Tell the World if you're Unemployed Looking for a Job - It's OK!

The Covid pandemic has created unemployment levels not seen in this century. Many people who thought they had stable jobs are now seeking employment. Along with the financial and emotional strain this puts on both individuals and families, people who have been affected can experience a variety of feelings – shame/embarrassment, lack of self confidence, lower self-esteem/self-worth, and so on.

Looking for a job is particularly difficult in this economy, and having these feelings only adds to the challenge. Faced with these circumstances, many job seekers often hide the fact they’ve been laid off and are looking for a job. They don’t update their LinkedIn profile to reflect the fact that they’re looking for work, avoid telling friends and former colleagues, managers, and others in their network – they want to keep it to themselves.

Unfortunately, this is the opposite of what they should be doing – they should be telling the world that they’re looking for some very sound reasons:

First, the concept that if you’ve been laid off it means you’re not as valuable as others simply isn’t true. Many businesses have had to make severe cuts in order to stay afloat. The depth of those cuts has more to do with roles, responsibilities, how essential a particular position is vs. how good someone is in that role. Businesses have had to make cuts along product/service lines, paring back on their offerings – airlines that have cancelled routes don’t need as many pilots, flight attendants, ground personnel, etc..

Second, the ideas of the hidden job market, use of referrals and networking has never been more important. For businesses that are hiring, the number of candidates available has increased significantly with more people looking for jobs. But hiring managers still value referrals over resumes coming in “over the transom” or even from recruiters. If you’re unemployed, the only way your network will know if you’re available and looking for a job is if you make sure your network is aware of your situation. Neighbors, friends, former clients, colleagues, managers likely all would want to help you – and they should be aware of your availability in the event they know of an opportunity, or someone you may want to connect with.

Finally there’s LinkedIn – it continues to be one of the top destinations for businesses looking to hire people. Your LinkedIn Profile is your online resume and digital presence. It should reflect your accomplishments, strengths, key skills, etc., and should make clear that you’re available and interested in finding the next great opportunity for you to apply your knowledge and experience to help a company grow and succeed (LinkedIn even has a caption and frame you can place around your profile picture highlighting that you’re available for work!). There are many resources available to help you with your LinkedIn profile, from consultants to books on the subject (eg., LinkedIn Profile Optimization for Dummies). And of course, be sure to update your profile picture with a professional headshot!

Unfortunately people who never experienced unemployment or thought they would experience it are faced with finding a job against difficult headwinds. Enlist the help of others, let the world know you’re available and give yourself the best chance of finding employment.