Hi, everyone.
Happy Monday.
Welcome to our livestream.
My name is Dane Browner.
I work here at Indeed on our Diversity, Inclusion,
and Belonging Team.
I'm Indeed's global recruiting strategy manager.
I've been with Indeed now for three and a half years,
and it's my job to partner with our talent attraction
organization and our business units on how we recruit
candidates here at Indeed.
So here's our tip of the week.
While unemployment is a period of uncertainty,
it can also offer time for self-assessment,
and professional and personal growth.
We have some specific recommendations
on how you can leverage unemployment
by setting yourself up for a successful job search.
First, if you're experiencing unemployment,
one of the initial adjustments you may notice
is the loss of structure in your day-to-day life
that a job previously provided.
Keeping a daily routine that allows you to both rest
and focus on your long-term goals
can help you stay motivated, productive, and make
the adjustment back to work easier.
Try to find a schedule that works for you and your family.
But here's a sample schedule of what it could look like.
Consider setting an alarm for eight AM
and getting ready for the day.
Next, you might spend an hour on your resume followed
by an hour searching and applying for jobs.
After lunch, you might work on a side project
for an hour, followed by a break in an afternoon of building
your skills for your resume by taking an online course related
to your career.
Be sure you set aside time to connect with your family
and friends as well.
That goes right back to that self care
that we think is so important for you.
There's many financial resources and aid programs
available in light of COVID-19.
Check with your local and state government websites
to understand the options that are available to you.
You're already receiving unemployment benefits.
Be aware that the additional $600 a week
in financial benefits expired at the end of July
and is yet to be re-upped.
Next, one of the positive outcomes of unemployment
is that it provides a natural opportunity
and gives you time to reevaluate your long-term career goals
and set short-term goals and milestones against them.
For example, as you reflect on where you are in your career,
you might determine that you're ready to start
working towards a higher level role,
or you might even be interested in taking
your career in a completely new direction
and want to switch industries.
Spend some time exploring your career that you want, maybe
in five or 10 years time, and map out a strategy
that will get you there.
If career planning is new to you or if this is the first time
you've had to do it in a while to actually outline your career
goals, check out the career guide article--
how to create your achievable five-year plan
link in the chat.
Once you determine what the next step in your career should be,
consider taking the opportunity to update your resume.
Even if your current resume is up-to-date with your most
recent experience, it's important
that you tailor your resume to each job
you apply for using keywords and details from the job
description.
This is especially true if you need
to look for jobs outside of your typical title or industry
due to the impact of COVID-19 or maybe even your new career
plan.
Here's an example for you.
You might need to reframe your past experience on your resume
by using certain key words or phrases that
quickly communicate your transferable skills
to the employer.
You can also browse resumes on Indeed
for job titles you are searching for.
And identify ways you can explain
your background, qualification, and skills
as it relate to your ideal job.
To supplement your income or gain additional experience,
you might actually consider freelance or gig opportunities
online.
Start your search on Indeed by entering a job title, keyword,
or company in the search box.
You can leave the where box blank, search by location,
or search by keywords, such as remote.
For more information about locating remote work
opportunities, visit our guide to finding remote work
on Indeed.
Another great way for you to get some experience
here could be volunteering.
It's a great way to stay productive and gain
new skills during unemployment.
There are many volunteer opportunities that
can actually be done virtually.
For example, some organizations ask for volunteers
to help with responsibilities like web design, social media
management, or even event planning.
Volunteer work might also refine some of your soft skills
like time management, creativity, and teamwork.
You can explore resources like volunteer match
at www.volunteermatch.org to find
local or virtual opportunities.
Next, think about ways to connect with your network.
With social distancing mandates still in effect,
you may not be able to connect with friends, family,
acquaintances, and former colleagues in person,
but networking is still incredibly valuable in your job
search.
And it can still be done virtually.
In fact referral programs are responsible for about half
of the new hires in majority of companies.
Consider connecting with people in your network
by setting up a virtual coffee meeting
or calling them on the phone.
If you're experiencing unemployment,
this can be a good time to sharpen
your professional skills.
There are several online resources
for courses and certifications you
can complete to advance your knowledge and skills,
and take your career to the next level.
If you're not sure which certification can help you
in advancing your career or where to get it,
visit Indeed certifications at www.indeed.com/certifications
to find schools or online programs that offer
the certifications you need for the job that you actually want.
Browsing job descriptions can also
help you narrow down your options
by learning the skills, qualifications,
and working knowledge employers are looking for.
Consider which new skills you can
add to your resume that might be compelling to employers
in the industry.
For more information on how to decide which skills to develop,
check out the career guide article
that we've just linked to the chat.
Finally, be sure to take some time for activities
that make you happy.
It can be easy to solely focus on your job search,
but unemployment allows the opportunity
to spend time on a hobby or interest you've
wanted to explore but never had the time to.
Employers appreciate well-rounded candidates
with interests outside of work.
So investing in activities that can not only
build skills but also provide a sense of enjoyment,
can also end up supporting your job search.
Let's summarize all of that.
There are several things that you
can do to make the most of unemployment
by setting yourself up for a successful job search
when the time is right for you.
Spend time on activities that will help you
actually get to the next step in your career,
whether it's updating a resume, gaining experience
through freelance or volunteer work,
or by completing projects that allow you to upskill
and improve your enjoyment.
While the list focuses primarily on activities related
to your job search, it's important to take
meaningful breaks to rest and practice self-care.
Doing so can help you stay motivated during what
is often a very stressful time.
For more information on unemployment benefits
and how to access them, check out Indeed
Job Cast link in the chat.
If you know someone that could use this information,
consider sharing it with them.
Thanks again, and join us next week for another episode.
Goodbye.