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LinkedIn recently conducted a survey of 2,000 U.S. professionals, zeroing in on the actions of professionals who have been unemployed since the start of the pandemic. LinkedIn’s research, published by Andrew Seaman, senior editor of Job Search and Careers at LinkedIn News, indicated that people “have not been actively networking while being unemployed—even though most say it’s vital for a successful job search. ”
The reason for the lack of networking may be attributed, in part, to the misperceived shame and embarrassment associated with losing a job, as the study shows that “84% believe there is a stigma associated with being unemployed.”
According to the findings, networking is viewed as an unpleasant, uncomfortable and awkward necessity of the job search process, as “less than half of survey respondents (42%) say they’ve reached out to existing connections and only 39% say they’ve asked people in their networks, such as friends and former colleagues, for introductions to other people.” When it comes time to reach out to people outside of their core communities, “only about a third (35%) have been making their own introductions to new connections.”
As traditional methods of the job hunt have been curtailed due to the virus outbreak, such as grabbing a cup of coffee with someone, having an in-person, informal interview or attending a face-to-face networking event, gaining attention online has become paramount. It was somewhat surprising to learn that “only half of the survey respondents say they’ve even posted on social media about being unemployed or looking for a job.”
Their rationale for not branding and marketing themselves on social media is because they “don’t feel comfortable sharing publicly that they’re out of work.” Some respondents reported that they “felt too ashamed or embarrassed,” others thought “it wouldn’t be helpful.” They may also suffer from impostor syndrome, possess an inherent bias toward recruiters or have self-confidence issues.
Almost half (46%) of the people in the survey said they have “lied about being out of work,” while 51% have “avoided a social event because of the way they feel about being out of work.” Sadly, “24% said they felt embarrassed, 23% felt uneasy and 15% felt ashamed” of being out of work. The feelings of the out-of-work respondents run counter to finding that “the vast majority (96%) would hire a candidate who was laid off due to Covid-19.”
When you’re downsized, it’s natural to feel a twinge of embarrassment and some shame—even when it’s not your fault. Personal identities are intertwined with our jobs and careers. When you’re out of work, many people feel a loss of prestige and status. So, they keep the job loss to themselves. It’s completely normal to feel this way—temporarily. You may need some time to grieve and process what has happened. However, you must then pick yourself up, brush yourself off and take action.
Keep in mind that if you’re in this situation, you’re not alone. The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the job market. Over 60 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits since the start of the virus outbreak. Unemployment hit an all-time high. The real numbers are probably larger than the official government data, as people who’ve finished collecting benefits just fall off the radar of statistics. The data also neglects to include people that unwillingly retired, as they weren’t able to find meaningful employment, those who are significantly underemployed relative to their experience, pushed into the gig economy (due to no other options) or they begrudgingly took lower-end roles to get health insurance.
Recruiters, corporate talent acquisition, human resources professionals and hiring managers understand that this is an unprecedented time. They most likely know or have family members in a similar spot. However, job seekers who have shared their feelings of inadequacy—tied to temporarily being out of work—may have experienced or heard of colleagues that were treated shabbily in their job searches. In past job markets, particularly when things were hot, there were always corporate managers that looked askance at candidates that were in between positions. They’d grill the applicant, “Why did they choose you for firing and not someone else?” The clear inference was that there must have been something wrong with the person, like they didn’t do their job properly, couldn’t work well with others or there is a deep, dark secret surrounding their separation from the payroll.
No one can blame you for being in between jobs, as it is so prevalent right now. There’s no stigma attached anymore. Any rational person, when they learn of your situation, would say that they completely understand and most likely will share similar stories about a bunch of people they know who are going through the same thing.
With this in mind, there’s no longer a need to go it alone. Be open about your goal of finding a new job. Let people know that you’re in the job market and what specifically you want to do next. If no one knows that you’re on the job hunt, they won’t reach out to you with opportunities.
Think of your job search as a group effort. Enlist as many people as you could think of, including family, friends, college alumni, former co-workers, business associates, kids you grew up with, members of organizations you belong to and people you met at various functions. If they don’t have any solid leads, politely and persistently ask them to point you to someone that they know who may get you in front of the right person.
Strategically align with folks on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram that can contribute toward building a mutually benefiting network. These people should include potential hiring managers, human resources and talent acquisition professionals at the companies you’d like to work with. Find top-tier recruiters who are known experts in your field. Seek out peers at other companies within your niche. This way, the right types of relevant people will get to know you, as they see your postings and keep you in mind when jobs become available.
The best way to start branding yourself is by commenting, sharing, writing posts and articles on LinkedIn. The content should focus on your area of expertise, as you have a lot of knowledge to impart. You can start slowly by liking and addressing the postings of others. Find leaders in your field with large followings. Get involved in their conversations to amplify your own voice. Keep in mind that the questions you answer and your responses should burnish your brand. It’s fine to write about the emotions, challenges and pressure you’re dealing with in your job search. By openly expressing yourself, people will get to know you as a real person. If you want to take it to the next level, create videos. You can discuss matters relevant to your field. In addition to LinkedIn, also pay attention to other social media platforms that are relevant to your profession.
Set a schedule to contribute on a consistent basis. If you only post once in a while, you’ll get lost. Post regularly, so people get to know you and become interested in what you have to say next. You’ll start building an audience by continually marketing yourself. People will feel like they know you and will gladly help you out with job leads.
Aggressively reach out to recruiters and human resources professionals at companies you desire to work for. Contact anyone you know that could offer a lead. This is not the time to be shy. Even if you’re an introvert, push yourself to seek out assistance. If you’re uncomfortable initiating a phone or video call, send an email or contact them on social media platforms. The worst thing that could happen is that they don’t get back to you. The best thing is that you’ll find a great new job through a kind referral.
There are a number of online video meetups for job seekers to replace the pre-Covid-19, in-person networking events. Join them, participate and make yourself known. This will help build up another level of network—on top of what you already have. If you’re feeling brave, ask people who may be of assistance with your search to hop on a quick video call.
Even armed with this advice, I understand that it may not be easy for you. Start small and build from there. Your self-confidence will steadily increase. You’ll feel much better about yourself once you take control of your search. People will sense your new passion. Before you know it, they will start sharing job opportunities with you!
