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LinkedIn recently conducted a survey of 2,000 American professionals, focusing on the actions of professionals who have been unemployed since the start of the pandemic. LinkedIn research, published by Andrew Seaman, Senior Editor of Job Search and Careers on LinkedIn News, indicated that people “have not been actively networking while unemployed, although most say it is vital to a successful job search. . “
The reason for the lack of networks can be attributed, in part, to the wrongly perceived shame and shame associated with losing a job, as the study shows that “84% believe there is a stigma associated with being unemployed.”
Based on the findings, networking is considered an unpleasant, uncomfortable and uncomfortable necessity of the job search process, as “less than half of respondents (42%) say they have contacted existing connections and only 39 % say that ‘I’ve asked people in their networks, like friends and former colleagues, to introduce themselves to other people. “When it comes time to reach out to people outside of their core communities,” only about a third (35%) he’s been making his own introductions to new connections. ”
As traditional job search methods have been curtailed due to the virus outbreak, such as having a cup of coffee with someone, having an informal interview in person, or attending a face-to-face networking event, drawing attention online has been become supreme. It was somewhat surprising to learn that “only half of the respondents say they have even posted on social media about being unemployed or looking for work.”
Their rationale for not promoting their brand and promoting themselves on social media is because they “don’t feel comfortable sharing publicly that they are out of work.” Some respondents reported that they “felt too embarrassed or ashamed”, others thought “it would not be helpful.” They may also suffer from imposter syndrome, have an inherent bias towards recruiters, or have self-confidence issues.
Nearly half (46%) of the people in the survey said they have “lied about being out of work,” while 51% have “avoided a social event because of the way they feel about being out of work.” . Unfortunately, “24% said they felt embarrassed, 23% felt uncomfortable, and 15% felt ashamed” of being out of work. The sentiments of jobless respondents run counter to the conclusion that “the vast majority (96%) would hire a candidate who was fired due to Covid-19.”
When downsizing, it’s natural to feel a pang of shame and some shame, even when it’s not your fault. Personal identities are intertwined with our jobs and careers. When you are out of work, many people feel a loss of prestige and status. Therefore, they keep the job loss to themselves. It is completely normal to feel this way, temporarily. You may need some time to grieve and process what happened. However, then you need to get up, brush and act.
Keep in mind that if you find yourself in this situation, you are not alone. The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the job market. More than 60 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits since the virus outbreak began. Unemployment reached an all-time high. The actual numbers are likely higher than official government data, as people who have finished collecting benefits are simply off the statistic radar. The data also omits to include people who retired involuntarily as they were unable to find meaningful employment, those who are significantly underemployed relative to their experience, pushed into the gig economy (due to no other options), or who reluctantly took less finishing roles to get health insurance.
Recruiters, corporate talent acquisition, HR professionals, and hiring managers understand that this is an unprecedented time. Most likely they know or have relatives in a similar place. However, job seekers who have shared their feelings of incompetence, tied to being temporarily out of work, may have experienced or heard of colleagues being treated poorly in their job searches. In past job markets, particularly when things were hot, there were always corporate managers who looked askance at candidates who were between positions. They asked the applicant: “Why did they choose you to fire and not someone else?” The clear inference was that there must be something wrong with the person, such as that they did not do their job properly, could not work well with others, or there is a deep, dark secret surrounding their separation from payroll.
No one can blame you for being between jobs, as it is so prevalent right now. There is no stigma anymore. Any rational person, when they find out about your situation, would say that they fully understand and will likely share similar stories about a group of people they know who are going through the same thing.
With this in mind, you no longer need to go it alone. Be open about your goal of finding a new job. Let people know that you are in the job market and what specifically you want to do next. If no one knows you are looking for work, they will not approach you with opportunities.
Think of your job search as a group effort. Recruit as many people as you can think of, including family, friends, college alumni, former co-workers, business partners, kids you grew up with, members of organizations you belong to, and people you’ve met in various capacities. If they don’t have solid leads, politely and persistently ask them to point you to someone they know who can put you in front of the right person.
Align yourself strategically with people on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram who can help build a win-win network. These individuals should include potential hiring managers, human resources, and talent acquisition professionals in the companies you would like to work with. Find top-notch recruiters who are known experts in their field. Look for partners in other companies within your niche. This way, the right types of relevant people will know about you, seeing your posts and taking you into account when jobs are available.
The best way to start building your brand is by commenting, sharing, writing posts and articles on LinkedIn. The content should focus on your area of expertise as you have a lot of knowledge to impart. You can start slowly by liking and directing others’ posts. Find leaders in your field with many followers. Get involved in their conversations to amplify your own voice. Keep in mind that the questions you answer and your answers should polish your brand. It’s okay to write about the emotions, challenges, and pressure you face in your job search. By expressing yourself openly, people will know you as a real person. If you want to take it to the next level, create videos. You can discuss issues relevant to your field. Besides LinkedIn, also pay attention to other social media platforms that are relevant to your profession.
Set a schedule to contribute consistently. If you only post once in a while, you will get lost. Post regularly, so people know you and are interested in what you have to say next. You will start to build an audience by posting continuously. People will feel like they know you and will be happy to help you with job opportunities.
Communicate aggressively with recruiters and HR professionals at the companies you want to work for. Get in touch with anyone you know who can offer a hint. This is not the time to be shy. Even if you are an introvert, make an effort to seek help. If you are not comfortable initiating a phone call or video call, please send an email or reach out to them on social media platforms. The worst that could happen is that they don’t contact you. The best part is that you will find a great new job through a kind recommendation.
There are a number of online video meetings for job seekers to replace pre-Covid-19 in-person networking events. Join, participate and make known. This will help build another layer of network in addition to what you already have. If you’re feeling brave, ask people who can be of help with your search to join a quick video call.
Even armed with this advice, I understand that it may not be easy for you. Start small and build from there. Your self-confidence will constantly increase. You will feel much better about yourself once you take control of your search. People will feel your new passion. Before you know it, they’ll start sharing job opportunities with you!
