Tips for Job Transitioning

By Gonzalo Cordova November 2020 I always thought of high performance and competence as traits that would prevent me from ever having to experience a job transition. However, as I found out over 5 years ago, job transitions can happen to any of us for reasons beyond our control. As more friends and acquaintances experience job transitions this year, I feel compelled to share what I learned from my job transition: 1) Know your worth – Your personal and professional worth remains intact even if you are unemployed. Do not let the lack of a job define you. 2) Do not take it personally – You do not need to like or agree with your former employer decision. It is just business. Move on. 3) Be fiscally responsible – It takes 3 to 6 months on average to get a new job. Make the necessary adjustments to your monthly expenses and/or secure the necessary cash to ride the wave. 4) Reconcile career wants and needs – Define upfront what you need vs. what you want in your next job. You will find some jobs that could set you backwards in your career. Wait for the right opportunity assuming that you can afford to do it given item 3. 5) Treat your job search as a job – Looking for a job does take time and effort, and this should be your main goal every weekday. However, know that this will be a part-time job in despite of your best efforts. There is only so much you alone can do every day. 6) Measure time in days or weeks – It is easy to get frustrated with the slow response from recruiters, headhunters, friends, etc. Accept that they have other responsibilities and priorities. 7) Meet with anyone interested in meeting with you – Do not decline the chance to connect with anyone willing to share his/her time with you. It is a small world, and you never know who will be able to help you land your next job. 8) Find a hobby – Once you are done with your job search every day, spend time doing an old or new hobby. In your new world of ambiguity, hobbies allow you to feel productive. 9) Close skill gaps – Use the extra time on your hands to develop any skill gaps that you never had time to focus on while you were employed. This will not only make you a better professional, but also more marketable in your job search. There are plenty of free resources for this purpose. 10) Take care of yourself – Eat well, sleep enough and add movement to your daily routine. This will benefit you now and in the future. I know it is hard to enjoy life, family, and holidays not knowing how long it will take until your next opportunity materializes. However, I am certain that one day you will look back and realize that you are a better person and professional because of this job transition.