What if you were suddenly unemployed? Stressful, right?
You can reduce a lot of that anxiety by being prepared.
Five things you can do now:
- Keep your resume current. Don’t wait until you need it to remember what you accomplished three years ago.
- Track your accomplishments. Keep a running list of projects, promotions, revenue, cost savings, certifications, awards, and measurable results.
- Maintain your network. Stay connected with former supervisors, coworkers, clients, vendors, and recruiters. Don’t wait until you need something.
- Know where you would look. What companies would you contact? Who would you call? Keep a list.
- Line up references. Know who would speak highly of your work, and ask for letters of recommendation when appropriate.
And a few things you shouldn’t do:
- Don’t assume your job is secure. A merger, restructuring, budget cut, or new leadership can change things quickly.
- Don’t lose touch with people when you’re happily employed. That’s the best time to maintain those relationships.
- Don’t ignore what’s happening in your industry and the job market.
- Don’t depend on your employer for job security. Your career belongs to you.
- Don’t wait until you’re unemployed to prepare. Everything is harder under financial and emotional pressure.
Imagine you lost your job today. What would you wish you had done yesterday?
Start doing those things now.