Are You Ready To Move?
Are You Ready To Move?
Companies merge and downsize. Jobs get outsourced. Customers quit buying, and the need for jobs evaporates. None of us have 100% certainty that our job of today will be in demand tomorrow. Just this week, Snapchat announced they are laying off 10% of their global market of employees, supposedly to encourage more in-office collaboration. This puts 500 people out of a job (Cohen, 2024).
We don’t want to scare you, but we do want you to know how to stay nimble in your career so you aren’t scrambling if you also find yourself needing to obtain new employment. Being job-ready is much more than keeping your resume updated, though.
Try asking yourself some of these four questions:
What was the last time I networked? Are you hanging out with coworkers over water-cooler chat, or are you actively involved in volunteer organizations, church or community groups, professional organizations, and alumni organizations? An article by Forbes estimates that 70-80% of jobs are “hidden jobs,” meaning they are never posted publicly and instead filled through references and internal promotions (Feldmann, 2023). Staying engaged with key decision makers and employees of companies you might work at creates access to these opportunities if you ever find yourself in the job market.
What was the last time I helped someone else? If you want to be a receiver at some point, start by being a giver today. Humans are hard-wired to reciprocate the actions and gifts they’ve received from others. This is part of the psychology of receiving “free samples”; companies know you’ll feel indebted to them and that you’re more likely to purchase the whole product to reciprocate the favor (Bloom & Bloom, 2015). You might feel manipulative for helping others now with the thought that you might need help. But, we all will need the help of others at some point, and we have the opportunity to help others right now with our resources and knowledge. If you can help from a place of true caring (whether through volunteering, mentoring, leading, or just sending an encouraging word someone’s way), you’re building relationships that go beyond exchanging business cards. The people who know and trust you will be your greatest allies if or when you need to look for a new job.
What was the last time I learned something new? The world is quickly evolving, especially with the development of new technology. Even if you’re in a non-tech field, are you continuing to learn through continuing education courses, reading thought-provoking books, or attending conferences or workshops? A plethora of learning is available online, often for free or at an affordable rate. For instance, if you’re a schoolteacher who’s interested in becoming a registered behavior technician (RBT) either to supplement your income or shift careers, you can take the 40-hour required RBT training for free through Autism Partnership Foundation. Regardless of your field, your future self will thank you for keeping your skills up-to-date.
And, yes, what was the last time I updated my resume? If it’s been a while, take a peek at it and update any educational achievements, new positions you’ve held, and accomplishments in your professional life. Remember that resumes are looked at for an average of 6-7 seconds by recruiters, so keeping yours organized and up-to-date with your greatest accomplishments is critical (Indeed Editorial Team, 2022). Sipley the Best is here if you’d like to hire a team of HR professionals to write or revise your resume; learn more on our website at sipleythebest.com/jobseekers.
If you have a job, it’s natural to be afraid about your job security, especially during tight times in the business or with the threat of work being outsourced. Channel that fear into productive actions that keep you networking and learning. You’ll feel less queasy and more confident when pivoting into job search mode!
References
Autism Partnership Foundation. (2024). 40 hour / RBT training. autismpartnershipfoundation.org/product/rbt/.
Bloom, C. & Bloom, L. (2015, October 10). Honoring the rule of reciprocation. Psychology Today. psychologytoday.com/us/blog/stronger-the-broken-places/201510/honoring-the-rule-reciprocation
Cohen, Mikaela. (2024, February 8). Snap announces layoffs to promote ‘in-person collaboration.’ HR Brew. www.hr-brew.com/stories/2024/02/08/snap-
announces-layoffs-to-promote-in-person-collaboration?mblid=f34fe48474c5&mbnlid=QFOFe8ZkIVSgPO0iWTmu&utm_campaign=hrb&utm_medium=
newsletter&utm_source=morning_brew.
Feldmann, F. (2023, March 21). Job seekers: Four reasons to embrace the hidden job market. Forbes. forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/
2023/03/21/job-seekers-four-reasons-to-embrace-the-hidden-job-market/?sh=51f839f36a65
Indeed Editorial Team. (2022, July 8). How long do hiring managers look at a resume? Indeed. indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/how-long-do-employers-look-at-resumes.
