Many recent graduates, interns and entry-level workers have suddenly found themselves out of work, laid off or furloughed as a direct result of the coronavirus.

Fighting for an early foothold in your chosen career can be difficult enough without a global pandemic (and resulting economic fallout) thrown into the mix. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, know first of all that you’re not alone, and your disappointment or frustration is understandable.

In fact, this is probably the most difficult time you’ll endure in your career, and maybe your life – so take heart in knowing that if you can make it out of this, you can face anything.

At Freeman+Leonard, though this environment is new and unusual in many ways, this isn’t our first experience with a recession, and we’ve coached many junior creatives and marketers on how to recover from job losses.

Following are four action steps you can take now to regain your professional footing and get back to work: 

Treat your search like a full-time job.

You may have heard this one before – but treating your search like it actually is your job doesn’t necessarily mean devoting 40 hours a week to sifting through job listings and submitting endless applications.

What it actually refers to is creating structure and routines, and holding yourself accountable to daily action.

Tap your inner project manager (even if you’re creative, you’ve got one!) and use tools like to-do apps to track daily progress against your goals. Though your ultimate goal is to land a new role, be sure to celebrate mini-milestones like reaching out to a certain number of people in your professional network each day.

“Stay organized, and keep a spreadsheet of the companies you have applied to and the companies recruiters have presented you to,” says Ashley Allen, Sr. Manager, Talent Solutions at Freeman+Leonard. “Take the extra step and follow up directly with the hiring manager or recruiter who posted the opening by sending them a LinkedIn message.”

If you haven’t already, prep your digital and analog workspaces, keeping your computer files organized with various résumé versions for different role types.

Pour your productive energy and focus into finding the right next move and commit wholeheartedly to the job at hand.

Focus on thriving industries and markets.

Some industries are more impacted by COVID-19 than others, like travel and hospitality. Meanwhile, some are thriving.

“Many industries are still in high demand and are hiring, like Mortgage, Banking, Healthcare and Food Manufacturing,” says Allen.

Just like many brick-and-mortar small businesses are pivoting to serve their customers in new ways, it’s just as important that job seekers stay flexible and open to new opportunities – and new markets.

“Many junior candidates we’ve spoken with are accepting internships outside of the industry verticals they were once targeting, and being more open to widening their breadth of skills post-graduation,” says Rachel Runnels, Director of Talent Solutions at Freeman+Leonard.

Pay attention to verticals and even specific companies that seem to be doing well despite (or even because of) the pandemic. Nearly every type of business needs marketing, creative, communications and technology experts. That means rich opportunities for those who are willing to be flexible.

Position and market yourself for the job you want.

As a marketer, how you communicate your talents and the value you bring to a company is your proof of concept. Even if you have little experience, you have qualities and talents to showcase.

Not sure where to start? Use LinkedIn to research the work histories of people currently in roles you find interesting. Where did they start, and what were their own stepping stones? What skills did they strengthen? What professional organizations did they join?

Use this as inspiration for your own LinkedIn profile and résumé refresh. How do they describe themselves? What industry keywords are important to include?

And once you land an interview, “Be prepared to speak confidently about your specialty and what sets you apart from other applicants,” suggests Allen. “Make sure to do your homework on the company and have good questions prepared for the hiring manager.”

Take your career into your own hands instead of waiting for the right opportunity.

Think like an entrepreneur and design the projects you’d like to lead. If your portfolio is slim, build it out by creating your own passion projects or taking on pro bono work.

“We have heard from several design talent that they are helping friends and family outside of the creative realm to craft original résumés and bios while also working on their own branding,” says Runnels.

If you’ve thought about creating a podcast or YouTube channel, or publishing a blog, there’s never been a better time to make it happen. Whatever you create, find a way to weave it into your professional storyline so that it supports your long-term goals. Whether it’s an asset you can include in your portfolio or simply a passion project that allows you to explore a topic you’re curious about, it never hurts to demonstrate initiative and creativity to future employers.

Finally, creatives and marketers know it’s important to never stop learning.

Use your extra time to take courses, especially those that lead to a credential you can add to your LinkedIn profile and résumé, like a HubSpot or Facebook Blueprint certification.

And if you can, seek out and build relationships with people in roles that intrigue you. “Find a mentor in your industry early in your career who you can go to for career advice,” says Allen.

Difficult times can bring out the best in us, if we let them. So don’t be afraid to stretch your skills and shift your focus.

But whatever you do, don’t lower your expectations out of fear. Business is still being done, and companies are still hiring. Though the landscape is changing, all of this change is creating new opportunities for those ready to seize them.

Make the most of this time to build a bridge to the life and career you want.

From contract to full-time roles, Freeman+Leonard has over 25 years of experience placing marketing, digital and creative talent. Click here to submit your résumé and to be considered for future opportunities.

We would like to share with you a webinar Freeman+Leonard hosted. We will keep you updated on future webinars that we host and hope you find this event informative. You can view the final presentation here: Acts Not Ads.

We would like to share with you a webinar Freeman+Leonard hosted. We will keep you updated on future webinars that we host and hope you find this event informative.

Megan will discuss relevant social media strategies and how brands can communicate effectively during these unusual times and emerge from this crisis stronger than ever.

Megan Van Groll is an award-winning digital strategist that has led social media strategy for several national and global brands in both corporate and agency roles, including digital crisis communications for The Salvation Army during her time at The Richards Group. Other notable clients include AAA, Reunion Tower, Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Parkland Hospital, Uptown Dallas, Inc., Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Reily Foods, Discount Tire, Sabre Corporation, Subzero/Wolf, and Mr. Cooper Home Loans.

Have you ever heard of mind mapping? We know you are familiar with career networking but if you have never used a mind map for career networking then now is the time! A mind map is an easy way to brainstorm thoughts organically without worrying about order. The idea allows you to visually structure your ideas to help with recall. With so many people currently out of work and looking for a job, we wanted to share this simple (and free) career networking exercise that can easily be done at home while you are social distancing.

Most people start their job search by aimlessly applying to positions online and scrolling through job boards. Our advice would be to start with your network first. Networking is such a valuable way to land a job. It’s how I landed my job here at Freeman+Leonard thanks to a friend that knew I was looking for a new opportunity. Experts say that the average person knows 150-300 people. That’s a lot of people! So why not leverage those relationships.

How to create a Mind Map for Career Networking:

Step 1: Write your target job in the middle circle and start branching out in several different directions. Each direction should include one of the following groups of people from your life. Anyone you know probably falls into one of these groups. When we think of career networking, we usually only focus on people in our industry. But the list below should help you brainstorm all the major areas of your life where you know people and have connections.

• Family Members
• Friends (current friends, former college classmates and social club connections)
• Former Employers/Colleagues/Mentors
• Recruiters & Staffing Agencies
• Customers/Vendors/Suppliers
• Professional & Alumni Associations
• Former Professors & College Classmates
• LinkedIn & Facebook Contacts/Groups
• Religious Organizations (your church)

Step 2: Start filling in names of all the people you know in each category.

Step 3: Reach out to all your contacts and write a professional note to each one. (Don’t forget to spell check and proof before hitting send.)

We would love to hear from you as well so feel free to send us a note and your updated resume so our team can keep you top of mind during your job search.

Sources:

http://jonathanmilligan.com/career-networking/

https://www.briefcasecoach.com/career-advice/land-a-job-by-mind-mapping-your-network/

Welcome to DFW

Here at Freeman+Leonard, we are always working with talent, companies, and agencies across the country to offer the best solutions. As a Dallas-based agency, we place quite a bit of talent here in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area. So, our staff collected a few of our favorite shops, restaurants, activities, and much more to introduce you to the place we call home. Whether you’re a local, or just relocated, you’re sure to discover a new part of DFW. Below you will find a link to our downloadable PDF file Welcome to DFW: An Insider’s Guide for you to print, share, and explore.

We hope you enjoy! And, please, let us know if you love it or find anything we just have to add: ctuckness@u9h.b42.myftpupload.com

PDF Download: FreemanLeonard Welcome Brochure Digital

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