Revisiting Job and Career in the Throes of a Coronavirus Crisis



Steven Simon, Ph.D.
Elise Prezant
Jan Goodman

John, a dining room manager has been laid off from his job indefinitely. His employer may lose the business....and other local restaurants are in similar positions. Jenny owns two franchise fitness centers. All such facilities were ordered closed by the Governor. Unless the health crisis eases in the next month or two, she stands to lose everything. Her employees will need to find other jobs, possibly in different fields. Jeannie is a benefits counselor at a government agency. Her state has closed access to government offices to only a few essential personnel. She's been ordered to work from home, but has neither the equipment or know-how to do so.

COVID-19 is here. As of this writing, every day the statistics get worse. For months or maybe much longer, many types of workers could either be out of work or no longer able to do their jobs as they did before. If you're a single parent, or trying to go back to work again after loss of a spouse, divorce, or other family upheaval, or if you are a recent graduate, the burden to establish yourself in a decent job may be much greater.

For many, the longer the need for social isolation and distancing lasts, the more business as we know it will change. That includes the work we do, how we do it, and where we do it.  More people will learn to work at home, to better use technology and distance methods, and employers will find this more efficient. Some businesses will contract or cease to operate. Customers will continue to order take-out food and eat out less. Those who seek fitness will have found they can get satisfaction using exercise options at home or outdoors. Some of those who no longer have jobs will need to find different kinds of work or re-educate and train for new jobs and careers.

But, there is a golden lining for some who lose their jobs. A hiatus from work with limited ability to leave home is a time to rethink job and career paths, and for those in mid-career, something you may have been wanting to do anyway.

First, of course, you will have to tend to immediate financial needs.
 
Laid Off or Fired - Replacing Income and Benefits

If you've lost your job, your first task is to search your employee manual and contact your employer about entitlements you could have. You may not have been told about them or you may not have heard during the shock of learning your fate. The following article lists essential things regarding  compensation and benefits, and important tasks to do when you are laid-off or fired:  https://www.thebalancecareers.com/job-loss-checklist-2061660.

When you file for unemployment benefits, remember that some states are slow in getting this started and the amount of benefits varies greatly among states. Start the process as quickly as possible.  If you are below certain income thresholds you will also get short term incentive payments from the Federal government, but don't depend on that to last forever.

You can start looking for temporary replacement work. If you were in industries that were laying off workers, you may be wasting your time trying to find similar jobs. However, employers in retail food products, such as large supermarket chains, some manufacturing companies, retail distributors, and large online sales outlets are increasing hiring, and may be a good place to start. Government, non-profits and healthcare are also showing increases in hiring according to Glassdoor.

Where government restrictions do not prohibit people from going to a workplace, many companies are making accommodations to allow for worker/customer barriers and social distancing. If you are at lower risk for severe virus impact these may be good temporary or part-time options.

Companies that provide direct customer services by phone are other possibilities. Some provide opportunities for at-home work. So, if you have experience in such fields as collections, complaint resolution, and financial services, you may be able to get a job from home. Keep your eyes on these reliable websites for increased postings of in-home jobs https://www.hsoutcomes.com/home-jobs/.

Also, note that some states, like New Jersey have started websites, e.g., https://jobs.covid19.nj.gov/, highlighting companies that are still hiring during the pandemic. Some state employment offices may also be putting together lists that are available online. You may want to check if these things are being done in your state or region.

And don't forget about networking. If you are one of the many people isolated at home and out of work, it's a great time to reach out to old and new contacts and even set up phone or video calls.

Taking a New Look at Job and Career Planning

Next, you may want to start thinking about what you want to do into the future, when the crisis eases and ceases. While you're not working, unless you are responsible for young children home from school, you may have more time to do this than before.

We don't know how long restrictions on people and businesses may last or what the true effects on the labor market might be. So try thinking as though you're re-planning your job search or the career you want to pursue. New opportunities are likely to exist as new work routines and habits develop. For example, teaching may evolve to more online strategies at all levels, including in the public schools, higher education, and particularly in business. Employers will need to tap into the skills of those who can introduce new online tools and equipment, and train others. How can you position yourself to contribute if you have or can develop your skills in those areas and will find fulfillment in that work? Can you be an entrepreneur? How will your field change? As we stress in my book, try to act as proactively as you can toward the future of your career.

Many working clients who consult with us as career professionals say they are bored, burned out or feel like they are stagnating, often in a career or job they don't really like. Some feel that they ended up in the wrong career in the first place. However, in mid or late-career many feel too locked in with salary, benefits etc. and family responsibilities to consider a change in career or even a job change.  Well, now may be the unexpected opportunity to reconsider. In some cases there may be little to lose.

Some people find, after the initial shock of a forced lay-off or getting fired from a job that the loss becomes a new opportunity, like starting a business that actually works out pretty well.  We often may not  recommend major changes if a smaller change will accomplish your goal. However, when thrust into an unforeseen circumstance, larger scale change may be reasonable to consider. Even if you are not in a job loss situation, being stuck at home is still a good time to rethink.

You can find reliable and unbiased information regarding careers, jobs, and career choice through the free resources in the Career Center of the HSO website at https://www.hsoutcomes.com/career-resource-center/, and particularly in the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Employment Network (O*NET) at onetonline.netonetonline.net. And although we're not writing this article to promote the book RELAUNCH!, it does cover what you need to do to reinvent your career toward meaningful work and a sense of passion for what you do for the remainder of your work years.

So, in summary, your job and career may be stalled by effects of this pandemic. If it looks like that could last, now is a great time to revisit where your career has been going and how you can make changes to move forward after the threat is over.  Stay safe!!

Steven Simon, Ph.D. is President, CEO, and a Career Consultant with Human Services Outcomes, Inc. in Safety Harbor, FL and Atlanta, GA. He is author of the book RELAUNCH! Stagnation, Change, and Renewal in Mid-Career and Beyond and the author of this blog. He can be reached at ssimon@hsoutcomes.com.

Elise Prezant has over 20 years of experience providing employment and vocational rehabilitation services in New Jersey and Georgia. She is currently the Career Counselor at Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties in New Jersey. She is also co-author of the chapter Age: How Much Does It Matter? in RELAUNCH!

Jan Goodman, a certified career coach, is currently the Community Outreach Specialist for the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center Training Services in New Jersey. She developed a resource center designed for the 21st century job seeker, has authored and delivered skills development workshops, and has extensive experience in workforce development systems.

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