The year 2020 has been an extremely turbulent one for the workforce. Covid-19 has displaced millions of workers around the world and caused unprecedented damage to all industries. There’s no shame in losing your job during this time and it’s certainly nothing that you did wrong. Companies just couldn’t afford to keep all their employees around during the lockdowns.

However, take this as a learning experience and use this time to revamp your skillset for the future of work. You may not be able to get your old job back, but it could be a blessing in disguise considering that the future of work was looking like it was going to be disrupted by technology soon. Using the time you now have on your hands to take a few actionable steps that can help set you up for that future is certainly the best thing you can do.

Reflect on Your Past Career

Take some time to think heavily about the job you held. Was it really what you wanted to do for work? According to sources, as many as 50 percent of workers have made a dramatic career switch at some point in their life. This seems to indicate that few people actually choose a job that resonates with them. Were you simply settling for a job due to the paycheck it provided?

If the career you were in was actually right for you, then congratulations. Pursue that career again after revamping your skillset. However, if you decide that the job you held was not right for you, it’s worth looking into making a radical career switch. Even if you don’t know what career you want, consider taking a free career quiz to see what path may line up best with your skills and interests. 

Reflecting after losing your job is one of the most important things you can do. This reflection can help give you closure and reinforce the fact that the work you performed at your previous job was meaningful and beneficial to your overall skills. 

Obtain More Education

After taking the proper time to reflect on the job you held, obtaining more education so that you can develop the skills needed to set you apart should be your goal. There are certain skills, such as coding, that can be self-taught. However, if you are not tech-savvy and do not know where to start, take solace in the fact that there are educational institutions for you.

Considering that you just lost your job, you don’t want to spend all of your savings on overpriced education, and you also can’t afford to spend years acquiring that education. For these reasons, consider looking into a trade school near you. Trade schools differ from traditional graduate programs in that they prepare students for a specific career in tech in as little as a year.

These institutions have online options, which means you don’t even need to spend money on relocation costs. Trade schools are perfect for anyone who isn’t fully sure what they want to do now. Some options, such as Galvanize, offer a myriad of courses ranging from data science to full stack development. It’s never been easier to acquire an accredited education online, and now may be the best time to do so.

Prepare for Interviews

Preparing yourself for the interview process you will inevitably need to go through is one of the most important things to do after losing your job. Regardless of how long you held your old job, it’s unlikely that the interview process is like you remember it. Focus on adding key skills to your resume, such as powerful analytical skills you may have developed. Resumes are often screened for keywords now, so ensure that you look up how to write a successful resume before applying to any open positions. 

Conclusion

There is no shame in losing your job amidst the pandemic. Millions are in the same exact shoes and can’t do anything about the situation they are in. What happens next, however, is completely up to you. Make the choice to turn the future of work into something that works for you, rather than against you. Get ahead of the coming disruption before it arrives and create a dynamic new career that can last far into the future. Setting yourself apart from the competition now will save you time and energy in the future.