July 2, 2019 2 Comments

Lost Your Job? Here’s six steps to get you back to work

Sad man thinking while seated at a table with a pad of paper and cup of coffee

Finding yourself out of work can be a devastating experience. Unemployment is widely acknowledged as a significant stressor that directly affects physical and mental health. The Canadian Association for Mental Health states, “Unemployment can be, and often is, a shock to your whole system. You can experience some of the same feelings and stresses that you would if you were seriously injured, going through a divorce, or mourning the loss of a loved one.” As with other traumatic events, we rarely expect to be out of work and are often unprepared and overwhelmed by the road ahead. Common reactions when facing unemployment vary. You may find yourself struggling with denial, anger, and sadness, which can lead to avoidance and a sense of isolation.

Preparation will help you to overcome these emotions and return to the workforce as soon as possible.

Six Steps in Taking Control

Take stock of your finances.

Figure out how long you can afford to go without a new source of income and develop a plan. Many job seekers have had to compromise their choice of jobs when they found themselves strapped for cash. Ask yourself, “What can I do if I don’t have a job by my target date?” Consider what compromises you can make to speed up landing a job. This can include adjusting your job search to include a few types of positions, locations, and salary range.

Once you receive your Record of Employment, apply for Employment Insurance as soon as possible. Service Canada states, “If you delay filing your claim for benefits for more than four weeks after your last day of work, you may lose benefits.” When applying for Employment Insurance using the online service, you will need your employment start and end dates.

Keep in mind that finding a job often takes longer than expected.

Establish your goals.

Though you may not have been expecting it, this is an opportunity to reassess your employment goals. You may want to learn about other industries, consider a career change, or potentially go back to school.

If you wish to stay in your current industry, make a list of companies you would be interested in working at. Start with a minimum of five and focus your efforts there. LinkedIn company pages are a great tool that provides job seekers with access to detailed in-depth information about potential employers.

Revise your resume.

Update your resume with your work history details, and highlight the skills and experience most relevant to your employment goals. Search job postings online for the keywords and skills employers are looking for and include them in your resume. For those with long careers, include the last 10 years of employment with focus on key responsibilities and accomplishments.

Seek out free employment centres, such as JVS Toronto Employment Source, to help you with resume preparation, interview techniques and other job search tools. If you’re resume updating skills are rusty, try our free online resume writing clinic.

Update or learn new skills.

After updating your resume and looking at job postings, you may find that your skills are out of date, or you’ve come across a software program you don’t know that would open up other opportunities. You may want to brush up on your product or service knowledge, presentation skills or any number of other skills that could improve your chances of being selected for an interview.

Adding or enhancing skills is a worthwhile investment of your time. There are many resources offered online, such as Lynda.com with courses in software development, business, design, websites and more. Also check out the Continuing Education programs offered at your college or looks for classes at your local community centre or library that are low cost or free.

Reconnect with your network.

Job loss is something more and more people are facing in today’s economic climate. You are not alone in needing to find work. Reach out to your social and professional circles for job search tips and leads. Use social media to reconnect with friends, former colleagues or classmates during your job search. Not only will you gain information, identify skills you may need to improve and other resources, these connections will help with feelings of isolation often associated to those facing unemployment.

Consider making new connections by volunteering or attending industry or professional association events. You’ll meet people, hear about opportunities, and if volunteering, gain references and new work experiences to add to your resume. Use social media to make these connections.

Keep in mind that most jobs aren’t formally advertised. Employers use their trusted networks to find candidates for vacant positions.

Don’t do it alone.

All Employment Ontario-funded employment centres have free resource areas that provide those looking for work with computers, telephones, faxes and photocopiers, including JVS Toronto’s nine Employment Source locations. Conducting your job search in an employment centre like this reduces loneliness and provides you with direct access to various employment specialists, workshops and other services, all for free!

A little planning and effort can go a long way towards making the best of your situation and staying in control of a process, which can otherwise be daunting.

For those readers living in Toronto or York Region who need job search support, contact JVS Toronto at 416-787-1151 or at services@jvstoronto.org to access our free job search workshops, hiring events, and career exploration programs.

January 14, 2019 Leave a Comment

Worried about being laid-off? Here are some strategies.

Recently, a former client of mine anxiously called me. Her present employer of two years had begun restructuring. Some staff and a manager had already been laid-off. The company rumour mill said that her job was next. Understandably, she asked my advice on how to handle the rumours.

Unfortunately, job security is an on-going concern in today’s labour market regardless of any imminent threat. Taking these important steps will give you a plan and a sense of control in your career.

Clarify the situation.

My first suggestion to my client was to reach out to her supervisor and address the issue directly. This private conversation allows you to ask if changes are coming? How would those changes affect my position? What can I do to protect my job?

In situations like this, be prepared for vague responses. Management are often asked to keep such details confidential, or have not been provided with the details. It may be that various manager positions will also be affected. In my client’s case, her manager did not deny the rumours but did not have any details. However, my client was reassured that her performance was not an issue and was encouraged to continue to do her best.

Opening up communication with your manager will put the rumours into context and reinforce your commitment to your company. If you work in a unionized position, in addition to your manager, you can also approach your union representative about the rumours. Your goal at this stage is to understand the nature of what may be happening.

Create a back up plan.

If you find that rumours of company restructuring are true, consider this advanced notice as an advantage. While you still don’t know if your position will be affected, you can take positive action with a back up plan. I advised my client to update her resume, review and update her LinkedIn profile, and discreetly gather references. At this point, you may want to invest in upgrading any outdated skills. For example, my client discovered that her software skills are outdated and she decided to pursue a Salesforce training course in the evenings.

During times of uncertainty, and while you’re still working, take these proactive steps:

Update your resume
Review and revise your LinkedIn profile
Review and gather your references
Consider updating outdated skills

You may consider starting a job search to see how competitive the job market is. This will give you a sense of job vacancies earning potential, and what updated skills you will need to be more employable. Of course, employers prefer employed candidates, so if you feel you are at risk during a company restructuring, you can take this opportunity to look for work while you are still working. Taking action will ease your mind during uncertainty in the workplace.

Evaluate your finances.

Examine your financial situation. Figure out whether you be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) if you were laid off, how much you might be able to collect, and whether you could live on that income. That will help you decide when to start a job search. Keep in mind that if you find a new job while you are working, even if you have received a lay-off notice, resign the job, you will not be eligible for EI or a severance package.

If you are laid off…

During a lay-off, you will be given notice, usually through a meeting and a letter, outlining your termination notice. This is outlined in the Employment Standards Act of Ontario, and for unionized positions, in the Collective Agreement between the union and the company. This will outline what you are eligible for in terms of notice, pay in lieu, vacation pay and other benefits. Your employer will issue you a Record of Employment, that will indicate the reason you left the company. You will need this to apply for Employment Insurance. This is also the time to gather reference letters from your current employer.

Importantly, work as hard as you can to end your job on positive terms. The benefits of this are especially important for your job search by informing the next employer that, despite being laid off, you have a positive relationship with your former team members.

November 9, 2015 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Signs of being fired

Dear Joanna,

I have a feeling that I will soon be fired. I’ve been working at this company for 10 years, am a top performer, meeting all my targets and have received only positive feedback from my manager. However, I am being excluded from a major “change management” project that was recently implemented here, without any explanation.

Can you point me at some possible signs that I should be looking out for at my workplace that would indicate that I might be out of a job soon?

Signed: Fear of the Unknown (FOTU)

Dear FOTU

The best advice regarding the “telltale signs” that the pink slip may be coming is from Paul Michael’s blog, WiseBread. Below, you’ll find a long list of questions you can ask yourself. If can answer “yes” to at least three or more of the questions, you might be on the “chopping block” and it’s time to look for another job:

Are you finding that you are suddenly being left out of the loop? If you used to know what was going on in your firm, and now you have to learn company news from outside sources, it’s time to move on.
Did you recently make a huge mistake? Did you lose money for the company or team? Only you can decide if you messed up. If you know, HR knows. Michael calls this the “final nail in your coffin.”
Do people seem to be avoiding you at all costs, no longer doing that fun small talk in the halls or at lunch, whispering around you, and avoiding eye contact?
How well did your last performance review go? Does it read like a train wreck?
Has your company recently been sold or merged? This is rarely good news for about 90% of the staff. Being sold means new management, and they often have new plans for the company that include cutbacks and layoffs.
Are you being given impossible jobs that seem to have little or no chance of success? This is a very popular action, although underhanded. The company may need a big reason to give you the boot, especially if you’ve done everything right and are the life and soul of your department — enter the impossible task.
Are your responsibilities shrinking to the point where you now have less responsibility than the intern?
Has your office, cubicle or working space recently been down-sized?
Do you get a sense that people are talking about you — whispering more around you, or changing the topic as you approach?
Did your recently receive a pay freeze or, worse still, a pay cut?
Have you seen a job posting for your company that matches your job description?
Does it seem like everyone really dislikes you?
Have you recently been asked to take some time off?
Are you noticing that more communication between you and your superiors is being conducted on paper or email, thereby leaving a clear paper-trail?
Are you finding it almost impossible to get approval or ‘buy in’ on projects that your propose?
Have you recently been asked to work on a “special project”?
Are your successes and accomplishments being glossed over or taken for granted?
Are you currently being ‘retrained’ or have you been told to take coaching sessions?
Has your immediate boss or mentor quit or been terminated?
Have you recently been promoted to a position of less responsibility?

If you find that you have answered “Yes” to 3 or more of these questions, it my be time to move on, regardless. These experiences can seriously impact on your day-to-day experience on a job — it may be time to find an employer where you are appreciated more and where you can start enjoying your work better.

Joanna

November 8, 2014 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Handling the interview question “What happened at your last job?”

Dear Joanna

In my tireless efforts to look for work as a HVAC technician, I was happy to receive two excellent job offers in my field. After much deliberation, I chose the company that offered me a better compensation package. This was a big mistake. After four months of hard work, I had to quit to save my sanity because the workplace I selected was chaotic, the supervisor was a bully and the project was doomed to fail.

Help me figure out how to respond to the interview question that is always asked: “What happened at your last job?”

Signed: Quit Before Fired (QBF)

Dear QBF,

To help me answer this question, I spoke to Career Transition Consultant, Karen Hoffman, of the outplacement and human resources firm, Feldman Daxon Partners. She recommended that you should take a forward focus when dealing with this issue, and suggested that you should consider these options:

1. Consider removing the job from your resume.
This is worth consideration if you were at this company for a brief time or if it was a short-term contract. If you decide to remove the position from the resume, you will want to speak to the gap in time with confidence and transparency. Give consideration to highlighting other notable activities that would support your personal and professional growth: did you enrol in a course? engage in a self-study? attend conferences or relevant trade-shows? volunteer? travel? learn a new language?

The key is to make the gap relevant, valuable and active in both cyberspace and during the interview. This is a great opportunity to demonstrate how you continue to develop.

2. Or, add the job to your resume and prepare to talk about it…
If you do decide to acknowledge this four-month experience on your resume, then be prepared to speak about it in concrete terms. First and foremost, it is important that your reason for leaving matches what your previous employer will say. (This might be a worth quick phone call to HR which can help you craft your story – it’s also an opportunity to ask HR if they will support your leaving story, within reason.)

3. Prepare for the interview.
Do your homework in order to avoid a potentially awkward interview. Keep the response specific, short and transparent. Talk about things such as a change in management, restructuring of roles, changed career path, or skills that were not being fully utilized.

Prepare (and practice) a strategic and positive response that can be discussed with ease. Don’t end with the leaving story. Emphasize your key learning and contributions in the four months while taking the reader to what is next for your career. Forward focus! Do not try to hide from talking about the experience.

4. Beware of your language.
Do not say anything negative about your last employer. This is a red flag for interviewers. Emphasize that the last job was an important learning opportunity for you.

Best wishes for success your next interview,