“OMG! You lost your job? What are you going to do?”
If a phrase strikingly similar to the one above recently graced the pixels of your Facebook/Twitter/Myspace/AIM account, it’s likely you’re a Millennial, and, also likely that you lost your job.
Don’t fret my friend. Though it may seem that your career progress has stopped dead in its tracks, I assure you, it’s merely a speed bump. While any career advancement you may have achieved in your previous position is lost forever, forward momentum can certainly continue.
Assuming you’ve secured a temporary job, moved back in with your parents, or found some other, legal, way to support yourself, there are still a number of activities through which the unemployed twenty-something can advance their professional credentials.
Here, I’ll describe five.
Study for the GRE/GMAT/LSAT/MCAT/GCHAT (jk)
Maybe it isn’t the right time for grad school. You don’t have enough work experience and want to pay off more of those undergrad loans before taking on a new load of debt. No problem. But, what if grad schools is something you’re planning on eventually?
With the extra time your unemployment freedom presents, this is a fantastic opportunity to study hard and earn an amazing score on a test of your choosing. Do you know how long these test scores are good for? No? Here:
GRE – 5 years
GMAT – 5 years
LSAT – 5 years
MCAT – 5 years (but most schools ask for scores no older than three)
So, I bet your grad school plans take place sometime in the next five years, right? Thought so. Take the test now, get a great score and sit on it
until you’re ready. Your future self will thank you (mine did the other day..time travel is weird).
Freelance
Your former employer paid you to do what you’re good at and losing your job doesn’t mean you have to stop. A quick search online will reveal that businesses and individuals are looking for professionals to provide a garden scramble of different services as independent contractors. Set up an LLC (it’s easy), print some business cards, put on your biggest insurance salesman smile and start networking. A little persistence will land you some freelance work and, over time, a great second income.
An added benefit: you’re your own boss, no handholding. This is real real-world experience and it looks good on a resume.
Network
Remember those lunchtime events you could never go to because you had to finish the TPS reports before 1:00 p.m.? You’re free!
They say networking is twelve times more effective than applying cold for open positions. Start going to the events for the trade organizations of your choice. Better yet, get involved with the young professionals’ organization in your area.
What if you hate networking? News flash…you don’t have a job anymore…DO IT.
Create Brand “You” (HAHAHAHAHAHA!)
Despite this ultra corny heading, a personal brand does have value, especially for a job hunter. Use some of your free time to think about what you want for yourself over the next five years, then, decide what you need to do to achieve it.
With a goal in mind, establish yourself as an expert in a chosen area and build an online reputation through various forms of content creation. Build a body of work that says, “This girl/guy knows what s/he’s talking about.”
There’s plenty of information online about personal brands, so, to put it simply: get your name out there – in print, online and in person. If you’re freelancing and networking, you have a great start already.
Do the Work
No, I’m not talking about the four previously mentioned activities. This is personal. You may have lost your job, but you’ve also won an opportunity to do a little reflecting.
Take this time to figure yourself out. What didn’t you like about your last job that could be improved upon the second time around? Were you going in the right direction? You will find a job; ascertain what needs to happen in order to start the next phase of your life on the right foot.
…and there you have it.
