Here are four steps that can smooth your trajectory to the top.

Find a Mentor

Meeting and exceeding career goals usually doesn’t “just happen”—it’s a process that builds over time (or doesn’t) depending on your choices and actions.

One of the most prudent professional decisions you can make early in your career is to benefit from key workplace relationships with people who know more and may be willing to help you out. In particular, intentionally finding and forging business relationships with a mentor can help you achieve success in your company and industry. A mentor is a senior-level colleague who agrees to coach and advise you on issues in your job, company, and industry.

Sean Nguyen, Director of Internet Advisor, explained that when he first started out in the world of online work, he found it quite daunting—he didn’t know where to start, how to manage his time effectively, or even what jobs to look out for. A mentor changed that for him.

“Luckily, when I found my first online job, the CEO of the small business was willing to mentor me and help me to grow my knowledge and skills,” Nguyen said. “I used the knowledge that he taught me to improve not only in that company but in all the other businesses that I ended up working for.”

Seek Sponsors and Other Advocates

While many are familiar with the concept of mentors, sponsors and advocates can be even more instrumental to your career growth.

Sponsors and other advocates are generally even more invested in your career progression than mentors are. They use their own executive connections to help open doors for you while also helping to promote your strengths to others in the organization to create new opportunities.

Sondra Sutton Phung, Marketing General Manager at Ford Motor Company, recommends that young professionals secure a well-respected advocate, which she explains is very different from a mentor. “Advocates must believe in you enough to break down barriers that will inevitably exist in a large corporation,” said Sutton Phung.

Join a Career-Related Community

In addition to the individual relationships you create early in your career with senior-level mentors, sponsors, and other advocates, finding a community of like-minded professionals at different levels of their career can help fuel your own growth more quickly—while helping you enjoy the process more too.

“It’s really difficult to grow your career if you’re off on an island by yourself—you need other people and they need you,” said Jo Harris, a Conversion Copywriter and Business Coach who has over a decade of experience as a remote digital marketer.

One of the easiest ways to seek a professional community is to join an online group that caters to your industry, either through a social media site like LinkedIn or Facebook, or through industry-specific associations and organizations.

Apply Your Passion

Having the best advocates and community in the world won’t advance your career if you don’t do your part to excel. Sponsors will only want to recommend you if you stand out as exceptional, and colleagues in your professional community won’t think of you for opportunities if you come across as bored or negative about your work life.

“However tempting it may be with remote work, forget about quiet quitting and doing the bare minimum,” advised Nathan Brunner, CEO at Salarship, a job search engine for candidates who want to find low-competition employment opportunities. “Pay some time to research the industry and be aware of its latest changes. Take extra time and extra projects, if it’s possible. Remember that good things never come easy, and hard work always pays off.”

Brunner believes that another smart thing you can do to grow your career is to find something you’re truly passionate about. “If you don’t love what you are doing, you will never be able to work at your full potential,” Brunner concluded.

The post 4 Steps to Grow Your Career as a Young Professional appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Keep in mind these key points that executives need to be prepared for and plan for when job searching.

Search With Clarity

Linda Shaffer is Chief People and Operations Officer at Checkr, a leading HR technology company, where she handles the people and legal teams. Based on her extensive experience in hiring and doing HR for hybrid teams, Shaffer believes it’s important to have a clear understanding of what you’re looking for in an executive position.

“What are your goals and objectives? What are your top priorities?” Shaffer said. “Knowing this will help you to narrow down your search and target positions that are a good fit for you.”

Consider Hiring a Coach

As you think through the answers to those questions, it may help to have a guide.

Bonnie Whitfield, Human Resources Director of Family Destinations Guide, suggests that if you haven’t had any professional coaching before, the executive-level job search would be a good time to start.

“A coach can help you polish up your resume and cover letter so they’re ready for prime time,” Whitfield said. “They’ll also help prepare you for interviews with questions like, ‘What is your greatest strength?’ or ‘What is your biggest weakness?’ The answers will come more easily after working with a coach because they’ll give you examples of what other people have said in similar situations, so that you can use those same words to answer questions during an interview.”

Know Yourself

Another area where a professional coach can help is in understanding what you bring to the table as a job candidate.

Senior-level managers have a career’s worth of experience and skill-building under their belts, and as an executive job seeker, you need to be able to distill your background down into key selling points about your expertise and offering.

With this in mind, Shaffer emphasized that it’s important for executive job hunters to have a strong understanding of their most significant qualifications and experience. “What makes you stand out from other candidates? What are your key strengths and weaknesses? Be prepared to highlight your qualifications and sell yourself to potential employers,” Shaffer said.

Research to Align Your Skills With the Company

In addition to knowing yourself, you also need to understand what the hiring manager is looking for—and ensure there’s a fit.

Kimberley Tyler-Smith, an executive at the career tech platform Resume Worded, reminds executive candidates that not every company operates the same way or requires similar skill sets from their employees.

“Some companies may want executives who are more focused on strategy,” Tyler-Smith said. “In contrast, others might prioritize people who can get things done quickly and efficiently—it all depends on the company’s needs. This is why it’s essential to do some research before going in for an interview, so you can be sure that your skills and experience align with what the company is looking for.”

Grow Your Network

When you’re at the executive level, it’s not just about what you know—it’s also about who you know, according to Whitfield.

“It’s important to be aware of that and make sure that your network is as strong as possible when you’re searching for a new position,” Whitfield said.

She added that exec job seekers should keep in mind that networking isn’t only about reaching out to people who may be able to connect you with opportunities—it’s also about being open to connecting with those who may not have a job opening directly related to your current career path at the moment but who could still become valuable mentors or contacts down the road.

Be Prepared to Negotiate

At the executive level, you have ample experience in the last stage of the job-search journey: negotiation. Leverage your career learnings about advocating for yourself and what’s important to you in an offer.

“When you do finally receive a job offer, be ready to negotiate salary, benefits, and other important factors,” Shaffer concludes. “Don’t accept the first offer that comes your way. Try to negotiate for the best possible package.” 

However, as experienced as you are and no matter how well you advocate for what you want, it may still be necessary to have a backup plan.

Tyler-Smith pointed out that while many companies are interested in having experienced executives on their teams, not all are willing to pay top dollar for that experience. “If you’re looking for a new job as an executive, it’s essential to be prepared for this possibility and create a plan B if it turns out that your salary expectations are too high for the role,” she concluded.

The post 6 Executive Job Search Strategies appeared first on Job-Hunt.

If you just jump into job seeking with zero planning or preparation, though, you’ll be selling yourself short and hurting your chances to land a new opportunity. Here are some critical steps to help you thoroughly prep for a job search.

Review and Revise Your Current Resume

While online applications have become standard, the traditional resume is not dead and will still be required for the foreseeable future as a key part of most organizations’ hiring practices.

If it’s been a while since you’ve read your resume with a critical eye, be sure to do so as you prepare for a job search. At a bare minimum, you’ll need to add your current position to your resume, noting not just start and end dates but your responsibilities, key accomplishments, and numeric stats that help quantify your success in the role.

Beyond that, though, use this as a time to improve your resume by tailoring what you emphasize on it to the new job and company that you’re applying to. For example, maybe you’re keeping the same role but switching industries, which requires that you review and revise your current resume content to best highlight your specific experience that’s most relevant to the new industry.

Visit and Vet Your Social Media Profiles

The number of recruiters and hiring managers who rely on candidates’ social media presence as part of their evaluation process keeps rising. A recent report from SourceMob found that practically all recruiters (94%) turn to social profiles to help them with their recruitment efforts. That means it’s essential for any job seeker today to ensure that all of their social sites showcase them in a professional light.

Since many social media sites are truly social and not oriented toward creating a professional presence, you should take some time to comb through your profiles and see what’s there. Review them with a critical eye, trying to step into the shoes of a hiring manager, and ask yourself, would you hire you? If you don’t feel you can be objective, ask a mentor or trusted friend to look over your social content. Consider archiving or deleting any posts that might turn a recruiter off and cause you to miss out on an opportunity.

Refresh and Reinvigorate Your References

Rare is the organization that doesn’t ask for professional references as a step in the hiring process, so you want to be sure your references are up to date. This means not just noting the names who you’ve listed as references, but making sure to touch base with those individuals to reestablish your connection with them if it’s been a while since you’ve connected.

Let your references know you’re starting a job search, and confirm they’re willing to remain as one of your references. Double-check their current contact information and their preferred method for a recruiter or employer to contact them. And remember to ask if you can reciprocate by helping them with a professional goal.

Consider Creating Other Online Content 

Besides online applications and resumes, other types of online materials can enhance your job search if you prepare them as part of your background materials. Some industries, like graphic design and advertising, prefer that candidates have online portfolios of their work or campaigns.

Depending on your role, you might also benefit from creating a professional website on which you can feature sample projects, client lists, and testimonials or positive reviews from previous managers and colleagues. You can also boost your career credibility by getting an article published in an industry magazine or on a website for your profession.

Boost Your Professional Skills

In addition to freshening your job search materials and references, also consider whether you might want to strategically boost your professional skills by taking an online course in your field. This can help with both hard skills, like learning new apps and software programs, and soft skills, like presenting and communicating more effectively.

It may seem like a lot of work to prepare for a job search on top of actually looking for a job, but the effort can pay off with the results. By ensuring that your job search materials, references, and skills are up to date before your hunt for employment begins in earnest, you can position yourself much more competitively in the marketplace.

The post How to Prepare for a Job Search appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Consider these basic pointers on steps that can help you stand out and get noticed by your boss for promotion consideration—as well as a few actions to avoid.

Confirm What a Promotion Requires at Your Company

If moving up to the next level is on your radar, it’s smart to find out what it generally takes to be in contention for a promotion.

You may not want to broach the subject of a promotion during a job interview, since the employer might feel that you’re not interested in the current role.

A better time to bring up the subject with your boss is during your performance review. Your review offers a built-in opportunity to share with your supervisor your objective of earning a promotion; you can then request specifics about what it will take to reach your goal. 

Here are some questions you can ask your boss:

• What steps should I take in the next review period to position myself competitively for a promotion?
• Are there any stretch assignments that I can take on to prove my readiness for the next level?
• Is there anything that you would like to see me change in order to better prepare myself for a leadership position?

Put What You Learn Into Action—and Document It

Once you know what your boss expects to see from you in order to be promotion-worthy, start putting wheels in motion to deliver.

If you found out during your review that you need to be comfortable presenting to teams, then line up some speaking opportunities, either formal or informal, to gain experience. If your supervisor pointed you toward a potential stretch opportunity, carve out some extra time to take it on. Develop and practice any leadership skills that your boss suggested, and if you need training in specific areas, consider taking an online course to boost your skills.

As you execute on the action items that your company recommended, be sure to document your progress, noting dates of completion and milestones reached along the way. Be prepared to share your write-up with your manager at your next review, pointing out that you’ve followed through on the suggested steps toward your next promotion.

Ask for a Timeline

Once you’ve checked all of the items off the list that your boss outlined for promotion readiness, don’t be afraid to investigate what a potential timeline for advancement might look like.

While you don’t want to be too pushy about this, since it can backfire with your manager, it’s fair to request a general sense of timing. Your boss will let you know if it’s too soon to identify ballpark dates, but asking may help you find out whether a move up could be in the cards within the next review period, year, or multiyear period.

If you’ve done your best putting the steps above into action but still haven’t been promoted, don’t give up. There’s no predictable timeline to identify when someone might be due for a promotion, and it rarely happens overnight.

If you’ve played your best hand toward earning a leg up and feel stymied in your efforts after a year of trying, talk to your boss, or perhaps human resources, about your goals. Point out the strides you’ve made and ask again for clarification of what’s required to earn a promotion in your department and company. And remember, if you feel that you’ve proven yourself promotion-worthy, yet your current employer has repeatedly failed to recognize it, you can always seek a career boost outside of the company.

The post How to Get Promoted: 3 Important Steps appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Below are some strategies to use when planning your response to this classic interview question.

Get Real About Your Reasons

Formulating an effective response should begin by considering why you actually are interested in the job you’ve applied for. Assuming that you really do want the job, answering sincerely will make a better impression on the hiring team than saying something that doesn’t ring true. Think about what stood out to you in the job listing and what elements of the opportunity attracted you to the posting—and then frame your answer around those specifics.

For example, if you liked that the job ad emphasized working with a fully remote team and you have experience with success in a remote role, you might start your answer by emphasizing that.

A possible opener might be, “There are a number of reasons why I’m excited about the potential of working with your team, one of which is that I appreciate that you’ve kept your entire team fully remote, showing trust in your employees. I began working remotely when the pandemic started, and my productivity skyrocketed—I’d love to bring my experience as a successful remote worker to this position and help your department and company reach their goals based on what I’ve learned about effective remote working.”

Wrap the Company, Team, and Position Into Your Response

Once you’ve hooked the hiring manager into an initial reason for your interest in the job, don’t stop there—be sure to incorporate details about why you want to work for the company and team, as well as sharing your thoughts about the position.

This will require research on the front end to identify specific aspects of the organization that appeal to you, whether it’s the company culture or how the company stands out among competitors in the industry. If you would be working on a team, think on your feet about points you heard during the interview or anything you’ve gleaned from your initial conversations with the manager about the team’s dynamics, and address those in explaining your interest. Finally, hone in on the specific position and what intrigues you about it.

A sample answer might be, “I’ve admired your company’s culture from afar for a long time and have always felt that I would be a great fit for it. Also, from everything you’ve shared about the team I would work on, I know I could make a strong contribution based on my background to help round out the group with my skill set. Additionally, the job itself is right up my alley—as you may have seen on my resume, I have extensive experience in this role and feel that the way you’ve structured the position is a perfect next step for me to share what I’ve learned to benefit your group.”

Make It More About Them Than You

As you may have noticed in the answer above, it’s a smart strategy to bring your points back to what’s in it for the employer, rather than for you.

While you may have personal reasons for wanting the job, the hiring team will care more about how your expertise can benefit their department and company than about how the job will benefit you.

Avoid saying something like, “The benefits in this job are incredible, and that’s really why I want to work at the company,” or “I live right down the street from your headquarters, so it’s an easy commute for me.” By making your answer more about the manager’s, team’s, and company’s needs than your own, your answer to this question will be much stronger.

If in doubt, think about what you’d like to hear as a hiring manager about why a candidate you were interviewing wanted the job. If you can provide a genuine answer that addresses the needs of the hiring team and organization while showing how your career background can help the employer reach their goals, you’ll wow your interviewers.

More: How to Answer “What Can You Bring to the Company?”

The post How to Answer “Why Are You Interested in This Position?” appeared first on Job-Hunt.

What is it exactly that allows your job application to make an impact in all of this noise? Is there something extra you can do—a one-page resume, an objective on your resume, or a specially formatted cover letter, for example—that will grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers?

According to certified Career Coach and Resume Writer Dawid Wiacek, Founder of Career Fixer LLC, these kinds of bells and whistles aren’t what it takes. “The truth is, you don’t need any of the above for (many) job applications,” Wiacek said. “I have clients who come to me asking for a one-page resume because their two- or three-page resume wasn’t working. But when we really examine their longer resume, it’s not the length of it, but it’s the quality of the resume that is lacking.”

The same concept holds true for other parts of your job application, including your cover letter.

How to Get Noticed by the Hiring Team

Here’s Wiacek’s expert advice on how you can increase the chance of your resume and cover letter being noticed by the hiring team.

Get the SEO Right

On both your resume and cover letter, be sure you incorporate the right phrases, skills, and keywords—meaning they must be relevant to and match the job description of the job to which you’re applying.

Make Your Case Early On

Don’t save the best for last in your cover letter and resume—share what’s most important for employers to see in the top third of page one of your resume and cover letter.

“Make it abundantly clear at the top of your resume (the headline, the marquee, if you will) that you have already delivered value to prior employers, and that you will do the same,” Wiacek said.

Include Numbers, Not Just Words

The job applications that pack a punch are those that include metrics, percentages, and concrete, quantified accomplishments.

“Instead of writing ‘Improved efficiency of creative workflows,’ consider ‘Achieved 30% efficiency boost by implementing system upgrades and introducing weekly, cross-departmental check-ins.'”

Polish Your Social Media Presence

Make sure you have a complete, updated, and polished LinkedIn profile that matches the details you share in your resume—at least mostly.

Wiacek maintains that if there’s too much delta between the resume and LinkedIn, this could be a red flag in the eyes of the recruiter.

Build Your Thought Leadership

Do you post relevant content and innovative ideas on LinkedIn, or are you a passive professional? Do you attend conferences (whether online or in-person) and speak at them?

Thought leadership—sharing your expertise through publications and speaking about industry issues—can help you stand out.

“Recruiters will be snooping around on LinkedIn,” Wiacek explained. “They will be impressed if you’re a thought leader.”

Network, Network, Network

Arguably as important as what your application materials and social sites look like is your skill at networking. It’s making connections with others in your industry that might be what helps get your job application into the right hands, which can move it to the top of the pile.

“Before, during, and after applying, reach out to current or former employees,” Wiacek said. “Do so tactfully and gracefully. Ask politely for a finite amount of time: a 10-minute phone call within the next week is a more realistic ask than, ‘Do you have an hour to speak tomorrow?’”

Leverage Informational Interviews

Wiacek believes that informational interviews are one of the best ways to get your application noticed because you can then ask for tips and referrals.

You can also make note of who you spoke with in your cover letter: “After talking to several of your employees, including [name], I am confident I am a strong culture fit and can deliver tangible value [XYZ].”

Take the Time to Get Noticed

The steps you take on the front end to get your job application noticed take longer but will be time well spent.

By being intentional in how you prepare for and present your candidacy, your resume, your cover letter, and your other job materials, you will rise above the fray.

The post How to Get Your Job Application Noticed appeared first on Job-Hunt.

That said, landing your first job out of college can be challenging in any job market, so it helps to be prepared with some best practices to improve your chances of success. Here are four tips for new grads to land a job they want. (And be sure to check our our sister site, FlexJobs, to search for remote entry level jobs).

Approach Your Job Search Like a Job

Your first job hunt as a college graduate presents a perfect opportunity to set a schedule and structure that mirrors the work environment. Don’t just send out a few resumes haphazardly and call it a day—take the time to organize your job search systematically, and block out specific hours of the day for each task that you’ll do.

For example, while you may not want to spend a full eight-hour day seeking work, it’s not unreasonable to earmark four or six hours a day for this process. Your schedule might look something like this:

• 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Peruse job search sites and targeted company websites for opportunities. From this review, make a list of three to four positions you can apply to.

• 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Draft one to two cover letters based on the job ads you’re interested in. (See the step below on how to tailor each cover letter.)

• 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.: Take a lunch break.

• 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Submit one to two applications via online job portals or company websites.

Rethink Your Resume

If you haven’t updated your resume since your high school days and it features jobs you did as a kid, then it’s time for an overhaul.

While you may not have significant professional work experience yet, there’s likely more relevant, college-level experience that you can replace this with, which will be more impressive to employers.

Have you taken on internships, held positions in school organizations, or volunteered in ways that showcase your leadership skills? If so, list these on your resume. Online classes and certifications, conference attendance (either virtual or live), or business experience gained through college coursework are also legitimate to include.

Tailor Each Cover Letter

A poor habit that many job seekers of all ages develop is “boilerplating” their resume and cover letter—in other words, simply replicating the identical copy for each employer, changing only the date and the name of the hiring manager. This is a mistake, since the cover letter is your best chance to show the employer why you’re a good fit for their position specifically.

Instead of just duplicating the language verbatim in every cover letter you send, use the job ad to help you customize the language you use when applying to each position.

For example, if one position calls for project management skills and another requires strong communication skills, be sure to address these points independently in their respective cover letters. That way, the employers receiving them will know that the experience you describe in your cover letter is particularly relevant to them.

Don’t Quit Too Soon

It may be tempting to ease up on your job search—and quit approaching your job search as a job—once you land your first interview. But don’t confuse the victory of jumping through an initial hoop as scoring the opportunity.

An interview is a positive sign that the employer is interested in your experience, but you may still have a long way to go before you learn whether you’ve been offered the job or not. There may be a large pool of other candidates who are also being interviewed, so don’t count your chickens at this stage.

Instead, keep the pressure on your job hunt even while interviewing for a position. For one thing, if you get an interview at another company and a competing job offer, you may be able to use this as leverage with the first employer. Informing the company that you have an offer on the table can lead to a counteroffer, a higher salary, and a quicker resolution to your job search. 

More: How to Find Entry-Level Jobs: A Complete Guide

The post 4 Tips for New Grads to Land a Job appeared first on Job-Hunt.

How can you choose a job offer wisely, with confidence that you’re making an informed decision that will serve you well in your career?

It begins by understanding your own professional goals, and then comparing the opportunities against four key metrics:

• Job responsibilities
• Salary
• Hiring managers 
• Workplace cultures

Job-Hunt tapped certified Career Coach and Resume Writer Dawid Wiacek, Founder of Career Fixer LLC, to lead job seekers through the benchmarking process in each of these areas.

Review Your Career and Advancement Goals

To hone in on which of your job offers might be right for you, the first step is to truly understand your own objectives when it comes to your career progression.

To that end, Wiacek recommended thinking critically about not just the job in question but about the doors this type of job may open—either within the company itself or elsewhere. 

He suggested asking yourself whether each of the positions offered is a stepping-stone job for you and examining whether the company truly invests in internal training and development to arm its employees with the tools and skills necessary for growth and evolution. “If possible, talk to current or, better yet, former employees, who may give you insight into the way the company invests in its people,” Wiacek said. “This may or may not align with the rosy picture painted on the company’s ‘Career’ or ‘About Us’ pages.”

Understand the Job Responsibilities

While the jobs you’ve applied to may have the same title and, at least in the job ad, the same role, it’s important to dig deeper into what’s really required when selecting among multiple offers.

According to Wiacek, many jobs ask for one thing on paper, but the reality of the daily work can be quite different, so it’s helpful to talk to current and former employees to get a sense of the reality of the responsibilities.

“If you can do 100% or even 80% of the responsibilities as listed in the job description, that might engender confidence, but it might also be risky—you might get easily bored,” Wiacek said. “Is this a lateral move, or are you trying to stretch, learn, challenge yourself, and grow?” Your answers for each offer can help inform your decision of which job to take.

Look at Salaries

Assuming that pay is one reason that you’re seeking employment, it’s important to weigh each offer head-to-head from the perspective of compensation.

However, there’s more to consider in this comparison than just the base pay; there’s also possible bonus structure and other benefits to explore, which could come into play with counteroffers once you’ve determined each company’s offering. 

“If you’re not quite happy with the base salary, and you feel you’ve negotiated it to the best of your abilities, consider asking each employer who has offered you a job whether a performance-based bonus structure is possible,” Wiacek advised. “It’s a win-win for you and for the company: when you deliver certain performance milestones, the company benefits, and you earn a bonus.”

If one company says yes and another says no to this request, then you’ll have more information to guide your decision.

Compare Hiring Managers

While it may not be possible to know exactly what it would be like to work with each of the bosses who are offering you a job, you can still take steps to compare hiring managers before accepting an offer.

Wiacek stressed that you should do “as much reconnaissance as is reasonably possible” on the person who would be your supervisor, including talking to current or former employees who may be willing to give you the lowdown on this person’s best, and worst, features.

“It’s often said that employees leave companies because of a bad boss,” the career coach stated. “People are willing to tolerate a lot of crap, from annoyingly long commutes (at least pre-pandemic) to companies whose missions don’t fully align with their own values. But when you have a boss who is toxic, demeaning, who throws you under the bus, or who doesn’t support and cultivate your skills, you’re not likely to thrive…and you’re not likely to stay.” 

Compare Workplace Cultures

As a career coach, Wiacek shared that culture is “the thing” that all of his clients talk about, especially since the pandemic started.

“People’s tolerance is wearing thin for crappy workplace cultures, unclear or sketchy company missions, overbearing or toxic bosses, and lack of diversity in company leadership,” he reported.

With this in mind, Wiacek advised doing your due diligence into the company culture of each organization you’re considering. “If the company culture is not aligned with your personal values and vibe, you’re likely to get disillusioned really quickly. And if you’ve not bought into the company culture, you won’t be as innovative, excited, and collaborative as if you joined a company whose culture will nourish your mind and soul.”

The post How to Choose Between Job Offers appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Certified Career Coach Dawid Wiacek, Founder of Career Fixer LLC, explained to Job-Hunt that from working with his clients, he has seen firsthand that job loss can do a number on people’s sense of self-esteem and confidence—and that building up “job momentum” again can be tough.

“Job loss can be incredibly demoralizing, especially if you consider yourself to be a dedicated employee,” he said. “Even if you’ve been a slacker or were underperforming, losing a job can still present a lot of challenges, including the obvious, like not having a paycheck but also negative perceptions from family and friends who might think you’re being a ‘lazy bum.'”

While finding yourself without the professional position you’ve relied on can be disorienting and scary, the fact is that not everything about losing a job is bad. Once you’ve recovered from the initial shock of being, at least for the moment, unemployed, it’s possible to recover from job loss and emerge from it in an even better situation than before—if you know the right steps to take to get back on your feet again.

“Without exception, my clients who have lost jobs have gone to do wonderful things, whether it’s starting their own businesses, taking a (forced) sabbatical, volunteering, finding jobs that are more fulfilling, and/or being paid more than at the job they lost,” Wiacek noted.

The career coach recommended trying out the following three tactics to recover more quickly and gracefully from job loss.

Give Yourself a Brain Break 

In the initial aftermath of losing your job and in the first weeks of being without your usual routine that follow, it’s easy to spiral into anxiety, depression, or self-deprecating (false) thoughts about your lack of talent.

Wiacek suggested unplugging from these concerns temporarily by doing something that’s personally fulfilling to you, rather than plunging immediately into trying to line up new work. “Don’t think about the job search for a few weeks, or at least a few days,” he said. “Take some time off to go camping, or visit a nearby city that has been on your list.”

Go Volunteer

A smart way to get your foot in new doors right away, without needing to go through all the steps of a formal job search, is to offer your services as a volunteer at an organization you might be interested in working for.

“Volunteering will make you feel less crappy, it will put the focus on the other person or group that you’re serving, and, at worst, it will be a good distraction,” Wiacek said. Just as importantly, he added that volunteering could lead to new opportunities since you’ll be able to network organically. “Your fellow volunteers, or the admins from the organization that you’re volunteering under, will see your good deed and will (usually) gladly connect you with their professional network,” he pointed out. 

Develop New Interests, Skills, or Hobbies

The time freed up by losing a job may create a rare opportunity in your life to do something different.

Is there something you’ve thought of doing in the past but never got to explore because you were too busy working? Wiacek said that now is the time to explore alternate career pathways and pursue new training and skills—for example, by taking a class at your local community college in person or online.

A new hobby may also help get you out of a rut while potentially leading to an income stream. “It just may turn into a side hustle that pays some (or all) of your bills,” Wiacek said.

“There are plenty of stories out there of people who used a job loss to reinvent their careers toward entrepreneurship, or at the very least a career switch.”

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There’s a protocol to follow when determining if, when, and how you should follow up on job applications. Here are the details to guide you through the process.

Think Before You Click “Send”

The first hurdle in considering whether or not to follow up on a job application is understanding appropriate follow-up timing.

While you may feel discouraged if you don’t hear back quickly after sending in your resume, it’s not a reasonable expectation to receive a call back in the first 24 or 48 hours—or even a week—post-submission. The general rule of thumb is to wait a minimum of two weeks before pinging the hiring manager for a status report on your job application.

In the current market, and especially since the pandemic hit, managers have more on their plates than ever, so reaching out to ask about your application too soon can backfire. The worst-case scenario is that you follow up about your submission too soon and end up making a negative impression with the employer instead of a positive one.

Consider the Mode

Not all forms of follow-up are equal when it comes to inquiring about your job application.

If you’re considering whether to reach out for information via phone, email, text, or social media, the best choice is usually email. This allows you to craft a professional message that states exactly what you want to say and avoids the possibility of losing your train of thought or coming across as disorganized, which are real possibilities on a phone call that could hurt your chances of getting the job.

Email is also the right choice because it allows the hiring team to respond to you at a time that’s convenient for them, rather than being put on the spot by your call. The employer may not have all of the information yet about the hire, so email allows for a gap of time between receipt and response. Also, reaching out through other methods, like texting or a message on social media, might be seen as too personal and thus, unprofessional.

Keep It Short and Succinct

Less is more with a job application follow-up email. Your goal of the message is simply to confirm receipt of your submission and request an update on the projected timing that candidates may hear back. 

The devil is in the details here since a careless error in your writing, such as misspelling the hiring manager’s name or missing a typo, could end up affecting your earlier application negatively.

Once you’ve confirmed the correct contact information for sending your email, remind the hiring team of the date that you submitted your application, briefly reiterate how your specific experience could help the employer, and indicate the best way to reach you.

Be Gracious About the Opportunity

While you may feel annoyed or ignored if you haven’t heard back about your job application yet, be sure that the tone of your follow-up message conveys a tone of gratitude.

Thank the employer for the chance to apply for a position that’s meaningful to you, and express that you appreciate their time in reviewing your qualifications. The last thing you want to do is sound aggravated about having to wait for their response or come across as demanding or pressuring, which may end up moving your application from the “under consideration pile” to the “reject” pile. 

Finally, be sure to check the fine print of the job ad before you decide whether or not to send a follow-up. If the listing specified that applicants shouldn’t reach out after submitting their application, then heed that advice.

Also, be aware that the practice of “ghosting” candidates, which means only responding to applicants who are being offered an interview, is becoming more common in the industry, in part due to high application rates. If your follow-up communication doesn’t produce a response within a month or more, then assume that you probably aren’t moving forward to the next steps in this position.

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