Losing your job can be devastating. It affects your sense of self, not to mention your livelihood. An increasing number of us are now facing this daunting prospect due to the COVID-19 crisis. The figures are startling. Millions of people are being unemployed. So what’s the solution then? Here are some of the possibilities and opportunities for you, if you have lost your job due to lockdown.
1. Connect With Support Groups
Connect with other who have also lost their job due to the lockdown and facing the same situation like you. Try filling this sheet which can help connecting with a support group. Here is a link to the responses. It’s also circulating a lot among the HR’s as well as those looking for immediate openings so it can be of help. By doing so you will also know that you’re not alone. There are a lot of support groups coming up. See if there’s a general or alumni group from your college – as a lot of people are losing jobs currently. Even government portals are coming up for job searching.
2. Update Your Job Profile On Every Platform
Create and update your job profile of various job portals such Naukri, Indeed etc. and and mark yourself as immediately available. You can also find various programs such as a stepup program offered by naukri.com to find your various job opportunities and to support you during the COVID 19 pandemic.
Just listing a few of the platforms here:
3. Spend Time Making A Fresh Resume
Even if you have lost your job now due to the lockdown situation, it doesn’t mean that you can neglect your resume. Make an excellent resume so that recruiters notice your applications. You also need to make it more easy for the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) systems to read them. Try tools like Overleaf or Novoresume, Resumegenuis, Livecareer, EnhanCV, Zety, Canva or just design it in Google Sheets. Finally don’t use unnecessary designing, generic resume statements and incorrect grammer. Most importantly, stay away from lying or hiding any important informations on your resume.
4. Reach Out For Referrals
Reach out to your network such as to your collegues or your previous employers on LinkedIn for referrals. Referrals can be your best bet in this situation. Your college alumni network can also be the best bet in this case. Sectors that seem stable in the current scenario such as the tech sectors can be a good bet. So try to reach out to the various big companies or startups for that matter.
5. On LinkedIn Use the #OpenToWork Option For Better Reach
You can also just put a post there and so many thousands of people are currently just commenting for better reach. Your post might reach more than 100K people in non time!
Mark yourself as open to work on Linkedin. Browse on LinkedIn for various job postings and apply via LinkedIn jobs for relevant openings. Alternatively, you can also explore portals like like Iimjobs, Hirist, AngelList and so on. If you know any recruiting agencies, then do let them know as well that you’re currently looking for jobs as they can find openings for you too.
6. Start Your Own Business (The lay off just might be the kick you needed?)
People are staying at home but that doesn’t implies that they are not buying anything. As you have lost your job, so It’s a great idea to start an online business right now because that’s where the eyeballs are and also, that’s where you can also (atleast for now) be insulated form a having a complete stagnation in your income. Learn how to build your own website from scratch here.
7. Learn A New Skill (Great way to use this free time and change your future job role too)
Learning never ends and as you have lost your job due to lockdown, you’re free now and at home. make sure whatever you do – you’re highly productive. This simple course on skillshare might be of help in that regard. Much like training and certifications, taking a class can be a good way to keep yourself sharp while unemployed. Especially when you’re between jobs, it can be easy to forget this option. Enrol yourself in various skill development courses and upskill yourself for the future.
8. Work As A Freelancer (You might be able to get more than one client at a time)
As you have lost your job, you can now register yourself as a freelancer on Freelancer, Designcrowd, Upwork, Feverr and so on. Explore various in demand freelance job openings and apply to them if it fits with your skills and experiences. You can also launch your own freelancing website with your services and you can directly connect with them for various freelancing opportunities.
9. Start Your Own Blog – Give It A Shot Atleast Now That You Have The Chance
Do you love writing about something? Why not start your own blog then? Purchase a domain and hosting plan and start writing about the thing, that interest you. If you don’t want to start your own blog then you can also use various blogging platforms such as Medium. Initially, learn from others that means learn what other famous bloggers are doing. Follow their writing style. SEO is an essential part of writing. Learn the basic SEO online. Use various social media platforms to further promote your blog. Alternatively, you can also start your own YouTube channel or podcast.
10. You Can Try Making Online Classes
Do you feel that you are good at something? Do you feel passionate about teaching others? If your answer is yes. Then register yourself at various skill sharing platform such as Udemy, SkillShare etc. and start offering online courses to others. Remember that, no one is an expert, so even if you are average at any skill that is okay too. Have confidence in yourself and you are all good to go.
List of platforms/sources: (just listing top 10s and sharing)
Top 10 Sites for your career
1. Linkedin
2. Indeed
3. Naukri
4. Monster
5. JobBait
6. Careercloud
7. Dice
8. CareerBuilder
9. Jibberjobber
10. Glassdoor
10 Tech Skills in demand
1. Machine Learning
2. Mobile Development
3. SEO/SEM Marketing
4. Data Visualization
5. Data Engineering
6. UI/UX Design
7. Cyber-security
8. Cloud Computing/AWS
9. Blockchain
10. IOT
11 Sites for Free Online Education
1. Coursera
2. edX
3. Khan Academy
4. Udemy
5. iTunesU Free Courses
6. MIT OpenCourseWare
7. Stanford Online
8. Codecademy
9. ict iitr
10 ict iitk
11 NPTEL
10 Sites to learn Excel for free
1. Microsoft Excel Help Center
2. Excel Exposure
3. Chandoo
4. Excel Central
5. Contextures
6. Excel Hero b.
7. Mr. Excel
8. Improve Your Excel
9. Excel Easy
10. Excel Jet
10 Sites to review your resume for free
1. Zety Resume Builder
2. Resumonk
3. Resume dot com
4. VisualCV
5. Cvmaker
6. ResumUP
7. Resume Genius
8. Resumebuilder
9. Resume Baking
10. Enhancy
10 Sites for Interview Preparation
1. Ambitionbox
2. AceThelnterview
3. Geeksforgeeks
4. Leetcode
5. Gainlo
6. Careercup
7. Codercareer
8. InterviewUp
9. InterviewBest
10. Indiabix
Conclusion
So now you have it! these are some of the possibilities and opportunities if you have lost your job due to the lock-down. Which one did you find suitable for yourself the most? Let us know in the comment section below. Thanks for reading.
