Due to the spread of COVID-19, Americans have been engaging in social distancing and shelter-in-place orders for several months. Because of these public health orders, the economy has ground to a halt. As of April 30, national unemployment claims have risen to 30 million people, pushing the national unemployment rate to numbers not seen since the Great Depression. No matter what happens with public health over the next few months, Americans are operating in a deep recession from which it will take months to climb back.
If you are one of the millions of Americans now unemployed, you may be taking a closer look at your own employment situation. Even if your employer is likely to try to bring you back once movement restrictions are lifted – is it the job you want? Are you still in the industry you want? How do you move to try to find something long-term when traditional networking is off due to social distancing? While you may not have been planning to take stock of your career goals, an unexpected unemployment period combined with the public restrictions of movement provides you with the time you need to re-evaluate and consider what you want to do.
Over the next month, we will be walking through the classic career guidance book “What Color Is Your Parachute?” Originally written in 1970, the book is updated annually to reflect trends and changes in job-seeking while still keeping its core strategy in place. Author Dick Bolles has helped millions take stock of their own skills, passions, and goals and combine them into a successful job search strategy. We will look at how employers and job seekers work against each other, how to look to use the book’s “Flower Petals” strategy, and tips for how to put it into a plan of action.
