Well, here we are, nearly two years into our economic recovery. For some industries, the rebound has been quicker than for others. Likewise, some individuals are just beginning to revive careers that they put on hold after a job loss.
If you took a non-career position after losing your job in the recession, you’re part of a very big club. The good news is that you had enough survival instinct to switch to Plan B. The more difficult news is that the recovery could pass you by if you don’t take an active hand in switching back to your Plan A.
You’re not just fighting your own inertia and busy schedule, although those factors definitely matter. Your return to your primary career also may be hindered by the industry itself and the pace of change since you left.
Let’s say you were laid off in early 2010, spent a year trying to get back in, then took a Plan B job in early 2011. That means you are now one year into your interim job, but two years away from your field. Depending on the work itself, that may be too long of an absence to be credible. Worse, if your previous company was not investing in its workforce, you may not have been current in your field even when you were employed in it.
This sounds grim, but it’s not a deal breaker. It just means that you’ll need a strategy to break back into your Plan A field. But it also means that if you’re not willing to do the work, you should seriously consider letting go of the first career and building your life in the Plan B world you’ve already entered. Because wanting to return but not putting in the effort will result in the worst of both worlds: not having what you want and not wanting what you have.
Knowing the steps for this process will help you decide what to do. This timeline assumes a one-year window, but you can slow it down or possibly speed it up, depending on your own motivation and some factors relating to your goal industry, such as the need for workers.
First quarter: Now is the time to gather information and rekindle networking relationships. Join or rejoin professional associations in your goal industry and pursue conversations that tell you which companies or disciplines are in a growth mode. Network in Plan B circles as well, to ensure you’re not missing “crossover” potential.
Second quarter: Using the information you’ve gathered, identify your skills and knowledge gaps for your goal profession. Perhaps you just need a brush-up and a new project to talk about, but you also may need something bigger, such as a certification. To accommodate your current work schedule, as well as your networking schedule, consider online coursework. At this stage, the important thing is being able to say, “I’m starting my XYZ certification, and I’m really excited about using it in a new job.”
One note: Focus less on catching up, and more on moving to cutting edge in your choice of training, on the assumption that you’ll outpace your competitors.
Third quarter: It’s time to start your job search. Rather than responding to ads, these three months are spent contacting employers directly. Start by identifying target companies and department managers in the relevant areas. Next, revise your resume to highlight your Plan A skills.
Your goal is to set meetings with department managers to explore the potential of working with them as openings come up. This low-pressure, pre-posting method is a critical strategy for keeping you out of the hugely competitive pool of ad-responders -- which is essential because if you are not currently working in a Plan A job, you will not compete well next to those who are. You need a back-door, inside track to make this work.
Fourth quarter: If you haven’t been to a conference yet in your goal industry, now is the time to go. You need the in-person contact and a chance to look like an insider. Now is also the time to do a project in your Plan A field, perhaps for your Plan B employer, because you need real-world experience to supplement your classes.
And now, too, you can credibly respond to postings. At this stage, your job search should consume at least five hours a week, including time spent on intensified networking. If you do this, you may get outshone in some competitions, but you won’t be outworked. And this is a situation where the person who puts in the effort goes home with the offer.
Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com or at 626 Armstrong Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55102.
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