Why You Should Not Rush to get a New Job Right after you’ve been Separated from Work

Do not rush to get a new Job right after you’ve been laid off or separated from your employer. Especially during this COVID-19 Pandemic when you’re collecting UE and or Federal COVID benefits. Instead, now is the perfect opportunuty to do self-examination and reflection and reinvest in one’s career-life as the world is changing and evolving ever so rapidly. 

In fact, a recent PEW study report indicated that most U.S. workers say that “new skills and training” may be indespensable to their future career life success. This is due to the Tectonic changes that is “reshaping U.S. workplaces” as the economy becomes more “knowledge-based and these changes are rewarding “social, communications and analytical skills”. 
https://www.bls.gov/lpc/

Socrates said, “the unexamined life is not worth living”; and at times the routine and demands of work-life may cut into meaningful time needed to rest, recoup, retool and realize greater satisfaction and value in one’s career and professional life. So you may want to think about lifetime commitments to retraining and upgrading your skills along the lines of these techtonic evolutions.

Undoubtedly, the monotony and mundaneness of working for employers who are expecting more from their employees while they provide less resources and or staffing and a slimmed down team, can and is becoming increasingly stressful for employees and costly for employers. And for employees, the stress and demands of work life can blind them from taking hold of new opportunities in the market. 

The US Dept. of Labor and Statistics reported that as at June 8, 2020 generally, Labor Productivity fell by approximately 1% and Labor costs rose by 5% for the first quarter of 2020. (https://www.bls.gov/lpc/)

Moreover, A study conducted by the Wall Street Journal suggested that around 45% of those from households earning less than $75,000 are satisfied with their job and only about half of all American Workers enjoy their careers. 
(https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-workers-report-highest-job-satisfaction-since-2005-1535544000)

So, instead of rushing into a new job. Use the time to:

1. Rest, have fun as “all work and no play makes Jack and Jill dull”.

2. Expand and grow your mind and self. Read and watch and engage the world;  inform yourself of what’s going on in your society so that you can make smart and prudent next step decisions about your career life.

3. Devout yourself to a “good” cause, which could involve blogging about social and current issues or volunteering in a community social program/project; that’s another good way to develop an understanding of the world and connecting with people who can help you. 

4. Rebrand and Re-tool and Get out. 

A. This could involve doing an on-line course (e.g. a full stack on-line web development and computer programming course or a course in social media and Business or google analytics etc.). Many colleges and schools are rolling out practical programs to assist jobseekers with acquiring new techtonic skills that businesses are requiring to be become more competitive and productive in this rapidly changing and competitive business world. 

B. Sharpen or develop your social networking and social media engagement skills utilizing platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram; and or think about joining a club or social group such as a church or religious group, fraternity, community association or professional group.

5. Review and Re-assess your Career life’s Plan and goals. Explore where you are in relation to where you need to go and measure what’s working and what’s not, what’s realistic and what’s not and make adjustments. You may need to do this assessment with a close colleague, friend, support or mentor who can be honest with you, challenge you and hold you accountable as you hold yourself accountable to your plan.

6. Consider starting a business; know what people want or need and what you can do that you can turn into a service or product that meet people’s wants and needs. When you have figured that out, then you can make a business plan. You will have to do your research to explore how you can finance your business and do the necessary financial health check-up to ensure that you are healthy enough to get the investment you need to start and grow your business. If after you do your check-up and you find that you need help, there are financial programs and systems that you can use to assist with improving your financial health. You may get a Credit Karma, Experian, TransUnion or Equifax account to track and check your health and take advantage of the programs and advice they have online to assist you. You may also access help from friends, family, your network and those in your community with a “good” financial health or “know-how” who can point you in the right direction. Get-to-know small business owners in your community or sphere of influence or social circle and offer to be their mentee or protege or apprentice to guide you to starting your own business, and do not be afraid that they will turn you down, many of the. will jump at such a proposal. 

7. Do not spend excessively. While you should rest and have fun, also save some money not just for a “rainy” day but to invest in your self-development and self-growth. Use some of your “benefits” or “returns” or stimulus to pay for a class or to fix your financial health and to start a business, you need all the money you can get to do so;  as money is scarce.

8. Whether or not you plan to start a business, you will need to update your resume or career profile, and you may find career search engines useful in doing so such as Career builder, LinkedIn or Monster etc.

9. Set a time-table to re-enter the Job or working market. Be realistic and smart about this. Remember that federal COVID benefits is schedule to end on July 30, 2020, and as such the benefits you’re now receiving may be reduced and this may impact your ability to pay your bills on time and live above your means. Some may find that their UE benefits will shut off shortly and may want to set a return date close to when those shut off. But if you’re taking classes or in school you may be granted an extension on your UE benefits so that you can focus on your plan. Nevertheless it is important that you do not rush, but use the opportunity to measure how much time is needed to complete your personal reflection and career development plan so that your resumption does not interfere with that. And there are other goverment programs available to assist with paying some bills and purchasing food so that you may continue to complete your pre-work and career re-deployment preparation plan. Do not forget to lean on some family and friend support as well, that’s what friends and family are for.

10. Finally, I’d like to leave you with this: Take charge of your your career-life journey and professional direction. Take time to to find out what’s RIGHT FOR YOU, not for your employers, it’s their job to determine if you are RIGHT for them. And do not let others such as friends, family or special interests tell you when you must find a job or that you must get a job now. Live your life for you, one that will guarantee your success and value for others. I am Renaldo McKenzie. I can be contacted via email at renaldocmckenzie@gmail.com. Follow my social media pages: Twitter: @renaldomckenzie or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/renaldo.mckenzie