During the last two years we’ve seen the world turned upside down, leaving many workers without employment or industries to return to. Many find themselves having to ask how to find a new career during COVID-19 and beyond. We’ve polled our expert membership of resume writers and career coaches by asking them:
What strategies and steps do you recommend to job seekers whose entire industry has been dramatically impacted or has shut down due to the pandemic?
Here are their thoughts, tips, and strategies for making a career change during and post COVID-19:
First, honor that you are capable of change and adaptation. Your skills are likely transferrable and valued in other industries.
Ask your colleagues where they have landed and how it’s going.
Consider hiring a career professional to help you identify other areas of interest that could leverage your experience.
Clearly connect your experience to meeting each target employer’s needs.
– Angela Watts, SHRM-CP, RACR, CCTC – MyPro Resumes
Work with a career consultant, coach or resume writer on your career marketing strategy and plan.
Leverage your transferrable skills, re-connect with your network and may know who is hiring now.
Get recommendations from ex-collages, partners, hr or your boss. LinkedIn is the best place to remind about yourself to existing connections, optimize your profile to be found by recruiters and hiring manager. 30% of my clients come back to ex-employers and get hired using their connections.
I recommend that job seekers do some deep analysis, either through their own methods or career assessment and figure out their major marketable skills. Once they concretely identify these skills, then decide what are the specific job titles and/or industries that would support these skills.
There are many skills that are transferrable, and even job-specific skills that can be reframed as transferrable skills. It will take serious time and effort.
– Cecelia Amos, Timeless Resumes
Write down all your skills and competencies.- Create a list with transferable skills.
- Look for job posting ads in your area to see what employers are looking for and then identify if there are gaps you need to cover. Plan trainings/courses/certificates you need to be more competitive in your area.
- Think about a different career in a different sector. Can your skills be used in another area? Do you need to have more skills or different ones? What do you what to achieve? Are you ready for a career change? Have you analyzed all the pro’s and con’s of changing career? How have you planned a career change? How long does it take? What can help you to move forward?
– Manuela Garofano – M.G. Coaching
I would first conduct career assessments to determine the values, skills and interests that are important to my client and then rebrand my client on her resume and in her branding statements to transfer her skills to new fields and industries.
I’ve had to do this a lot during the pandemic, but it’s a common process that I use when someone is no longer satisfied, feels stuck or burned out in his/her career and can’t imagine doing this another day, month or year.
– Marilyn Feldstein, Career Choices Unlimited
My personal approach is to always find the silver lining and one of the silver linings from this global disruption is that it created space for people to consider what they would like to do differently in their lives.
It’s not very often people get the time to pause and strategically consider their careers so I would suggest seeing this an invitation to affirm or adjust your career path.
– Samantha Colbert, Samantha Saw Pte Ltd
I would tell them to do research. What are the experts/economists saying about recovery–how long will it take to return to pre-pandemic levels?
If they had already been thinking of making a career shift we would discuss their areas of interest, skillset and experience and determine what positions/industries might be a good fit.
I would also advise them to look into courses and certifications that would enhance their skills in the direction they choose to go.
– Debbie Marshall, Thrive Consulting
They should talk with a professional who will spend time with them deep-diving and exploring their transferrable skills. I have found that all of my clients have robust amounts of transferrable skills they did not discover they held until we sat down together for a few hours discussing their career history.
Focus the resume on your skills and use general business terms rather specific words/jargon from the negatively impacted industry.
– Bridget Batson, Houston Outplacement
What These Expert Strategies On How to Find a New Career During COVID-19 Mean to Job Seekers
Career changes rarely happen over night, so it’s important to be willing to put skin in the game.
You’ll need to identify your transferrable skills and be sure not to just leap into the first complimentary role you find. Now more than ever I think we’ve come to learn the importance of right fit for culture, job satisfaction, and support when the chips are down.
Beyond getting to know yourself, your skills, and your targets, critical next steps will entail tapping into your network. Don’t worry if people don’t immediately seem placed to assist you. Spread the word, say thank you, and give as much as you take in your networking. Make LinkedIn a big focus of identifying and growing your network toward your new goal.
Additionally, put special focus on creating a transitional resume. It will be extremely important that prospective employers see you in terms of fit into their role and not how you fit into your past career. Your resume should make the leap for them and not expect them to do it for you. In this area especially, professional assistance can be of immense value.
You can search CDI’s member directory to find a professional to assist you here.
Change IS imminently possible, so be in it to win it and don’t give up one minute before your success!
Additional Lessons from the Pandemic Posts
Watch for a new post each week.
New COVID-Related Job Interview Questions Job Seekers Should Ask Employers >>
