Getting back to work
Embrace your professional future with advice from experts in the Bill and Susan Lhota Office of Alumni Career Management.
If you or a loved one has lost a job or work in the last few months, first allow yourself to feel the grief and loss, says Marilyn Bury Rice, director of the Bill and Susan Lhota Office of Alumni Career Management at Ohio State. “Lean on family and friends, and take solace in the fact that unemployment is not a result of anything you did or didn’t do.” To face and embrace the future, Rice suggests you start with these steps.
Create a plan.
The first step is to manage your immediate circumstances by applying for unemployment and asking your former employer for a letter of reference.
Research the market.
Consider looking beyond the traditional boundaries of your field. For example, you may find that your skills comfortably transfer from the public to private sectors. Because the number of job boards may have increased since your last search, begin by choosing two that closely reflect your search goals.
Customize your brand.
Updating your résumé, references and social media profiles is critical to a successful search. With each application, it is equally important to tailor your materials to highlight how your experiences align with the potential employer’s job description.
Use the 80/20 rule.
Evaluations of successful searches have shown it is most efficient to spend 80% of your time networking and 20% on the formal search process.
