don't be afraid to reach out to them for help! 

 

  • Step 3: Grow your online professional network

 

Networking is a vital process for any job seeker. Due to the coronavirus crisis, face-to-face networking is not recommended but don’t worry - online networking is just as, if not MORE effective for your job search. 

Before you begin your networking, we have some key tips on how to prepare your social media ready for your job search. This will help you to display yourself professionally online to find the perfect opportunity. Online networking can be carried out in different ways, from connecting with people on LinkedIn to attending virtual conferences, workshops and more.

 

  • Step 4: Share your message

 

Don’t underestimate the power of sharing a status on LinkedIn and other places (job search Facebook groups) to let people know that you are looking for work. You can feel a real sense of community on LinkedIn and other places during times like this, as people are reaching out and helping each other through this coronavirus crisis. By sharing your message on your LinkedIn, you can reach a lot more people in different countries and if you are lucky, the perfect remote position may arise from a simple LinkedIn status. 

Another effective way of spreading your message is by contacting HR departments and recruiters directly. Now that you have more free time, it’s time to pick up the phone and contact all those companies that are hiring right now. Instead of waiting for the opportunities to come to you, you need to become more proactive in your job search! 

 

  • Step 5: Seek advice 

 

During times like this, we could all do with some support, so don’t be afraid to seek advice. There are lots of companies and services that are offering free career guidance and services due to the coronavirus crisis. We are all experiencing the effects of COVID-19 in different ways, from large global conglomerates to brand new startups, so companies are extremely aware of the current circumstances and you can see this through their eagerness to help - even for free! 

You may decide to speak to a career coach, a CV expert or other job search professionals to get some advice about the next steps of your career. With everything that is going on in the world right now, it's normal to feel stressed and for this reason, we highly recommend reaching out for some extra help during this hard time.  Not only could you save yourself a considerable amount of stress, but their job search guidance may even surprise you, opening your eyes to career opportunities that you have never considered; remote work, etc. 

 

Although it may feel like the end of your world right now, try to stay motivated and to see through the chaos of what's going on right now. As we mentioned, it's completely normal to feel emotional during this period but if you follow our  5 steps to find a new job during the coronavirus outbreak, you will soon be on your way back to success. It’s really important to stay active in your job search and to avoid becoming unmotivated. You never know you may even find the job of your dreams, so start looking today!